How to make shilak at home. It is necessary to have a spare varnish. Applying the top layer - top coat

A varnish that does not crack after contact with water, is not washed off with detergents and even after 5 days shines like new - is this a dream? No, because a shellac manicure guarantees just such results; it allows you to create any design and implement all the latest fashion trends on your nails.

Types and ideas

Shellac is a gel polish that can withstand almost all known aggressive factors. It can stay on the nails for 2 weeks, sometimes longer, it all depends on the speed of nail growth. At the end of its life, shellac should not chip or flake off - it’s just that the hole near the nail demonstrates the transition from the natural plate to the painted areas, which is not an aesthetic sight.

Shellac comes in matte, glossy and glitter. Now some companies have also introduced original varnish, in which the coating changes texture after hardening. It becomes velvety, grainy or sandy.

Shellac manicure options are so varied that it is almost impossible to single out one of them. Every day new ways of decorating nails are being invented. Let's look at the most popular types:

This type of varnish has a huge amount benefits. Firstly, you can easily grow your nails with it. Together with the varnish, plate strengthening technology is used, which prevents the appearance of peeling and eliminates brittleness and flaking. Secondly, it does not require maintenance. You painted your nails and walked like that for two weeks, not worrying about their appearance at all. Thirdly, any girl can do it. All you need is a set of varnishes, an ultraviolet lamp and a little patience.

But there is one drawback. Many girls like the eclecticism of the water design style, but, alas, it is impossible to do a water manicure with gel - it sinks in water due to its high density.

Let's take a closer look at the various shellac techniques.

Manicure for short nails

Ideas for designing small nails are very diverse. You can draw a pattern, glue liquid stones, add rhinestones, sparkles, stripes, etc. to the plates. Let's consider step by step how to make a delicate gradient manicure with shellac (ombre) on short nails:

  1. We suggest using white and red, which are very suitable for festive gel nail designs. First, a degreaser is applied to the nails, then they are lubricated with a base and dried in a lamp;
  2. After this, the most interesting part begins - drawing the gradient. The peculiarity of working with gel is that each shade will need to be dried in a lamp;
  3. First, apply the base and let it dry. After this, the extreme gradient is painted over. To do this, apply a few drops of varnish to the sponge. Then dry again. This is repeated until the moment of complete sketching;
  4. The materials can be applied immediately - if, for example, the gradient is not complex. In other words, spread all the polishes one by one onto the sponge, and then apply it to the nail. This will save a lot of time, although the pattern will not be as beautiful as when drawing each gradient level separately;
  5. Afterwards you need to fix the design and dry it with a lamp. The sticky layer can be wiped off with alcohol.

You can also make a mirror shellac manicure, it is perfect for a wedding or just a festive one. This is the easiest technique for beginners. To make it yourself you won’t need anything other than a lamp, foil and varnish fixer. The nail is cleaned with a buff, then a base is applied to it. Foil is glued to the base. It is trimmed around the perimeter and leveled. The second layer should be applied with a fixative. Afterwards the nails are dried in a lamp.

Lunar manicure with shellac

The lunar version of nail design never goes out of fashion. It can be done on nails of any length, and the holes can be located at the tips or in the hollows of the nails, painted over or not. To choose the right type of hole, you need to look at the examples and take into account some features:

  • An unpainted hole grows less noticeably than a painted hole. This means that such a manicure will last longer;
  • During the application process, several transitions are formed, so if 2 or more holes are made, the last one will rise slightly above the rest - not everyone likes this;
  • It is best to do this design in contrasting colors: red - black, blue - white, etc.

How to make a moon manicure using shellac at home:

  1. You need to clean the plate and apply a base on it, then dry it under a lamp;
  2. The outline of the future hole is drawn. This is done either with a thin brush or with a stencil. The first “frame” of the hole is made of the main color;
  3. Afterwards drying is carried out;
  4. A hole appears. Professionals prefer to work “live”, without stencils;
  5. All that remains is to fix the varnish, dry it and wipe it with alcohol.

This technique is performed by any salon, because of all the design options it is the simplest and most elegant. You can do a pedicure in the same way.

