Getting bad results doing my own Shellac

[thumbelina]

I'm a big fan of Shellac/CND at the salon. My terrible, brittle nails started to look OK for the first time ever. And they grew. So I acquired a UV lamp and a bottle of Shellac and had a go doing it at home. It's not worked: the varnish doesn't cure, even thought I leave my nails under the lamp for 5 mins for just one coat, and even though I paint the gel varnish on very thinly. I'll buy the rest of the kit - the rubbing alochol, the base coat, pH neutralising primer and top coat - if I can be convinced that if I acquire them then the lamp will cure the coating, but at the moment I'm worried that it will all be a waste of money. What am I doing

 

[Essential Bliss]

Well by the look of your profile your not trained in nails so the best advice I can give,and I think every other geek will give you is so go a professional and have it done properly and you will get the results you want.

Essential Bliss Beauty Therapy

 

[sarasparkles201]

At the moment i dont do shellac, but i do understand you need the correct lamp and the base coat and top coat.

I would say the problem of not curing is down to the lamp not being cnd one, and no base coat either.

 

[lollypop2912]

I'm not trained in shellac myself, but if you plan on regularly doing your own at home I'd say go and have the proper training with CND and purchase the correct kit and equipment for it, that or, as someone has already said, continue to go to a professional to have it done

 

[x Fee x]

Well firstly, you're going wrong because you are attempting to use a system incorrectly, and without any knowledge at all of how to do so correctly and safely.

You've had it applied before, so you know Shellac works perfectly well when used as directed, and I'm certain your technician didn't wack on just one coat of color and that was your completed service- as you have attempted on yourself.

You will be wasting your money if you decide to just 'acquire' some products and start messing about with them.

Get yourself some training, and invest in the system correctly, or continue having your service done in the salon by trained professionals.

 

[NancySyd]

I'm a big fan of Shellac/CND at the salon. My terrible, brittle nails started to look OK for the first time ever. And they grew. So I acquired a UV lamp and a bottle of Shellac and had a go doing it at home. It's not worked: the varnish doesn't cure, even thought I leave my nails under the lamp for 5 mins for just one coat, and even though I paint the gel varnish on very thinly. I'll buy the rest of the kit - the rubbing alochol, the base coat, pH neutralising primer and top coat - if I can be convinced that if I acquire them then the lamp will cure the coating, but at the moment I'm worried that it will all be a waste of money. What am I doing

Okay, before all the pros start beating up on the DIYer, let me (fellow DIYer) pull you aside.

Clearly, you have not researched this product. Shellac (or any of the related gel polishes) is not like a bottle of polish that you just slap on. It's a system - prep,prime,basecoat,sealing free edges,curing,colour coats,top coat,remove inhibition layer, etc. You need to learn what each of those steps is and how to do it properly. You can't buy only parts of the system and expect it to work. No one here needs to convince you that the system works - it works great.

There are also health-related issues like allergies that you should know about. You should be careful where you buy your products. There's plenty of counterfeit stuff out there. Not researching and learning the system and then using all parts of it properly is a waste of money and can even be a hazard. Start with CND and watch their videos and read Doug Schoon's articles.

And just a word to the wise. Do not fail to do your research and then come on a site full of professionals and try to pick their brains; it's disrespectful and you may get a bad response. The people in this forum worked and studied hard to be in this profession; even as a DIYer, you need to do some of that work too.

 

[Hazemalone]

You cant buy a dozen eggs and expect a wedding cake. Do the training or go to a professional. Unfortunately you've wasted your money so far, so unless you want to fork out the money for the kit and the time for the education you should forget about doing it yourself.

 

[deanosnana]

I'm a big fan of Shellac/CND at the salon. My terrible, brittle nails started to look OK for the first time ever. And they grew. So I acquired a UV lamp and a bottle of Shellac and had a go doing it at home. It's not worked: the varnish doesn't cure, even thought I leave my nails under the lamp for 5 mins for just one coat, and even though I paint the gel varnish on very thinly. I'll buy the rest of the kit - the rubbing alochol, the base coat, pH neutralising primer and top coat - if I can be convinced that if I acquire them then the lamp will cure the coating, but at the moment I'm worried that it will all be a waste of money. What am I doing

Just reading your post, we can tell you are not using Shellac, properly. Too bad as it's awesome when used CORRECTLY.

If you are qualified (and haven't filled out your profile), then I would suggest taking a Shellac course. So worth it.

If you are not qualified, I would suggest leaving Shellac to the pros. Yes, it may LOOK easy but obviously, there is more to it than meets the eye.