Achieving beautiful and well-groomed nails is not difficult these days. There are many ways to do this in the nail industry. From extended nails, women gradually switched to shellac and gel polishes. One of the significant reasons for this transition was the less damage caused to nails by such a procedure. Indeed, during extensions, the nail plate is subjected to filing and rough exposure to gel or acrylic.
Many girls ask the question: “Is shellac harmful for nails, how safe is it?” Advertising for gel polish states that it is an absolutely safe, lightweight material that not only does not have a negative effect, but also strengthens the nail plate. In reality, everything is far from so rosy.
Is shellac harmful for nails?
The procedure for applying the material itself involves light sanding of the nail plate. This naturally thins it out. Therefore, the more often you use shellac, the thinner your nail becomes. Therefore, there can be no talk of any benefit.
What causes more harm: regular nail polish, shellac or extensions? Of course, the latter, but shellac is also not the most harmless drug. The harm lies not only in grinding, but also in the technology itself. The base layer serves to ensure that the color is distributed more evenly across the nail. Its second, no less important function is to prevent the gel polish from peeling off and chipping. To do this, it is necessary to allow the material to penetrate into the rough surface of the nail plate, thereby gluing it, as it were. This is the second indicator of the harmfulness of the procedure. Is shellac harmful for nails? Of course, yes, but its proper use can significantly reduce the negative consequences.
Modern shellac
Shellac is an excellent alternative to regular polish, which was created for those who want to try to constantly maintain a beautiful appearance of their nails. This coating consists of two products: the previously common regular varnish and a special modeling gel.
“By inheritance” from simple varnish, shellac was given the method of application, a huge color palette and the type of coating itself.
And the gel provides such an irreplaceable advantage as long-lasting durability. Shellac coating, or otherwise called gel polish, lasts on the nail plates for about three weeks in its original form, and with very careful use this period can be a whole month. Only the areas of the nail that grow at the base can give away how long a manicure will last.
Applying shellac is a little more difficult than a regular coating, so most often a manicure is done in special nail design studios or beauty salons, which include this type of manicure at home, which is impossible without special equipment, namely an ultraviolet lamp.
One of the most important stages is polishing the nail plate, which allows you to make it absolutely smooth, without various “bumps” and excess skin. A perfectly flat surface is the key to strong adhesion of the base and polish to the nail.
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The next very important stage is degreasing; only after this can the base coat be applied. Its function is to protect the nail from the harmful effects of pigments in the color layer. Following the base, a color coating is applied, usually in 2-3 layers.
The main difference between shellac and regular varnish is drying the nail for two minutes after each layer under a special ultraviolet (less often LED) lamp. Thus, the coating is firmly fixed. With this drying, the shellac dries completely, and you don’t have to worry about the coating smearing or any random inclusions remaining on it. In total, it will take about an hour to cover all nails.
Safe use of gel polish
Just like regular nail polish, shellac is applied in one or two coats. But, unlike the first one, it lasts up to three weeks without wearing off or chipping. If you consider how much shellac for nails costs, then its use is quite advisable. It does not need to dry for a long time, and the whole procedure takes very little time. To protect your nails, it is important to give them a break from coating. It is advisable to do this after each time, but women do not always have this opportunity. The optimal decision would be to take a break after three to four months of continuous wear. Of course, the structure of specific nails should be decisive in this situation. Thin people need rest more often than strong and thick ones.
Composition of gel polish
The apparent advantages of varnish hide its main disadvantages and dangers. For shine, strength, smooth application and long-lasting wear of shellac, various chemicals are added to it. And the main harm of gel polish lies in its composition. Do not think that if the nail is hard, then it does not absorb anything and nothing gets into the body. This is a misconception. Everything is absorbed through the nail plate in the same way as through the skin.