Video lesson: how to do a shellac manicure at home

French shellac

French manicure coated with shellac is a recognized classic manicure. It is suitable for any season and holiday. Let's look at how a classic French manicure is done using shellac varnishes:

  1. The nail is treated with a buff and base. Then it is dried under the rays of a UV lamp;
  2. The main part of the plate is painted pink or beige. Of course, you can use black or red, but it is recommended to leave dark colors for the cold season (autumn-winter), when the contrast with the skin will be more noticeable;
  3. Next, the tip of the selected shape is drawn with a brush. It can be straight, oval, triangular. Drying is in progress;
  4. You can stick rhinestones along the contour or draw a pattern. Afterwards the fixative is applied.

You can complement this style with any pattern or stickers.

Winter and New Year's

New Year's and winter shellac is a stylish holiday manicure that seems to bring the holiday closer to us. Its difference from other options is variations on the theme of drawings. Patterns can be very different: Christmas tree branches, cones, balls, bows and others.

Let's look at how to make a cool beaded manicure for the New Year:

  1. The beads are made of black, red and white varnish. The base is applied and dried, after which the base is painted white;
  2. Use red dots to draw a kind of moon at the base of the nail. Also, the point is located in the center of the plate. Everything is dried;
  3. Then take a brush and black varnish, with which you need to evenly draw petals around the central point. Inside these petals are painted white, but so that the black edging is visible;
  4. Dots are drawn around the petals;
  5. This is done on one of the fingers. The rest are decorated with dots. Your goal is to draw a diamond-shaped dotter pattern where the four tops of the diamond are larger than the side points;
  6. If desired, this manicure can be used for summer or spring, just with different colors.

If you prefer to draw patterns, then you can make a simple jacket, and then draw a Christmas tree or a snowman along the edging of the white tip.

Knitted

Photos of knitted shellac manicure surprise with their beauty and grace. But it seems almost impossible to accomplish it. In fact, this is a very simple technique that you don’t need to be a super manicurist to implement. You will need polish, brushes, lamp and powder (sand for nails). Steps:

  1. Gel polish is applied to the prepared nail. The first strip should be thin, but voluminous, i.e., rise above the plate. If the varnish begins to spread, then you need to quickly apply a strip and sprinkle it with powder or sand;
  2. The following patterns are located symmetrically on both sides of the plate. Draw several letters “Z”, how to draw them becomes clear after watching the video;
  3. Next, powder is poured onto the shellac. It is very important that the varnish is not dried;
  4. The nails are dried and then cleaned of any remaining powder using a brush. That's it, no fixings or re-patterning required.

The price of shellac depends on where and by whom the manicure is performed. Naturally, the services of fashion salons will cost much more than home craftsmen. Novice specialists often offer to design their nails for free or literally for consumables, which is relatively inexpensive. But if you buy yourself a lamp, you can conduct sessions for free.

Now cosmetic brands have begun to produce home kits with LED lamps. If you don’t have the time or desire to sit in the salon for hours, you can create a gel manicure yourself in just 30 minutes. And Irina Savchenko, training manager of the Orly brand, will teach you how to do it correctly.

Keep in mind that it is correct to call only products from the CND brand, a pioneer among long-lasting varnishes, “shellac.” But its serious popularity has made this word a household word: when we say “shellac,” we mean a two-week manicure.

STEP 1
File your nails and push back the cuticles with a spatula. Then moisten a napkin with a degreaser and wipe the nail plates with it.

STEP 2
Did you manage? Apply a thin layer of base coat to four nails (don't touch your thumbs yet). And immediately place them in the lamp for exactly 1 minute.

STEP 3
Now take the gel polish. After painting your nail, don’t forget to “seal” it by running the brush along the outer edge - this way nothing will happen to it during the entire vacation. And fix the coating in an LED lamp: the instructions will indicate the exact drying time of the product (from 30 seconds to 3 minutes). Apply a second layer of varnish using the same pattern.

STEP 4
Ready? To make your manicure shine throughout your vacation and look as if you just left the manicure, use a top coat. After applying it, immerse your fingers in the lamp again (from 30 seconds to 2 minutes).

STEP 5
Now, as at the very beginning, wipe the nail plates with a degreaser to wash off the sticky coating that formed on them during the procedure. Remember: the napkin must be lint-free.

