What is shellac nail polish? Shellac for nails: pros and cons

The evolution of fashionable manicure

Nail polish, the composition of which was as close as possible to the modern one, appeared in the first half of the 20th century. The founder of the famous Revlon brand, Charles Revson, invented the formula for leave-in varnish and introduced colored nails that matched the shade of lipstick into fashion. By the end of the 20th century, unpainted nails of a woman who goes out into society became bad manners.

At the beginning of the third millennium, the nail industry began to actively offer extended nails - acrylic or gel, of various shapes and lengths. The varnish lasts longer on such nails, they are durable and well suited for nail art, and do not require daily polishing, shape correction or varnish coating.

However, artificial nails look rough and not entirely feminine. Therefore, the fashion for them passed quickly enough. Nowadays, well-groomed natural nails and manicures of the most incredible designs and a variety of shades are at the peak of popularity. Shellac, which combines a durable gel coating and regular colored varnish, has gained particular popularity.

Can I use shellac at home?

Let's say you want to have a neat and beautiful manicure, but you don't want to spend money on your nails every two to three weeks. Shellac at home in this case is a feasible task, but requires a certain level of skill and a one-time investment of a significant amount of money.

Purchasing a starter kit of materials, tools and a UV lamp will cost 7-8 thousand rubles. If you wish, you can “recapture” their cost by making shellac for your friends and relatives, but are you ready to take such a risk without special education in this area?

What is Shellac?

In 2010, the American nail industry company with a thirty-year history, CND (Creative Nail Design), introduced its innovative product, which made a real revolution in the market - CND Shellac, translated as “natural varnish”. The first gel polish in the history of nail service won consumer recognition so quickly and confidently that the name became a household name.

Shellac (Shellac, Shilak) is a decorative coating for nails that combines the properties of varnish and gel. Being a pioneer in the nail industry market, he remains the most famous and in demand to this day. Gel polish helps you spend as little time as possible on caring for your hands. Its main advantage is that the manicure lasts for at least 2 weeks.

This durability is due to the presence of polymers in the composition, which, under the influence of UV radiation, form a durable film on the nails. The composition also contains monomers, active diluents and color pigments.

The manufacturer declares the composition of Shellac as 7 Free. This means it is free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resins, camphor, xylene and methyl ethyl ketone. Therefore, it is safe for the nail plate, does not cause allergies and does not emit a suffocating odor during application.

What is Shellac?

Shellac is a symbiosis of liquid gel and professional varnish, which is odorless and does not contain harmful components. Shellac nail polish is suitable for those who want a beautiful, bright, glossy manicure that both protects and strengthens their nails, but does not like typical gel polishes.

Shellac hardens under an ultraviolet lamp, but this happens very quickly and reliably - the client does not have to worry about dents, scratches and sagging on insufficiently dried nails.

A palette of over 20 shades will help you create the perfect manicure. Shellac on short nails, made in natural colors, will give the hands a well-groomed and neat look, and brighter shades will suit owners of long nails, attracting everyone's attention. The product is available in standard bottles, just like regular nail polish. The brush is fixed under the cap and also has a classic shape.

Advantages of Shellac

• Persistence. You can do housework, take a bath and swim in the sea - the coating will not be damaged for 2-3 weeks on your hands and 3-4 weeks as a pedicure on your feet.
• Wide palette of shades. You can apply one color or combine polishes as much as you like, getting your own, unique shade.
• Opportunities for the most daring nail art. A variety of designs on long and short nails, French nails, decoration with rhinestones, lace, fur, acrylic powder and foil are successfully made using Shellac.
• Safety. Shellac does not harm the nail plate, does not smell during coating, so it is not harmful to both the master and the client.
• The procedure for covering fingernails with Shellac takes up to half an hour. Afterwards, you can move freely and go about your business without fear of touching and smearing the not completely dry varnish in the case of a regular coating.
• You can do shellac home , without resorting to the help of nail service specialists, unlike gel or acrylic nail extensions.

Pros of the procedure

Shellac for nails has a lot of positive qualities:

1. The procedure does not require filing the nail.
2. It dries only under a special lamp, which makes it possible to correct flaws in the coating, if any, in a timely manner.
3. It takes no more than 2-3 minutes to completely harden.
4. It is evenly distributed over the nail plate and does not create sagging or streaks.
5. Looks like regular polish.
6. Does not create a feeling of foreignness on the nails.
7. It has excellent durability - on average, Shellac lasts about 14-16 days without additional repainting.
8. At any stage of the wearing period, nails look like freshly painted.
9. Removes without much effort. Moreover, you can do this yourself, without resorting to the help of a specialist.
10. Shellac can be used continuously.
11. After shellac nails take on a healthier and more natural appearance, do not turn yellow or break.
12. Helps strengthen weak nails, and makes too hard ones a little more flexible.
13. You can paint both natural and extended nails.
14. Does not cause allergic reactions or rejection of the coating itself by the nail.
15. The standard procedure takes no more than 40 minutes for both hands.
16. It is possible to choose both natural shades and more saturated ones.
17. This is the most optimal manicure: shellac on short nails looks no worse than on long nails.
18. Even pregnant and lactating women can use the product.
19. The opportunity to enjoy the procedure itself, which, in addition to the coating itself, includes a massage of the fingers and hands using special oils or creams.

