can you keep Shellac on permanently? just keep getting redone?

[ThatVikRinA22]

i ask because i was thinking of having acrylics but my nails grow exceptionally quickly and so ive thought better of it.

i like nail polish but it flakes off after a day as my hands work hard.

i had shellac on last year but after 3 rounds of it i found my nails were so thin and brittle they split painfully...but only when it was removed.

I always had it taken off properly by the beautician.

i was talking to someone who has had shellac on permanently now for 2 years - every couple of weeks they have it taken off and redone. Their nails are not suffering for it.

ive bought some nail oil to use daily but was thinking of trying to just keep having it done if my nails can survive it....

does anyone have experience?

I am not sure exactly what you mean by "permanently,"but I have weak nails and I do have shellac or other gel nail products (prefer OPI) removed and applied about every three weeks and have been doing this for about 4 years now. It's hard to know whether it damages my nails because they are in poor shape to begin with. Every few months I take a break from it for about 2-3 weeks, cut them really short and use oil and lotion on bare nails to recondition them.

I love gel nails; it's the only way that I can have decent looking nails. I am pretty sure the gel is not making them much worse but they are not good to begin with.

I don't understand how shellac will be better than acrylics if the problem is that your nails grow quickly as you will still have an area at the bottom of the nail that is unvarnished after three weeks?

Have I misunderstood?

I've just had my first shellac (actually my first ever manicure and I'm nearly 40) and within a week it looked really odd because my nails grow so fast. I ended up painting over it with a vaguely matching colour, then again another few days later. I took it off after two and a half weeks because it was literally halfway up my nails (did if myself and was pleasantly surprised at how good my nails were underneath). I wouldn't do it again,even though it didn't chip, just because the regrowth drove me mad!

My nail polish lasts less than a day too, so I use paler colours so the chips don't show as much! I use opi nail envy and solar oil every now and then to keep them strong, which seems to work.

Not sure shellac or acrylics are the answer for you, vicar...

I have Shellac every 3 weeks and my nails are as strong as ever. I think a lot depends on the skill of the beautician who removes it. In the past, I came across some beauticians who wrecked my nails

i want permanently groomed looking nails - but acrylics probably not the answer for me.

going to keep on with shellac and see how it goes. am using solar oil nightly.

I use shellac permanently and have done for some time now. I started off with good nails but haven't noticed any difference. I use a light color so as it starts to grow out you don't notice too much.

I've started using a 'gel' topcoat and my nails last a week now. I do them myself.

How does that work savoy? Do you "cure" it like you do shellac, or just paint it on? What make is it?

I do this on my toenails and haven't had any problems, but haven't been able to sustain it on my fingernails more than a couple of months. I tried again just recently. They end up getting very weak and I have to take a break.

I know a couple of friends who have invested in the UV lamp and kit and do their own at home - if you are getting them done so often this might be a good solution.

Also interested in the gel topcoat, sounds intriguing!

For the ladies who say their polish only lasts a day can I ask if you wrap your tips when painting your nails? Also what kind of topcoat do you use and how often do you reapply it?

this is wrapping your tips

I've tried wrapping the tips of my nails and it helps stop the chips at the edge that you get from typing. However, my nails appear to be super soft and flexible and no ordinary polish seems to survive this in daily usage.

I've tried more topcoats than I care to think about, from Sally Hansen to OPI (via nails inc), Orly Bonder base coat.

I just wear nail varnish on my toes now.

It's called"3D topcoat"

The one I have is "revitanail" but I don't live in the uk. We are a decade behind here though so I'm sure there's a ready supply.

well this shellac is shite. its flaking off already and driving me insane. im booked in on monday for a redo.

trying a different beautician.

funnily enough i also have super soft and bendy....i wonder if thats the problem? i can get them long but they are still very soft.