THE FINAL TOUCH
Ideally, it would be nice to soften the cuticle with oil - one or two drops is enough.

  • Now repeat steps 2-5 with your thumbs.

How to remove shellac at home

  1. Lightly go over your nails with a 180 grit file to remove the top layer of coating.
  2. Now moisten cotton pads with a special liquid (it is included in any LED manicure kit) and wrap your fingers in them. If you want to speed up the process, also pack the limbs in foil. Sit like this for 10 minutes.
  3. Believe me, it's worth it: the varnish will come off on its own.
  4. If not, help him with an orange stick or plastic scraper.

Which kits to use at home


Set for gel polish manicure, Red Carpet

  • Degreaser Prep
  • Base coat Structure
  • Color LED Gel Polish (128 Reddy)
  • Brilliance Top Coat
  • Purify nail pre-cleaner and sticky remover
  • Erase gel polish manicure remover
  • Portable light-emitting diode (LED) lamp

Shellac is a beautiful and durable nail coating that can be applied at home. The product appeared on the cosmetics market relatively recently, but has already won the sympathy of the fair sex. A high-quality coating provides a woman with three weeks of flawless manicure.

How to make shellac at home: video instructions and useful tips

Many girls are interested in the question of how to make shellac at home. Carrying out the entire procedure yourself saves both money and time. The coating is harmless to nails, provides them with protection while maintaining the flexibility of the plate. It is worth considering the process step by step.

Step 1: treatment of the nail plate

Before doing this, you need to prepare your nails. The cuticle is removed extremely carefully, without using any special means. Residues of any liquid, especially oil-containing ones, will subsequently ruin your manicure.

After processing the cuticle, the nail is given the desired shape and the plate is carefully sanded until the shine disappears. The product lasts longer on such a surface. All accumulated dust is carefully removed with a dry brush.

Step 2: Preparing the Nail Surface

To ensure that the product adheres better, the nail plate is degreased and then a primer is applied. This is a special substance that improves the adhesion of shellac. You need to apply the primer along the edge of the nail and wait for it to dry naturally (without a lamp).

Step 3: Base

The technique of applying the base layer is similar to coating the nail plate with ordinary decorative varnish. The only difference is that the layer must be sealed. To do this, coat the end of the nail with a well-wrung out brush.

The base layer is dried under an ultraviolet lamp at a power of 36 W. Exposure time is about 2 minutes. At the end of polymerization, a sticky layer remains on the surface of the nail - this is normal and does not need to be removed.

Step 4: Color Layer

A thin layer of colored shellac is applied to the sticky base. Sealed and dried in a UV lamp for two minutes. Then this procedure must be repeated. The result is a durable two-layer color coating. If you complete the manicure with a single color application, the shade of the nails will be translucent. You can find a suitable shellac nail design; photos are available on the Internet and in nail salons.

Step 5: Consolidation

The final fixing layer (top) is slightly thicker than the previous ones. The coating is applied to the entire painted surface and sealed. Stains and cloudy areas on the finish coating are not allowed. This will ruin the appearance of the entire manicure.

Step 6: Finish

The top sticky layer is removed using a degreaser, and nourishing oil is applied to the cuticle. If everything is done correctly, the coating will not wrinkle or burst.

Nail technicians recommend using gel polish or shellac for a long-lasting manicure; a specialist will explain the differences between these products. He can also tell you how to apply shellac correctly; the technology for applying it at home is slightly different from the salon procedure.

What do you need for shellac

Many who are already familiar with shellac recommend going to a salon and doing the first procedure there before experimenting on your own. By observing the work of an experienced craftsman, you can notice important nuances and avoid mistakes in the future. Applying the coating at home requires some preparation. This concerns the acquisition of a set of tools and necessary tools:

  • — a set of devices for dry manicure;
  • - means for the base layer;
  • - shellac of the desired color;
  • — fixing coating;
  • - ultraviolet lamp for drying (it’s better to ask your specialist which lamp is needed);
  • — a means for removing the sticky layer after polymerization (degreaser);
  • - shellac remover.

Shellac is resistant to regular nail polish removers. The procedure for removing it is also quite complex and multi-step. It is worth stocking up on foil, cotton pads, acetone and plastic sticks in advance. Sometimes it is not possible to remove shellac using solvents (if the coatings were too thick). Then it is simply sawed off with a file.

