Shellac. Damaging?

[HexBramble]

I had shellac for the first time ever last July, for a wedding. Come summer, camping, swimming, gardening etc and the shellac was chipping and growing out. I fully intended on getting it removed properly but didnt get round to it.

Now, I have half a new nail growing through and it looks smoother and flatter by comparison. The shellac bit looks dented and not as smooth as the new nail. So, this led me to think that shellac isn't healthy? I was planning on trying to get a healthy pink shellac and encouraging good nail health but now I'm not so sure.

[carlywurly]

I do like shellac but it has trashed my nails.

It's useful for holiday toes but I'm back to regular polish on fingers.

I've also got ridges on my toe nails where the shellac is growing out and I can't be bothered to have it removed so paint over it

[Looby4]

I have Shellac every two weeks and have done so for about 2 years. It tends to lift and if I peel it off myself, the surface of my nails looks white and unhealthy, but after a day or two, they're fine. My nails are very strong and healthy and I swear by Shellac in terms of having constantly well-painted nails. I avoid the salons which use machines and only choose technicians who file and use CND shellac products, having had the odd narrow escape!

[kittyvet]

Have used both Shellac and Gelish and on balance toe nails painted with Gelish seem much more healthy. Have it changed every 4/6 weeks.

[RJnomore]

I found it so. In fairness much less so than gel extensions, but it did wreck mines a bit and took a while to recover.

I had it for about two years, soak off and then straight back on.

[desperatehousewife21]

I keep wanting to try shellac but my nails aren't great at the best of times so has put me off.

[applecrumbleandcream]

I had shellac done in March after getting it done from Groupon.... Never again ! My nails have not been the same since.

[pixiegumboot]

Mine fine after 3+ years. Every two weeks.

[cartsmar]

Fine for me too

You neglected them OP, let them grow out and didn't remove properly that's why they look crap!

[burnishedsilver]

I've had it 3 times, at 3 different salons, properly removed each time. I even used solar oil throughout. My nails were destroyed each time and tooks months to recover. Even my toe nails, which I thought were indestructible, were trashed.

[MeganChips]

I know it's not exactly the same but I have a sensationail kit and a variety of polish brands.

My nails are crap, really, really awful usually. Short, split and flaking. Since using the gel they are so much better. It seems to protect them.

Use the wraps to remove, leave them on for a good half an hour and the polish just rubs off with minimal orange stick use.

I certainly haven't had any bad effects from it, the opposite.

[VanitasVanitatum]

My nails are thinner and weaker since I started getting shellac every couple of weeks, i think it lifts off and takes a layer off your nails even if you have it removed properly after two weeks.

Problem is my nails are such a mess now I can't stop getting the shellac as they look too bad without it! It really does look good on though.

[MeganChips]

burnishedsilver actually, for all my finger nails are better, I agree about toe nails. My finger nails are fine, toe nails seem to disintegrate.

[itsbetterthanabox]

If shellac is applied and removed correctly then no it isn't damaging. Some salons do it wrong and damage your nail. It will damage your nail if you leave it on too long as you have. Gel polish continues curing slightly when on the nail so you should never have it on for more than 3 weeks because it will start to get much harder and damage the nail. It will also be much more difficult to remove. You need to remove it every 3 weeks max.
When you have shellac on you need to moisturise your growing nail. It can be drying so use cuticle oil frequently and you will see a real difference.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've had it done twice this summer, I only wanted it for holidays (first time was a trial run). I removed it myself both times, what a palava that is. Damage was minimal but I definitely won't be doing it again apart from when going on holiday, very expensive and time consuming compared to a home manicure.

[Mumtoh]

I had a French Polish shellac in February, had it professionally removed two weeks later. My nails have been trashed ever since. Really flaky, split very easily. They were lovely before, I only had it done as I was going away and I really wish I hadn't. I'm wondering if my nails will ever be the same again? The beautician said I obviously had porous nails, and I should use oil to strengthen them, but tbh I only use it when I am not wearing nail strengthener, which I use every day as I hate bare nails.

So, related question - can you use nail oil when wearing nail strengthener (eg Sally Hanson)? I mean massaging into cuticles rather than nail, obviously, will it help?

[burnishedsilver]

Some people's nails just aren't suited to it. I don't agree when people blame the technician or the wearer. I did everything right, oil and all. My sil raves about shellac so I went to her technician. I had my usual nail destroying result. My nails just can't take it.

[XiCi]

So you just left it to chip and grow out and didn't get it professionally removed and then wondered why your nails didn't look good? If you neglect them like that then if course they will end up damaged.

I've had shellac on and off for a few years, always get it removed at the salon and have never had any problems. I think it has made my nails stronger.

It only ruins your nails if you peel it off yourself instead of getting it properly removed

[itsbetterthanabox]

Mumtoh yes always use oil even when you have polish or shellac on. It moisturises the growing part of the nail and under the tip. Dry nails split and flake easily.
I agree don't always blame the tech but some techs do overly buff the nail before applying gel polish which weakens it significantly. Real CND shellac is no buff so the tech doesn't need to buff your nail at all!
The strengthener may be contributing to your weakened nails if it is the wrong one for your nail type. Long term use of a strengthener containing formaldehyde for example will make nails very brittle.

[PinkSparklyElephant]

I have Shellac ever 3-4 weeks and my nails are fine - they are in the best condition ever. I remove it myself after 2-3 weeks and use regular polish for the rest of the time and I use Solar Oil every night.

[HexBramble]

Thanks for everyone's posts.
If I have it done again, I'll be sure to get it properly removed. I simply didn't get the time and had the beautician told me not to leave it, I would have tried to sort it properly.

Anyway, it seems that opinions are divided on its effects, so I'll opt for something different. My nails have never been decent, so I would like to do something. Perhaps Shellac isn't the answer for me.

[PinkSparklyElephant]

I take my own off. You can remove it either by wrapping in foil or I soak mine in a small bowl of acetone which I find is quicker than foil.

[DarkBlueEyes]

Gel completely trashed my already thin nails. Never again. Was nice while it lasted though!

[applecrumbleandcream]

I don't think shellac was for me either because as well as ruining my nails I was sick of the colour after 3 days and then put up with it for two weeks. Prefer to do my own nails every few days.