Link below explains the process ~


Check It Out!

I finally decided to try it! I've had my fake / solar nails off for about 3 months now, after wearing them NON-STOP for about 12 years. I wanted to let my nails breathe, plus I've been painting more here lately, and fake nails get the paint underneth and get all yucky, and are hard to clean after painting.... So here I was, with nasty, short, brittle, dented, peeling nails.... Yup....Even after 3 months of letting them breathe, they still looked AWFUL! So I went in for a pedi today and thought I should at least get my hands manicured....possibly they could make them look a little better.... and I got talked into a light, natural color Shellac for my fingernails (only $15 more....you so pretty....like model....Just kidding...) But really, $15 more on top of the $10 manicure price.... and everyone there was swearing by it.... No chips for at LEAST 2 weeks, stronger nails, yada, yada, yada....So I got my toes done too.... Only $15 more there too.... *sigh* ~ Thank goodness for the $100 Mother's Day Gift card!! Anyway.... Ready to go, no drying time, they were "cured"! HArd as glass! And SHINY!
Anyone else have this done? Do you like it and does it hold up as well as "they" say? Seems VERY cool! 

i wanted to get this the last time i was in but was scared to try something new.. i may have to re think this and go and have it done. 

Where did you go love? 

be very careful...I talked to a lady recently that had that done, same scenario and her real nail cracked with the shellac and broke off half way down the nailbed!

That scared me off of trying it...especially since my hands are in water all the time! 

Where did you go love?


Nails by Emily 

her real nail cracked with the shellac and broke off half way down the nailbed!


Same thing happens if you break / crack a nail when wearing fake nails if you hit it hard enough. 

Same thing happens if you break / crack a nail when wearing fake nails if you hit it hard enough.

I would think the acrylic nails would be stronger than that or pop off before it tore your nail...

It sounds horribly painful. :( 

I had my fingers done and loved it. It lasted about 2 weeks. After that it started loosening around the edge of my cuticle in some places. I don't think anyone else would notice, but I was really watching because I was skeptical about the whole process. I had clear, so you couldn't tell when my nails grew. A darker color would show and you'd have to get it redone regularly. I didn't go back to have mine redone and removed it with some acetone. No problems. 

There are appx 8 major gel polish companies. I'm hoping to offer more than the Shellac colors.

See my post about starting back up as a Nail Tech. 

It sounds horribly painful. :(


It can be.... but unlikely to happen 

Mine lasted 13 days as opposed to 6 days with a regular french manicure. At double the cost for double the time, it is a good deal IMO. I remove my polish as soon as one nail looks bad, and I wash my hands about 10 times a day, so it probably is possible to get a little more time. 

Nails by Emily

That's where I have mine done! Mine last SO long! I get a french manicure so growth is not very obvious. It is 4 weeks later and I am overdue for a manicure but they still look fabulous....not a single chip! 

be very careful...I talked to a lady recently that had that done, same scenario and her real nail cracked with the shellac and broke off half way down the nailbed!

that has to do with a weak nail, not the shellac. It is basically just better polish. 

be very careful...I talked to a lady recently that had that done, same scenario and her real nail cracked with the shellac and broke off half way down the nailbed!

that has to do with a weak nail, not the shellac.

That's why I posted. Love said she has very weak, brittle nails after wearing solar nails for 12 years. 

The people at Ocean told me not to do it on my toes. They told me it was not worth it...Could not believe they told me that but hey what can you say 

I liked them the first time. Then had trouble keeping the second set on, cracked right away. Both times it was a bear to get off, took part of my nails off. But yes, they my nails were stronger and looked good for longer than a basic manicure. Another money saving way is to use regular polish underneath and a shellac top coat. 

I do it on my finger nails but not on my toes. I typically get the French manicure and can typically go 2 - 3 weeks between polish changes. I've been using the shellac regularly since December. 

I agree diamon, a regular pedicure lasts 3 weeks. 

The place I went last week (finally) wouldn't do it on my toes either, I was really disappointed. Time to find some place that will! I have to wear clothes toed shoes for work so I am constantly chipping my toenail polish, this is what I need! 

Got an email from Lifetime Fitness not too long ago saying they do it f 

I am waiting on eco So Quick to get some samples to me. Their line is supposed to be good for all nail types. 

sally hensen makes some nail strips and they work really well. the opi ones don't fyi. these you can do yourself, it took me less than 10 mins to do my feet and they last until they're grown out. you can cut the strips so there is more in the box than it seems. 