How to make French shellac

The shellac series has special shades for French manicure. You can paint your smile with the pale and calm tone of Stidio White, or you can highlight it with the brighter and richer Cream Puff. The second shade contains white pigment in high concentration and is used for classic French manicure.

The main tone for nails is presented in a wider color palette. This includes transparent shellac, milky pink, and a product with small glitter. Shades are selected based on personal preferences.


The difference between a French manicure and a regular one is that the main tone is applied in one layer, and the smile is drawn twice. After each application, shellac is polymerized in a lamp.

Underwater rocks

Despite the apparent ease, applying and covering with shellac at home is a rather complex and painstaking procedure. Here are some disadvantages of home manicure:

  1. 1. High adhesion of the products makes application difficult. It is very difficult to achieve a coating that is even in tone and uniform in thickness for bright colors. Colored shellac is sticky and requires extreme concentration. It is a little easier to work with a base layer, top coat and color compositions in light pastel shades.
  2. 2. For an amateur, the procedure for applying shellac can take several hours. Moreover, even such a long effort does not guarantee an ideal result. At the end of the procedure, your nails may look unpredictable.
  3. 3. Shellac can only be applied twice. After this, it is recommended to take a break of 20-25 days to give the nail a “rest.” For those who are not used to waiting, it is better to consult with a specialist: shellac or biogel, which is better for permanent use.
  4. 4. Periodically, nails have to be restored. Despite the relative harmlessness of the products, the plates still deteriorate a little and become brittle. But they are treated quickly.
  5. 5. If you want to get rid of your manicure, you will have to work hard and spend a lot of time.

Otherwise, covering your nails with shellac is a complete advantage. If you have self-confidence and free time, you can master this art yourself and do a long-lasting manicure at home.

Many women have experienced the benefits of shellac. The durable coating lasts two to three weeks without chips or scratches, so you can wear the chosen type of manicure without tedious “fixing” and repainting. It is ideal for young mothers, working girls, and also for long trips, for example, at sea.

Required Tools

First of all, you will need a set of coatings with at least one color. Some components can be replaced with more budget-friendly options from inexpensive manufacturers, or you can purchase everything from one.

You will need:

  • manicure tools – tweezers, spatula, orange stick, file with abrasiveness 220–240 grit, buff;
  • cuticle remover;
  • brush for cleaning nails from dust;
  • primer (dehydrator, degreaser);
  • UV lamp 36 Watt (recommended power);
  • shellac base coat;
  • shellac tinting coating;
  • shellac finish (top);
  • lint-free wipes;
  • sticky layer remover;
  • shellac remover;
  • foil with sponges.

Sequencing

The home technology for making shellac is no different from the salon process, since practically not a single component can be replaced. As an exception, instead of liquid, you can use regular alcohol to remove the sticky layer, but professionals insist that this harms the quality of the manicure.

  1. do a dry manicure without creams and oils;
  2. shape your nails with a nail file;
  3. treat each nail with a buff or soft file for better grip;
  4. Clean your nails and hands from nail dust with a brush;
  5. apply primer and dry it without a lamp;
  6. Apply a thin layer of base coat, sealing the end of the nail;
  7. hold your hand in the lamp for 1.5 minutes;
  8. apply the base tone in a thin layer, squeezing the brush well;
  9. dry in a lamp for 1.5 minutes;
  10. the second layer of tone is denser, seal the end;
  11. dry for 2 minutes;
  12. carefully apply the topcoat in one dense layer;
  13. last drying in the lamp for 2 minutes;
  14. remove the sticky layer after the top has polymerized using a special product.

The entire procedure takes about an hour, but as you gain skill in working with the thick texture of gel polish, this time is reduced to 40 minutes.


