Shellac for hard working hands...!

[babysaurus]

Will it last more than a few days?
I have both a dog and a baby and if I paint my nails (painstakingly too) it lasts 24-48 hours tops. Hence I don't do anything other than pale nude shades anymore! However, off to a wedding in three weeks, then holiday the week after and am tempted by Shellac or similar. I can't bear the slightest chip though so will it last....?
Experiences please!
Thank you!

Mine lasts for 2 weeks at least - I usually have it off sometime in the third week as it starts to grow out/ looks less than perfect. However I love it - survives several hrs of housework etc. It is bit hard on your nails (lots of soaking in remover to get off) so I've been 'resting' mine since Christmas ready to have next week before my holiday!

I should add I'm lucky if a normal manicure lasts more than a day or two for me as I too am a bit fussy!

Yes, if your nails are in good condition. I found the first time I had it done it lasted really well, but I think the process weakened my nails as the two times I have had it done since my nails have split and it has chipped and peeled. So I am giving it a rest for a while to let my nails recover.

I shellac my own, lasts about 2 weeks. Give your nails a 2 day break inbetween polishes. I'm currently wearing Fedora, not very spring like but then it's SNOWING!!

I was thinking of getting mine done next weekend - they just soak them off in pure acetone - is that right? Am assuming I can get some of that myself and do the soaking off at home and then get them done occasionally rather than all the time.

Yes, I use 'Get em off' from boots I think. you just soak them for 20 mins (each hand) and it comes off easily. I love having them done for holiday, toes and nails, you just don;t have to think about them!

MrsCB Fedora (dark brown) and Dark Lava (like rouge noir) are lovely which I am swapping over at the moment, but Tropix is a gorgeous coral for summer, and some of the reds are amazing, esp decadence & masquerade.. Oh and the new vexed violet is ver ver lovely too..

THanks for the replies! So, I take it you are all of the uber fussy ilk where the slightest chip means it all has to come off immediately too...? And is removing your own easy enough ( the ideA of paying to have it removed does not appeal, I have to say!)

I had Shellac every two weeks for about four months but the last few times thay started peeling off. My nail technician said my nails had probaby become too dry for then to remain adhered to my nails and to give them a break for a few weeks.

Only now they have returned to my broken and softs state they were before having Shellac. I think I will leane it and only have it on the run up to a special occasion.

I love it! I only had one manicure before and it chipped the day after I got it done. With shellac I get 9 to 12 perfect days and then another couple of not so perfect days. It's super shiny too. The only iffy time was when I chose black and it chipped after a couple of days. Shellac is really good for toes as stays on until you are literally sick of the colour.

It's great, way better than a traditional manicure.
Mine lasts 10 - 12 days.

What is shellac? Can someone link a pic? I've heard of gelish which is likewise think nail polish that lasts weeks, is it the same thing?

I have Sensationail gel kit . I did mine two weeks ago and still perfect .
A good tip is that you can paint over them with normal varnish if you feel like a change of colour and then remove the new colour with non acetone remover leaving the gel colour intact. Useful if the gap at the base of the nails begins to annoy you.

I've had shellac or gel nails every 3 weeks for the past year or so except the odd few occasions when I haven't had the time to go. I have baby twins (well, toddlers now) so have done lots of hand washing, bottle washing and scrubbing and they still last 2-3 weeks

To take them off, roughen the surface with a nail file, then put some cotton wool soaked in acetone on each nail, wrapping with a strip of foil to secure, leave for 10 mins and then remove foil and should just scrape off easily.

I've had Gelish which I think is similar. They looked great the first time and lasted a fortnight. Each time after that though they chipped more easily or started peeling.

It took me about 6 months to get my nails back into a decent condition. I then had them done again at Christmas and I'm back to split and peeling nails. I absolutely love them when they're done but be prepared that your nails may take a while to recover.

To remove shellac yourself please do not just soak your nails in an acetone bath! That will weaken your nails.

Use a cotton ball soaked in acetone, place it on your nail then wrap with kitchen foil. Leave for 5 minutes. The foil helps to heat the acetone which removes it faster and easier. With Shellac there is no need for filing the top of your nail, not in the application or the removal.

I gardened and played sport and the Shellac manicure lasted about 18/19 days perfectly

I removed mine at home using cotton balls and foil. However the salon where I get it done removes it by soaking them in little bowls of acetone, which is I think what ruined my nails.

I found it wore off the very tips after 3 days. After 6 days small flakes were coming off. If it had been normal polish I would have removed it after 3 days

I have sensationail too, lasts about 10-12 days on me and then am ready to re-do because of the regrowth.

I love how you can mix their shades and make up your own colours too (especially the glitter ones)

Heat really helps removal so if you use foil method, put hands in a warm towel, if you use acetone in a bowl method, add a couple of drops of oil (less drying on cuticles) and put the bowl of acetone in a bowl of hot water.

Have to file off all the top shiny layer before you start removal too or it will take forever!

I had gelish done in January and it looked great and lasted 3 weeks until I took it off.

Since then though my nails are weak and flaky, they used to be in great condition. I'm not sure I'd do it again despite being really pleased when it was on.

To help keep your nails healthy as well buy the solar oil most techs will have pinkie bottles you can buy for £3 and it lasts ages but it really does help

The idea of shellac is their I'd no buffing of fling of the system apply acetone to a lint free or cotton pad and wrap in foil and it will come off easily