Application

Shellac is a waterproof substance with high covering, anti-adhesive and electrical insulating properties. The unique qualities have made it possible to use the E 904 additive in various areas of production.

Food industry

The main application of shellac is the confectionery industry.
Used as a glazing agent to improve the appearance of products and prevent particles from sticking together. The substance is dissolved in alcohol. The resulting varnish is used to cover dragees, lollipops, and chewing gum. Additive E 904 has good plasticity; it is added to the marzipan mass for sculpting figures.

Shellac can be found in chocolate (for example, Ritter Sport). The additive partially replaces palm oil to give the product thermal stability and preserve its presentation at high ambient temperatures.

The glazing agent is used to protect products from loss of moisture and contamination by putrefactive bacteria. Used for external treatment:

• fruits (citrus fruits, apples) and vegetables (tomatoes);
• coffee beans;
• nuts

Sometimes shellac is added to the wax mass to make a protective shell for elite varieties of cheese.

Additive E 904 is included as a binding component in special stamp inks for labeling food products (for example, eggs). Shellac prevents the penetration of dyes inside and ensures quick drying.

The additive is approved in all countries. The daily norm has not been established.

Cosmetics industry

Water-repellent properties, good binding qualities, resistance to temperature changes, and the ability to create a texture of a given consistency are the reasons for the popularity of the E 904 additive among cosmetics manufacturers.
Shellac is included in hairsprays, shampoos, and mascara. It forms a microfilm that protects against difficult weather conditions and makes combing easier.

In 2010, the CND company (USA) introduced a new product called Shellac - a mixture of nail polish and modeling gel, to which an organic resinous substance was added. The innovative coating was distinguished by its durability, ability to level the surface of the nail plate, color saturation, and aesthetics.

The product quickly conquered the cosmetics market, and the word “shellac” began to mean highly resistant gel polish and manicure based on it.

Pharmaceuticals

Additive E 904 is used in coatings for tablets and vitamins. The ability of shellac to dissolve slowly has found application in the manufacture of dosage forms with controlled release of the drug and prolonged therapeutic effect.

Other Applications

The chemical composition of the E 904 additive is still unknown exactly. It has been established that its properties are similar to synthetic polymers. Some scientists figuratively call shellac natural plastic.

The unique substance has found application:

• as a basis for the production of polyethylene film, plastic parts for various purposes, aluminum foil;
• as part of low-viscosity, quick-drying inks for flexography;
• in the textile industry to stiffen felt and similar materials;
• as an electrical insulating varnish (polar dielectric) for impregnation of coils of electrical appliances, coating of electrical parts;
• in furniture production for restoration of semi-antique interior items;
• in pyrotechnics as a flammable substance: green signal lights, tracer bullets contain up to 15% food additive.

Shellac-based varnish is used to treat the surface of the seeds to protect them from moisture and infection by pathogenic microflora.

How is the substance used in industry?

In the chemical industry, E904 is used to make paints, polishes, varnishes for wooden musical instruments and furniture. Before the invention of vinyl in the 1940s, the component was used in the process of making gramophone records.

Shellac is the basis for polyethylene film and aluminum foil, is used in the textile industry to impart rigidity to felt and similar fabrics, and is also a component of electrical insulating varnishes for impregnating coils of electrical appliances and processing electrical parts.

Shellac is a component of hair sprays and shampoos, various long-lasting styling products, as well as waterproof mascara.

The cosmetics industry cannot do without shellac: manufacturers highly appreciate its water-repellent properties, temperature stability and ability to create the necessary texture of the product.

Since 2010, mass production of permanent gel polish, which contains the E904 additive, began in the USA; accordingly, it was called “Shellac”. The coating is particularly durable, rich in color and has the ability to even out the nail plate.

It is also added to dietary supplements and wax protective coatings for some types of cheese.

In the form of a glazing or defoaming component, E904 is found in the following food products:

• fresh fruits (citrus fruits, peaches, pears, apples, melons - for surface treatment);
• sweets, lollipops, dragees, chocolate;
• flour products with glaze;
• coffee beans;
• chewing gum;
• marzipan mass.

In addition to food production, shellac has also found its use in the pharmaceutical industry - as a glazing coating for some drugs in the form of tablets and dragees.