  • If you are going to design, choose at least two shades of the base coat. You can purchase a design set based on the principle “color + sparkles”, “color + mica”, or two or three contrasting shades to choose from.
  • Combine cold tones with cold, warm tones with warm or neutral. You should not complement translucent shellac with dense or glossy mother-of-pearl.
  • The sticky layers formed after polymerization of the base coat and the first layer are not removed, and this improves the adhesion between them. You can only apply one coat of the base color, but then it will turn out translucent. If this is exactly the effect you expect, then re-painting will not be necessary.
  • In order for the topcoat to look beautiful after hardening, it must lie in an even, dense layer. Paint the cuticles and sides of the nail with it and be sure to seal the free edge of the nail with a well-wrung out brush. This technique will ensure maximum wear time for your manicure.

How to remove shellac


The main quality of gel polishes is durability, so removing them requires more time and effort. But there is no need to file off shellac like extended nails.

  1. Take ten pieces of foil that are large enough to wrap tightly around the tip of each finger.
  2. Prepare cotton pads, cut into two parts. There are branded sets of foil with sponges, but women noticed that cotton pads are no worse.
  3. Soak the cut discs in shellac remover or regular nail polish remover. Apply to your nails and wrap each finger with a piece of foil for 5 minutes.
  4. Using a sliding motion, remove the foil and scrape off any remaining shellac with a stick. You can clean your nails with an old buff, then rub in the oil.
  5. You may need to repeat the removal procedure again or simply go over the cloth with liquid again.

Professionals recommend taking a break between wearing gel polish. After two times, you need to give your nails a rest to restore the water-fat balance - at least a week. At this time, take care of your hands with cream and nourishing oils.

Making French

A beautiful and neat manicure can also be achieved using shellac materials. He will delight you for all three weeks, or even longer. The transparent coating does not lose its appearance even as the nails grow.

The sequence of actions and drying time are indicated in the table:


French shellac has its own difficulties.

You cannot use stencils to draw a smile line. Sticky marks on the main tone that remain after removal cannot be removed without damaging the quality of work. In addition, over such marks, the finishing coating does not adhere well to the base - chips are possible after just a few days, and throughout the entire depth of the coating. Therefore, you have to make a smile manually.

How to draw the perfect white edge:

  1. With a brush wrung almost dry, draw a smile in two strokes - from the edges to the middle,
  2. draw a smooth alignment line. Now you have a drawn outline that you don't touch anymore.
  3. With a pressed brush, use dotted strokes almost perpendicular to the nail to paint the entire free edge.

A few more tips:

  • If you are not used to painting French without a stencil, practice several times with regular varnish.
  • Before an important procedure, do not strain your arm muscles, do not carry heavy bags - your hands will tremble and you will not be able to draw a straight line.
  • To make it convenient to scoop up white gel polish, pour a large drop of it onto a stable covering - a plastic jar lid or a piece of foam, and dip the brush there.
  • Squeeze the brush well against the neck of the bottle.
  • With each layer, paint the end of the nail, moving the brush slightly under the nail - seal it.

What color combinations to choose?

Beige and caramel French tones are on the decline right now, so follow the advice and choose cool pink tones.

The most popular options:

  • white + pink gloss;
  • white + lilac with a diamond tint;
  • white + pink mother of pearl.

If you want to get a strict white edge and an absolutely transparent tone, it is better to choose the latter with a slight shade of pink, which is almost indistinguishable and at the same time well tinted.

Well-groomed hands with a beautiful manicure are the calling card of every girl. They are the first thing your interlocutor pays attention to, so your nails should be in perfect condition. Today there are many different techniques for creating manicure, one of which is shellac. Unlike extensions, you can make shellac yourself at home

Shellac - a new word in manicure

Relatively recently, a few years ago, American company CND has released a fundamentally new Shellac nail coating. This varnish had a special composition and could stay on the nails for two weeks. Women, tired of the usual varnish, which could not last even five days, happily welcomed the new coating.
There is only 12 shellac tones, but over time other colors and shades appear.

In addition to its decorative function, Shellac has the ability to have a beneficial effect on weakened nail plates, strengthening them and eliminating such unpleasant phenomena as brittleness and peeling.

How to apply shellac at home?

Unlike gel extensions, shellac can be done at home yourself. This is a good option for those who do not like to visit salons and trust their nails to unfamiliar masters. So, before applying shellac, you need to prepare for the procedure.

You will need: ultraviolet lamp, shellac set (base, top, any color from the palette), sponges, orange stick, gel polish remover, manicure set, cuticle and nail oil to soften the skin.

