Mumsnet Talk

I never, ever get my nails done but love it when they look nice. Mine grow fairly long and strong and I generally paint them myself but have young children and am quite active so it never lasts longer than a few days without chipping.

I don't want to go down the false nail route as am worried about damage to my real nails but I've been hearing a lot about Shellac / Gellish polishes - what are they exactly? Is it just long lasting nail varnish?

Why is the longest lasting treatment out there without going false and how long does it last?

I don't know about the special treatments, but Essie nail varnish is good for being long-lasting.

I didn't like Shellac it buggered up my nails and didn't last long at all, also felt 'rubbery' and not smooth, I was always aware of it iyswim?

I really rate No 7 Stay Perfect Top Coat - it is amazing and dries 4 coats of varnish to touch dry in seconds, goes rock hard and lasts ages.

It's been a fantastic discovery and because of it I paint my nails all the time now.

Yes I found shellac not great for not ruining your nails tbh, just like false nails, despite what they say about them being good for your nails - plus they started to lift after a few days and I'm not heavy handed etc!
I think that it really works if you choose a range, such as OPI or Nails Inc and buy their base coat, top coat and polish and use them all together - rather than mix and match ranges - as the formulations work better together. I use Nails Inc a lot and find if I apply two coats of top coat that really does the trick and a mani can last a week.

Yes I found shellac not great for not ruining your nails tbh, just like false nails, despite what they say about them being good for your nails - plus they started to lift after a few days and I'm not heavy handed etc!
I think that it really works if you choose a range, such as OPI or Nails Inc and buy their base coat, top coat and polish and use them all together - rather than mix and match ranges - as the formulations work better together. I use Nails Inc a lot and find if I apply two coats of top coat that really does the trick and a mani can last a week.

Yes I found shellac not great for not ruining your nails tbh, just like false nails, despite what they say about them being good for your nails - plus they started to lift after a few days and I'm not heavy handed etc!
I think that it really works if you choose a range, such as OPI or Nails Inc and buy their base coat, top coat and polish and use them all together - rather than mix and match ranges - as the formulations work better together. I use Nails Inc a lot and find if I apply two coats of top coat that really does the trick and a mani can last a week.

Thanks everyone, there is a salon outlet near me and I know they stock the OPI range a few posters have mentioned. Perhaps I will avoid Shellac and stick to doing my own with a heavier-duty polish and a top coat (I don't use it as have never found a decent one in the mid-price sort of bracket). I obviously need to splash out a bit and find something better.

I've been having Gelish for quite a long time now. From ?Sep to beg January, I kept it on constantly (having it taken off and new colour put on every 3 weeks), had most of Jan off, and my nails were absolutely fine underneath, but I missed it, so had it put back on a the weekend. Lasts me 3 weeks (when re growth is the worst bit, often it still looks perfect). I do think the key is careful removal, first time I had it taken off in the salon (and if having it reapplied, the always take it off), but it's a bugger trying to do t yourself, and if you peel it off, you'll wreck your nails. I love it, no looking back!

Second the gel polish - had on every 2-3 weeks since March and my nails are great. Love the 'no dry time' - as soon as it's done, you can do anything!

carrie is right - careful removal is the key.

I would say I am never going back to normal polish but I love that once the gel is on, you can paint over it with normal polish for a night, then take it off with acetone free remover and the gel is still perfect underneath!

I love wearing mad colours to match outfits so not having to redo all my nails after taking it off is a massive bonus for me

Me too for Shellac - lasts about 3 weeks just the regrowth.

Has a moment of madness on New Years Eve and went to a nail bar rather than the usual lady and they used the OPI. I was not keen on it, really hard to get off, tried to get it off before going back to my usual lady, had to confess as the base layer was stuck rigid.

Shellac is easy to remove with the acetone remover - didn't realise you could paint over the top Jack

Lots of good advice here..........I love OPI's colours.