So, gel polishes contain such harmful ingredients as:
| Ingredient | Harm |
| Toulol | a solvent used in paints and varnishes. And the fact that it is included in nail polishes and paints for various surfaces should already alert you... It is toxic if inhaled. It can cause problems with the kidneys, liver and bile ducts, and damage muscles. Irritates eyes, causing redness and dryness. Toulol vapor may adversely affect fetal development in pregnant women |
| Formaldehyde | Let's start with the fact that it is poison. And it's toxic. Harms the immune system, liver and can cause cancer. Contact with formaldehyde is strictly prohibited for pregnant women and asthmatics. It accumulates under the nails, dries them out and thins them. And phenol-formaldehyde resin can cause inflammatory skin lesions, allergies, and respiratory diseases |
| Triphenylphosphate | destroys the human endocrine system and proper metabolism. Harmful to the environment. Included in the list of prohibited ingredients |
| Dibutyl phthalate | adds plasticity to the varnish and makes the color more stable. Toxic. In general, all phthalates negatively affect the functioning of the thyroid gland and endocrine system. Harmful to skin and lungs |
| Waxy antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole | harms the hormonal system |
| Ethyl tosylamide | has a medium hazard class, toxic. Harmful if inhaled |
| Butyl acetate, ethyl acetate | are used as solvents. Irritates mucous membranes of the throat and eyes. Prolonged inhalation of these vapors causes rapid breathing and decreased physical activity. Harmful to the central nervous system |
| Nitrocellulose | The base of the varnish serves to form a hard and even film on the nails. Also irritating to the respiratory system, toxic |
| Styrene copolymer acrylate | added to nail polish to form a waterproof film on nails. Harmful if inhaled. Irritating to skin and eyes. Not safe for the environment |
| N-butyl alcohol | may cause headaches, eye and respiratory tract irritation |
| Propylene glycol | preservative, causes skin irritation, can damage the functioning of the kidneys and liver. May cause cancer |
These are not all the harmful components of shellac; in fact, there are many more of them. The main thing is that they are all toxic and dangerous when inhaled, even in small doses. Well, if you breathe all this once every three weeks for several hours, then you are guaranteed to have health problems.
Want to know which polishes and gel polishes are safe to use? We conducted an expert assessment of more than 20 varnishes, identifying both safe products and products with critical ingredients. You can see some of these funds in the picture above. To find out more, go to ecoface.ru in the ECOTESTS section. Select the “Body” category and check the box next to the eco-test you need. Just 5 minutes and you get a ready-made table with ratings of manicure products for only 150 rubles.
Go to ecoface.ru
How to restore nails after shellac
After removing shellac, nails should be smeared more often with cuticle oil and restorative enamels and varnishes. In this case, the primary role is played not by the price of the products, but by the regularity of care. Hand creams must contain keratin. Classic, European or hardware manicure, if done regularly, also accelerates nail growth, as well as finger massage in the cuticle area. The salons offer restorative services such as hot manicure, sealing, p-shine manicure and paraffin therapy. If you act together, your nails will quickly acquire pristine health. Some girls use shellac to strengthen and heal their nails, but this is unacceptable, since there is no benefit from this coating other than aesthetic. But it is definitely not dangerous and does not cause any diseases of the nail plate if the technology is followed.
Useful tips
Using shellac can be detrimental to your nail health. But it is, of course, possible to reduce the negative consequences.
To do this, you need to follow some recommendations:
- Before use, you should carefully study the composition of the product. It is undesirable to use low-quality products from unverified manufacturers. You should also check the quality certificate.
- During the shellac removal procedure, it is recommended to use orange wood sticks. Metal tools can severely damage the nail plate.
- Do not attempt to scrape or file away the coating yourself. Only a good master can do this correctly.
- After such a manicure, your nails need especially careful care. To do this, you can make masks and baths at home, rinse your hands with decoctions of special medicinal herbs. You should also use a nourishing healing cream for hands, nails and cuticles.
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If you follow these simple recommendations, your manicure will delight you without harming your health. However, if suddenly the body shows a strong allergic reaction to gel polish, which is confirmed by the doctor, it is still better to abandon it forever and try some other nail coating methods.
The consequences of shellac rarely leave negative impressions on women, since the beauty, durability and practicality of the coating bring only joy.
There are pros and cons to any type of coating, be it regular varnish, shellac, or artificial tip extensions. Every girl who wants to be beautiful knows how to paint her nails from childhood, but how and with what to do it needs to be decided individually. Obviously, with proper use, careful wear and thanks to good nail technicians, damage to nails can be minimized.
