Shellac Ruined my Nails

[SuperSaint]

I hadn't had a manicure for about 15 years and decided to treat myself before Christmas. The technician persuaded me to have shellac as she said it lasted much longer. She never mentioned anything about having to have the varnish professionally removed later.

I was very pleased and it lasted well for about 2 or 3 weeks then I tried to take it off with nail varnish remover. It didn't work so I picked it off which seemed to work well. It never crossed my mind this wasn't what you were supposed to do

However over the next 2 weeks every single one of my nails has split really low down and they are really weak. I am so annoyed as I now have nails that look like I've bitten them for years and they're so low they hurt and are bleeding. Has anyone got any tips on how to strengthen them again or do I just have to wait months until the bit that was ruined has grown out.

The first time in ages I treat myself to a "treatment" it ends in disaster!

Massaging sweet almond oil into them, especially the cuticles, will help.

Picking it off will ruin your nails.
Use a good cuticle oil on the nail and cuticle daily.
CND rescue RXX really helps with delamination and splitting.
Gently file them in one direction once a week to keep short.

I know that now itsbetter but it's too late! I think the nail girl could have warned me especially as I was asking questions about shellac when she was trying to persuade me to use it. It was obvious I'd never used it before.

Thanks for the advice. I will make a trip to Boots tomorrow and buy some cutical cream. I can't file at all at the moment as most of them have split so low down there's nothing left to file.

Oh well a lesson learnt for next time. I am still not sure how you are supposed to get it off though.

Both MIL and a good friend did this recently. Persuaded to do it. Ruined, thin and brittle nails. Neither of them warned about non-professional removal.

You soak it in acetone. I got a bottle for about £1 from my local chemist. Soak some cotton buds in it put it on nails. Hold the cotton balls in place with foil. Leave about 5 minutes then wipe / gently scrape away. Finish with a good quality oil as your nails will be very dry (I use coconut oil)

I had my nails Shellac'ed last year and despite having it taken off by the beautician, it destroyed my nails. They became really week with horizontal cracks which then peeled. I massaged almond oil into them and kept them filed very short but it took around five months for them to recover. Feel for you!

Even if you go back and get it taken off it still ruins your nails

I have a Shellac manicure every six weeks or so. My nails grow really quickly so after two weeks or so you can see a gap at the bottom of my nails so I removed the varnish myself. My beautician showed me what to do with acetone and tin foil etc. My nails are absolutely fine but I look after them really well with good hand cream and almond oil, because I know if I don't they'd be wrecked. Really bad that you weren't told how they needed to be removed.

Not cuticle cream it needs to be oil op. The molecules in good quality cuticle oils that contain things like almond and jojoba oil are small enough to penetrate the nail plate so it needs to be oil not cream and massaged into the nail and cuticle.

It ruined mine too....it took a year for them to recover ;(

Those who have it removed professionally and say their nails are still ruined do you use a good quality cuticle oil on the nail and cuticle everyday when the gel polish is on?

Yep and mine, and had mine prof removed.
I found some Sally Hansen strengthened stuff that you put on like varnish, helped and made them less rough and horrible
Would never have it done again

It only took a couple of months for mine to recover so hopefully yours will be ok

I've done various removal methods - salon, home acetone removal and peeling. Makes no difference to how damaged my nails are. What does is how well I prepare (with oil and cuticle butter weeks before) and continuing to use cuticle oil frequently while it's on. Plus Sally Hansen maximum strength polish for a few weeks after. In most cases Salons don't really care if your nails are damaged - if they warn you, you might change your mind and that is custom lost for them.

I really rate CND solar oil for damaged nails. Good to rub into cuticles too. Also amazing on burns etc. Expensive but a drop goes a looooong way.

I'm surprised that your nails are so weak after one manicure - I did used to bite my nails for years and always pick my shellac off and they don't sound as bad as what you've described!

My technician stocks Vinylux which is the same brand as Shellac (CND) but is designed to last for 7 days. Maybe this would be a better option for you?

Or if you get Shellac again you should be able to get them soaked off for free as long as you're getting them done again at the same time

I've had shellac done 4 times - 3 on my hands, once on my toes. It was done in 3 different reputable salons and always removed professionally. My nails were totally destroyed each time. I though my toe nails were indestructable but apparently not. Never again. Lesson learned.

It will take 2-3 months for them to recover.

Birdybedtime
Good salons do care about the condition of your nails. The problem is most customers don't follow aftercare. They pick and peel or bite, they don't use cuticle oil, they leave it on for too long and they want to have a nail length or shape that is unsuitable for their natural nails. Then blame the gel! It's not the gel polish it's the inadequate aftercare and at home removal that damages. Gel polish will cause a little dryness but it shouldn't be too bad if aftercare is followed.
Many people also forget that after the gel polish
For a salon not to care about your nails is foolish as repeat custom is their bread and butter not one off customers.

I love the way it looks but avoid gel nails most of the time now, mainly because they file the surface of your nail to make it adhere better. So even if you take it off carefully with acetone they've filed away a layer of your nails and made it rough anyway.
Am currently trying out OPIs Infinite Shine which is a regular varnish that looks more like a gel and supposedly wears better, we'll see!

*most people get used to the strength that gel polish gives their nails and then treat them the same when it's off and obviously when it's off a natural nail isn't as hard wearing so you need to be aware of that.

I wouldn't touch it, it's terrible for nails.
Tbf I feel the same about anything really quick drying, or glitters which need soaking off, for very few and far between uses if you want to have nice nails.

I will make sure I buy oil - thank you for the tips. I've got some bio oil upstairs. Do you think that will work in the meantime?

Jessica - I think you've hit the nail on the head (pun intended) - you need to keep going back to have them removed and may as well have new ones on while you're there so it's just ensuring repeat business.

I won't be having them again though as it's not worth the horrible nails for weeks / months afterwards and I can't afford to go every 3 weeks to have them re-done each time.

My fingernails took about 3 months to recover despite removing properly with acetone. Like yours, they all broke really low down.

I didn't use any daily oils or anything, no, not advised to and frankly if they need that much too, I'd rather pass.

My toenails can take it though.

I have also had mine done three separate times in reputable salons & each time it has destroyed my nails for five - six months. The first time I blamed it on the fact I had picked it off, the second time on having not done enough preparation & not using enough oil and the third time I just realised they don't work for me. It's annoying as just about every one else in our office has them and I feel really unkempt for not having them.

I could have written your post, OP. I love how it looked but won't be having it done again, my nails are shot to pieces:(