We Love Fridays: DIY Gel and Shellac Polish Manicures

If you are worried about UV on your hands here is a tip... get a pair of cheap cotton gloves from the dollar store and cut off the tips so that they do the manicure and when you put your hands in the UV machine most of your skin is protected! I had my first shellac and will never go back! I was always frustrated at how much a mani cost and the polish would be damaged before I even drove home! The shellac has lasted me three weeks!

@Ashley To remove shellacs or gels, you should use 100% pure acetone. Here's a little trick: take a cotton pad or ball, dip into the acetone, place on your nail and then wrap it in tinfoil. Leave on for a little while, then remove, your polish should come off easily in one swipe.

I've bought this kit and the first time I used it, I loved it! Then after a week it started to chip (as would my salon shellac manicure) so I tried to remove it. The polish is extremely hard to get off and I ended up filing it off. The filing made my nails thinner than they already are. After all the polish was off and my nails were thoroughly cleaned, I applied my newest colour. This colour was more sheer that the red I originally applied, so I had to do 3 coats of color instead of 2. Everything seemed fine until I got in the shower later that day and then the polish began to peel off. Has anyone else experienced this?

As much as I love Shellac manicures, I would prefer to get them at a salon. I have such an unsteady hand haha :P

intersting. looks like lot of work.

I love Shellac! I prefer the french manicure look, over the solid colours - as I find that it wears longer, for some reason. I don't do it myself, but this post really makes me think about it! It gets expensive to have to constantly have them done at the spa, and it would be soo convienient doing them at home!

Sorry, I wouldn't try it. Shellac goes on floors and furniture. What does it do to your nails?? Plus, you need industrial strength remover to get the stuff off. Not for me.

My nails are very thin and brittle.. I bite them all the time (down to the skin!) Bad habit :(
In that case, I tend to get fake nails all the time. Nail polish rarely ever chips when I paint them, & I paint them often.. So I don't opt for shallac...
My sister has tried it & she's loved it! I wish I didn't bite my nails, so I could try it too!

@Becky When I got my shellac done, I asked the same thing. UV lamps in general aren't good for you (i.e. stay away from tanning beds!). But your hands are not under the lamps for a long time and I don't think the concentration is all that high so you should be ok

These are cool but not for me... I enjoy my own nails way too much. I am blessed with a natural french manicure, and all my girlfriends tell me how beautiful my nails are. Mind you I do polish once in a while, but just a clear coat is enough to have them looking professionally done.