Pi-shine manicure
There are many ways to regenerate the nail plate. One of the most effective and useful procedures is pi-shine manicure, or the so-called Japanese one. Its essence is to seal vitamins and keratin into the nail plate. The Japanese manicure set includes two pastes. The first consists directly of nutrients, and the second consists mainly of wax, which polishes the nail and protects it from external factors. After the first session, your nails will look healthier and stronger. Japanese manicure gives the nail plate a mirror-like smoothness and shine. A high-quality pi-shine kit costs more than three thousand rubles, so it is more profitable to do this procedure in a salon.
Paraffin therapy as a method of nail restoration
Paraffin has been used in cosmetology for many years. It is famous for its ability to moisturize and nourish human skin. It will not be possible to completely cure damaged nails with its help, but its use will speed up this process. Thanks to regular use of paraffin, nails grow faster and become less brittle. It should be applied warmed up at least once a week, and for at least half an hour. Paraffin with various nourishing oils is available for sale. You can go to a beauty salon for the procedure or do it yourself at home. The process itself is very pleasant and promotes relaxation.
Recovery process
Is shellac harmful for nails? This question disappears by itself if you remove the coating and look at the nail plate. It became rougher and thinner. If you do not treat it in various ways, it will renew itself, but this will take a lot of time. Depending on the length of the plate, the restoration process can take from one and a half to six months. During this period, the damaged part of the nail should grow back completely. And before painting your nails with shellac, you need to make sure that the nail plate can withstand such a load. As soon as gel polish is applied to the nails, they become thicker due to several layers of coating, but this is only a temporary effect. After removal, everything returns to its original state or becomes even worse.
What is shellac
Shellac is the name of the first gel polish in the beauty industry. Gradually, the name became a household name, and today this is what other brands of cosmetics are called. Shellac is a combination of modeling gel and regular varnish.
Applying gel polish involves polishing the nail, after which cosmetics adhere better to the nail plate. Then a base coat is applied to the nail, and then pigment is applied in 2 layers. To carry out the procedure, you need not only special cosmetics, but also an ultraviolet lamp for drying the coating. As the nails grow, the gel polish is removed. However, in order not to damage the nail plate, it is also necessary to follow special rules.
Due to the complexity of the procedure, doing a manicure or pedicure at home is not recommended. The pros and cons of shellac are exaggerated by its supporters and opponents. For this reason, there is no clear answer to the questions about whether the product spoils nails or whether pregnant women can use it. The reaction depends on the individual characteristics of the body, health status and other factors.
Is it worth covering your nails with shellac?
The advantages of shellac over regular varnish are undeniable. While even the most expensive nail polish will last a week at best, and 1-2 days at worst, gel polish can last almost a month. In addition, it is porous, which allows oxygen to reach the nail, and is non-toxic. It cannot be scratched or smudged because after a few minutes of drying it is virtually invulnerable. How much does shellac nails cost? In different cities the price for such a service is completely different. In a small provincial town it will cost 200-400 rubles, while in a metropolis the price rises to two thousand. Prices for the gel polish itself also vary, but in general they make it possible to choose inexpensive material of good quality. Due to the rhythm of life of a modern woman, gel polish coating saves a lot of time and nerves, but at the same time it takes a toll on your wallet.
How to avoid problems
Unfortunately, most manicurists are disingenuous when answering the question: “Is shellac harmful for nails?” It is not in their interests to scare off clients with stories about dire consequences and a long recovery period. First of all, when thinking about how to restore nails after shellac, you need to make sure that the damage caused is minimal. The application technology must be strictly followed. Illiterate use can be much more dangerous. When using this service in a salon or at home, you need to take care of the quality of the material and the sterility of the instruments.
Removing shellac plays a significant role. It is unacceptable to file or scrape off the gel polish. For this purpose, many special liquids are sold that will painlessly remove the coating from your nails. On thin and damaged nails, shellac will last only a few days, but it takes more than a month to treat them. Whether it’s worth it is always up to the client to decide, the main thing is that he doesn’t regret the choice he made later.