I needed it on my toes! I chip and nick up my toes within hours of my pedicures! I am either barefoot or in flip-flops at all times.....I will definitely be the true tester of it on the toes!! I'll keep you all posted! :)

OH! And what I REALLY liked about it on the toes is my pretty designs I get done on my toes are under the top coat of Shellac.....so that should stay the ntire time as well without chipping! Double excited! :) 

I LOVE the Shellac. I think it does matter where you go, by the way. I first went to a salon and it was okay. It looked and wore like multiple nail polish paint--was just Ok. But, I then went to Ocean Nails (Nina) and did a FABULOUS job! I absolutely LOVE it! She did a couple of different extra steps and it DID matter regarding the look of my nail. I'll do this forever. 

Does the shellac make your natural nails longer? Mine are still growing out from having solars a couple of months ago, and mine are so thinned down they chip all the time, so they're extremely short. Getting better, finally, but there's just barely any white. Is that too short for shellac? 

Does the shellac make your natural nails longer? Mine are still growing out from having solars a couple of months ago, and mine are so thinned down they chip all the time, so they're extremely short. Getting better, finally, but there's just barely any white. Is that too short for shellac?

It creates a strong overlay so that your own nails can grow beneath, but I would strongly suggest that you go every two and half-three weeks for upkeep. It only takes approx. 30 minutes with no nail grinding, long soaking for new nails (takes five minutes each time for Shellac), and no damage to your own nail. Even short nails look so polished and nice! (like mine right now). There was a woman there while I was waiting and she had longer nails with Shellac and it looked so natural and beautiful. 

Just a note, my nails grow very fast. After a week or 10 days the new growth shows. If your nails grow fast it will be more upkeep. Even wearing just clear shellac the growth show. It is very, very shiny. 

I thought we were done with nails. Like, nails are trailer trashy? Are we still really caring about nails? The one time I did solar in 2000, I was horrified. You could hold a gun to my head, no more mani-pedis for me. 

Does the shellac make your natural nails longer?

Techs across the country are having a few select clients that when Shellac is applied, it is making their nails dry & damaged. It does not seem to be too common but it happens.

Remember, Shellac is not the only brand of SOG (Soak off gel) polish. 

I love the Shellac. I need to go right now and it has been since April 18th. I can tell you it stayed on even when I was using tough cleaning chemicals. I have always had good nails but I do all sorts of home projects and keeping polish on them is impossible. I went to the one by HEB Atascocita and I think I paid about $53 for the mani-pedi which is what I am always talked into at any place and leave and ding them as soon as I walk out the door. 

I'm with Freshy, no more mani-pedis for me either. 

I'm with Freshy, no more mani-pedis for me either.


I actually like the pedicures...I never thought I'd feel that way in a MILLION YEARS, but, I've had two so far in my life and enjoyed both! :P

Manicures are a waste of money for me, though...so, I won't invest in that. And fake nails are a lot of upkeep and can cause a lot of issues for your real nails...no thank you! 

I have found the pedi-massages to be annoying. I think the pedi slaves give us painful calf cramps on purpose and laugh at the white ladies. 

I'm with Freshy, no more mani-pedis for me either.

That's too bad because I was with you with the mani (for ANY of them) and Pedis (with the media regarding the problems--but I will watch the bleach treatment before my pedi)...You truly are missing out if you like clean, manicured nails...but hey, each their own. ;) 

You truly are missing out if you like clean, manicured nails...but hey, each their own. ;)


it's pretty easy to do them at home...lol.

warm soapy water, cuticle nippers, a nail file, nail polish and polish remover...

you're good to go! :D 

I don't go often but when I do, I love it! I actually did stop at the beauty supply to ask about shellac. They didn't have it. If I go, it will definitely be for the Shellac procedure. 

I have only had really bad experiences, so I will stick to doing my own. 

's pretty easy to do them at home...lol.

warm soapy water, cuticle nippers, a nail file, nail polish and polish remover...

you're good to go! :D 


I have to admit, i'm there too. I decided a few months ago to take a little time and take care of mine instead leaving them short. I've never had fake ones and don't like the cost, the chemical involvement or the abuse to your own nails. Housework, water, and gardening are the enemies. But I am cleaning and caring for them weekly now. I rub a little olive oil on them every week for a moisturizer and now they are so long, I'm hitting 2 keys when I type. I have to cut them every 2 weeks. Use Sally Hansen strengthener and polish, and usually clear coat and I'm done. 

Pedi slaves??? Laugh at the "white ladies"????? 

I would go in just to put my feet in hot water. :)