Gel polish and shellac - what's the difference?
In 2010, a real discovery took place in the fashion world, which turned the attitude towards manicure and nail design upside down. Shellac was born, allowing you to create durable, long-lasting coatings in a huge variety of shades. Since then, the popularity of shellac has not decreased, and today this type of decoration for marigolds is one of the most demanded by fashionistas in all corners of the world. This coating is often called gel polish. Are these names really synonymous or are shellac and gel polish different nail products?
GEL POLISH AND SHELLAC: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
Today, manicure is an integral part of a woman's image. Beautiful well-groomed hands will tell about the character and taste of the girl, her mood, preferences. It is easy and simple to express your feelings, feelings, emotions by covering your nails with colored varnish.
A bit of history
The invention of nail polish is a merit of Chinese craftsmen. Back in the Ming Dynasty, they created a unique blend for applying to girls' hands. This coating was made from the resinous secretions of insects and had a beneficial effect on the nails. In the 1930s, Charles Revson invented a water-soluble varnish that quickly won the hearts of women around the world.
The first versions of nail varnishes could not boast of durability and long-term wear. The color disappeared from the nails after a few hours, after which it rolled off the nail plate. Over time, both the quality of the varnishes and the color palette have been significantly improved. There are products with a scent of perfume, in bright shades. In 1938, a lacquer base was developed and released.
SHELLAC AND GEL POLISH: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
The evolution of nail varnishes has made it possible to obtain a huge number of different options for covering the nail plates. They differ in composition, method of application, color, durability. Products are produced by many brands, including manufacturers such as Kodi, Shellac and others. Now the answer to the question of what shellac and gel polish are and what are the differences between them becomes obvious - the name of the brand distinguishes gel polish from shellac . The manufacturer Shellac manufactures one of the best quality products for nail coating and, despite the many advantages of this varnish option, it is still a type of gel varnish.
Shellac and gel polish: which is better
You can compare gel and shellac after the main features of this type of product become clear. Shellac pioneered a long-lasting nail polish. To dry this varnish, exposure to UV rays is required and a special lamp is used. It is because of the primacy of Shellac that analogs of other manufacturers began to be called shellacs in everyday life, although they are not.
But there is also a difference: shellac is a mixture of regular nail polish and UV products. Thanks to this combination of ingredients, shellac creates a thin film on the nails. Removing it is also simplified - shellac comes off easier and faster, the risk of damaging the nail plate is noticeably reduced.
The products of Creative Nail Design - Shellac, have a number of advantages that lead them to leading positions in the popularity rating. Among the advantages of shellac are:
natural composition of hypoallergenic components;
a high degree of pigment saturation;
ease of application, uniformity of distribution over the nail plate;
high polymerization rate;
safety - does not dry out nails, because it does not need the use of an acid primer;
benefit - strengthens nails, helping them grow back to the required length;
excellent durability of the coating, which makes it possible to wear the varnish without damage for up to 3 weeks;
ease of removal without harm to nails.
Does such a luxurious finish have any downsides? Like any ideal Shellac product, it is quite expensive both in itself and in work. Special lamps are used to harden the product, and an expensive remover is used to remove it.
With the advent of gel varnishes from other manufacturers, the manicure process has become more in demand and popular, because the cost of the procedure has become lower, and the bottles with varnishes themselves are more affordable. Gel polishes also have many advantages that make them equal to shellac:
affordable cost with decent quality;
a wide palette of tones, shades, textures - matte, glossy, shimmery, etc.;
fast solidification, polymerization in a conventional UV or LED emitter;
ease of application, thanks to which you can apply gel polish at home.
What is the difference between shellac and other brands of gel polish ? Before applying gel polish, nails must be treated with a primer that is not the most useful for them for better adhesion of the coating to the nail plate. Removing the coating, both with a solvent and with a cutter, is traumatic for nails, making them brittle and thin. Low-cost varnishes can have a liquid consistency, due to which they lie unevenly on the nails. These varnishes can cause allergies and inflammation, which cannot be expected from shellac.
One of the functions of gel polish on nails is to create an attractive design and emphasize the stylish image of the owner. But this is not the only task of the coating - it makes the nails denser, thicker, and prevents bacteria from penetrating under the layer. If present in the composition of nutrients, gel polish helps to restore and strengthen brittle and thin marigolds. What to choose for these purposes? As practice shows, good gel varnishes are not much inferior to Shellac in the classic version, but they are cheaper. But if you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to the gel coating of nails, you should give preference to a more expensive and safer solution.