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Original poster

Shellac - nails still wrecked 2 months later?

36 replies

LosingItThisYear · 01/07/2017 13:41

Hello,

I had 'proper' shellac done a couple of months ago - first time I'd had this type of manicure. Ten days after I had it removed, again at a salon.

I was a bit shocked at the time at how dry and awful my nails looked when the polish was off, and have been using OPI nail envy to try and recover them. Two months on, my nails still look dry, are splitting, and look like they've had the surface taken off them.

Is this typical? What can I do to get my nails back? This is really putting me off having shellac again - how do people do it regularly without damaging their nails?

Thanks!

OP posts:
jollyhockey · 01/07/2017 13:43

I've had Shellac done twice and had exactly this. It has taken my nails around 5 months to recover each time. I seem to remember that rubbing almond oil into them can help.

itsbetterthanabox · 01/07/2017 13:46

Sounds like they weren't removed well. Some techs are impatient. Don't soak long enough so it has to be scraped which then thins the nail.
Was it definitely CND shellac?
Use a cuticle oil. Ibex treatment would help too.

BrainSaysNo · 01/07/2017 13:52

I have never had a problem, maybe use a oil morning and night also.

Paffle · 01/07/2017 13:54

This has happened to me twice. Took months so sort out.

Dailystuck71 · 01/07/2017 14:41

Have you been using a nail oil twice a day while they were on?

ZenNudist · 01/07/2017 14:49

Some people seem to be able to wear gel nails and not totally trash their nails (though usually i dont believe them entirely as most have it non stop).

I've tried it and people blame the removal process or the products used but without fail the only thing that fixed my nails after shellac is time. 5 months for my nails to grow back completely them they stop flaking or splitting or breaking.

I keep away from it now. It's a shame because it's nice and hardwearing but I like to be able to have the choice of natural nails.

bananafish81 · 01/07/2017 14:51

Were your nails harshly buffed beforehand?

How did they remove the polish? Was it with foils / wraps or did they soak your fingers on acetone?

Were any of the other techs wearing masks or using drills for any other nail work they were doing?

These would all ring alarm bells for me.

Have you been applying nail oil?

Sorry you're still suffering

Rainbowglow · 01/07/2017 17:13

My nails took weeks to recover from Shellac. Dry. Paper thin. I used lots of oil and took biotin supplements

MassDebate · 01/07/2017 17:18

This happens to me too. I stick with normal non-gel polish now. I have really healthy nails usually but shellac/gelish just destroys them despite proper application/removal at a reputable beautician.

carrie74 · 01/07/2017 17:32

My nails suffered after several shellacs back to back, but CND Rescue RX improved them really quickly. Definitely much better than OPI Nail Envy, which I never found helped after gel manicures.

But after only one application that's quite a bad reaction, such a shame.

Lordamighty · 01/07/2017 17:38

Yes same here, had to grow the weakened nail out.

KimchiLaLa · 01/07/2017 18:38

Did the nail tech use a drill or similar to
Take it off? As that has probably taken a layer off your nails. They should wrap in foil and slowly remove.

jeaux90 · 01/07/2017 19:27

Some people (like me) are allergic to the chemicals in shellac etc

Try and find the drops with vit c and glycol etc in and put them under your nail bed, on the nail and cuticles twice a day. Mine still took weeks to recover.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/07/2017 20:20

You do need to use a nail oil while it's on, same as you'd need to use a good conditioner if you coloured your hair.

Shellac is no buff so applied, and more importantly removed properly doesn't damage nails.

No nail coating does. Nails are very fragile for an hour if soaked for more than 60 seconds. If you scrape them it will remove nail plate and you'll get damaged nails.

IBX is indeed fab but pro only as in its uncured state it can penetrate the skin and over time cause allergies.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/07/2017 20:23

I'm really pleased so many of you know correct removal though. The more consumers know the better.

It roots out bad practice.

Original poster
LosingItThisYear · 01/07/2017 20:52

Hello, thanks for all the replies.

I went to a really good salon for both application and removal (different places, as was on holiday when I had it done). For removal, nails I had my nails wrapped, but there was quite a lot of scraping which I found alarming at the time - maybe that was the problem? No drills used, or masks worn by the technician.

I didn't use oil while I had shelllac on, but did run in a lot of handcream - is that not good enough? I'd been told oil afterwards, but not while I had the polish on. I did start using oil afterwards but it seemed to sink in with no effect and the surface of my nails was really bothering me. Nail envy at least let me ignore the state of my nails underneath...

Thanks again for the replies - I'll look into the suggestions above for oils and supplements. I was hoping to have shellac again for holidays, but don't think I can face it again. Is Rimmel 2 step gel polish easier on nails?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 01/07/2017 20:59

Oil is for while it's on the nail too, did you have it done abroad?.

The scraping is the culprit here.

There's a move towards not removing anyone else's work but your own to avoid this as the market is literally flooded with fake shellac & if it's gel the removal is different.

I reported a company on Thursday for selling fake shellac.

Original poster
LosingItThisYear · 01/07/2017 21:03

I had it done and removed in the Uk. Removal was at a local place that all my friends rate - I told them it was proper CND shellac and I paid to have it removed (they remove their own shellac free of charge).

Maybe my nails just can't cope! I will try some of the supplements and oils suggested - thanks.

OP posts:
Liz38 · 01/07/2017 21:15

It's always trashed mine. I have it done 2-3 times a year for holidays or special occasions and accept that there's a consequence. I rub coconut oil in at bedtime and i think that really helps with the recovery speed. It's worth it for me because even a professionally applied manicure won't last 24 hours unless it's shellac so if I want something to last more than a day then it's shellac.

DidgeDoolittle · 01/07/2017 21:38

I am in exactly the same situation. I had shellac put on my nails for xmas. It was a glittery polish and an absolute sod to get off. I tried soaking, but had to go back to the salon.
The polish was just not budging with foils alone, so the technician helped it along with a scraper type thing.
Ever since then my nails have been appalling. They are dry, flakey and split all the time. I have tried opi nail envy, that did absolutely nothing. I am now applying oil morning, noon and night. I thought it was working until my thumb nail split this morning.
I'm beginning to think they have been ruined forever.

bunnybleu · 01/07/2017 21:45

It ruins my nails too for a few months afterwards. I think I pretty much have to grow the nail out completely while rubbing in lots of oil, keeping the nail really short until they're strong again. It's a shame though as I love how practical and long lasting the shellac is!

Chewbecca · 01/07/2017 21:50

Ruins my fingernails too despite going to a good quality salon who remove correctly. My toe nails are fine with it done in the same place with the same technique.

I honestly think it is too harsh for some weaker nails but people love to defend it and blame the technician rather than admit that some (many?) people's fingernails just don't get on with it.

Takes me about 5 months to grow out and fully recover.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/07/2017 22:37

Nail oil, if it's a good one like solar or Dadi is to make nails more resilient to trauma by reducing brittleness.

It won't thicken a damaged nail plate.

joangray38 · 02/07/2017 03:19

My beauty therapist wouldn't do them on me - I have strong long nails, - in case it ruined them.

Out2pasture · 02/07/2017 03:23

surely you actually watch and see how the surface of you nail is buffed and how it is again buffed for the removal...
and now you have to wait for the nail to grow out.
a nice shellac for a special occasion is fine but not repeatedly.

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