Degreasing

Tidy up your nails: trim them to the desired length. Then remove the cuticles with a special product. To make the gel coating adhere better, use a nail file to remove the shine - carefully sand each nail. After this, the nails are treated with an antibacterial agent and degreased with alcohol.

Main layer (base)

When the nails are ready, a thin layer of base coat is applied to them. You need to dry your nails not naturally, but under a UV lamp. It can be bought at any specialized store. After covering your nails with varnish, hold them under the lamp for about two minutes. Each base layer must be dried separately.

Applying colored varnish

Next comes shellac - it is applied in the same way as regular varnish. Dip the brush into the polish and carefully paint your nail. Afterwards, dry the first layer under the lamp, then paint your nails again and dry again. You can apply no more than three layers!

Applying the top layer (top coat)

When the color layer has dried, a top coat is applied to consolidate the effect. It is painted in one layer so that there are no streaks left. This layer should completely cover the colored varnish. The fixative is also dried under a lamp. When applying it, you need to make sure that this product does not get on the skin, otherwise the manicure may deteriorate.

How to remove shellac at home?

Removing shellac is as easy as applying it. It does not need to be filed off the nails like gel polish. Take cotton pads or sponges and soak them generously in special nail polish remover. Wrap each finger in such a sponge and wrap it with foil. After 10 minutes, massage your nails and then remove the sponges. All varnish should remain on the cotton wool. The remaining coating can be removed with a wooden stick.

Pros and cons of shellac

Let's start with benefits this coating. Shellac contains a whole range of components that nourish and strengthen the nail. This coating is also completely hypoallergenic, so there is no need to worry about allergies occurring after a manicure.

Shellac is suitable for owners of very brittle and thin nails; its special components give the nail plate special strength and protect it from external damage.

Shellac is very easy to work with. If gels need to be applied with a spatula, which requires special skill, then shellac, like regular varnish, is applied with a brush. An important advantage of shellac is that it needs to be dried under a lamp. This means that it will not be smeared or damaged, as happens with conventional varnishes when drying naturally.

The procedure for applying shellac does not require much time - just 30 minutes and you will become the owner of a perfect manicure. But what is especially pleasing is that this coating can be removed easily and without harm to the nails. It takes 10 minutes to remove it. It is important that the varnish does not need to be cut off, which means injuring the nail.

Shellac holds up perfectly - you won’t have to think about a manicure for two weeks. With this varnish you can wash floors, cook, do laundry and do other housework - the coating will remain perfectly smooth and will not peel off like regular varnish.

If shellac is applied to your nails, you can absolutely safely wear leather or rubber gloves - the coating will remain perfect.

A rich palette of colors provides a huge field for creativity. Nails can be done in subdued colors, or you can choose provocative red, glamorous pink or calm blue. Varnishes of different colors go well together. Therefore, you can not only make your nails monochromatic, but also come up with various ornaments and patterns.

Shellac has virtually no disadvantages, and yet it not ideal. For many girls, the existing color palette seems too boring - there are only 12 of them, however, new shades are constantly appearing. And yet, it is not always possible to choose the right color.
Compared to regular varnish, applying shellac is quite expensive. Even if you decide to make it at home yourself, you will have to buy a lamp, gel base, colored varnishes and a fixative. You will have to spend money separately on liquid to remove it. Despite the fact that many people advise removing nail polish with a regular liquid, it’s worth investing in a special one - it removes the coating easier and is more gentle on the nail.

Before buying a kit for applying polish at home, do one procedure in the salon and see how the polish applies and stays on your nails. It fits perfectly on some nails, while on others it doesn’t stick at all - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

Shellac is an ideal product for those who dream of a beautiful manicure, but do not agree to have their nails extended or undergo other salon procedures. Shellac strengthens nails and makes them durable; it lasts well for two weeks and is not afraid of mechanical stress. The main thing is that this coating does not spoil the nails and looks very stylish and presentable. Shellac can be applied and removed at home - for this you will need a UV lamp and a special kit. funds.

Training video

Shellac nail design: 30 photos

Fashionable ideas for French, wedding, shellac manicure. Gradient NAIL ART, moon manicure, shellac with patterns, glitter, rhinestones. Shellac for short and long nails.