Shellac Manicure: Final Thoughts

If you follow me on Twitter, you may realise that the Shellac nail polish came off last night. I feel bad that I didn't make it to a weeks wear but it completely lifted on one nail and I couldn't resist taking the rest off. I managed to see reason though and didn't peel the others. I definitely wouldn't recommend peeling them off, no matter how tempting it is, as it looks like it removed a thin layer of nail with it.

I removed them by soaking the nail with remover that contained acetone. It's preferable to use neat acetone but I didn't have any to hand. I soaked a cotton wool pad and wrapped the nail and finger with foil. Not pretty but it works. It did hamper my typing though..

Now they're all off I'll share my bare (and shocking) nails. They were quite dry when I took the polish off but they recovered after massaging with a generous amount of almond oil. I don't think they're in any worse state than they were pre-Shellac. I think they would have benefitted from a regular massage with oil to stop them drying out.

Would I do it again? I'm not sure that I will be rushing to do it again. It lasted 6 days and it chipped after only a couple of days. At £25 it wasn't a huge expense but I think that money would be better spent on an intensive repair type manicure. After less than a week I was in the mood for a change of colour too. I know it is possible to paint over the gel manicures but as it was already quite a thick layer, I didn't dare for fear of it lifting. What I was hoping for was something to stay on my nails for a couple of weeks and give them a rest from the constant cycle of polish and remover. I should have realised that as my nails present an uneven surface, the gel manicure wouldn't last well for the same reason as regular polish. However, I should point out that whilst it didn't last 2 weeks, 6 days is unheard of for me. From my better nails I could see it had the potential to last longer, though it did seem to fade at the tips.

Would I recommend it? If your nails are in good condition and you're not a colour chameleon, I would say go for it. If like me your nails are prone to peeling and are uneven at the tip, I would say that your lasting time will be greatly reduced.

It's back to square one for me. I still want to try and improve the condition of my nails. I think an all over approach is in order. Multi-vitamins, wearing gloves for washing up and NOT using my nails as a multi-funcitonal tool! I think massaging with almond oil is something I can stick to but I'm not sure which nail strengthener to use. I have Mavala Scientifique and OPI Nail Envy but neither seemed to make much difference. It's possible they would work better in conjuction with the other changes. Lets hope something works as I'm sure you're all fed up of hearing about my nails!

Today's MakeUp and Shellac Update

I discovered my All For Eve QVC parcel on my doorstep yesterday. I ordered it before Christmas and I had literally no idea how long it had been sat there. Very relieved that it remained safe, I wasted no time in trying the lipstick out! The lipstick is a red designed by Daniel Sandler and is a flattering shade. It's not too orange or too blue and pigmented enough to give a nice coverage without being too in your face.

Flash

Natural light

On the rest of my face I am wearing

Face
Lancome Teint Miracle under-eye concealer
MAC Studio Finish concealer on blemishes
Edward Bess Island Rose compact rouge

Eyes
Too Face Shadow Insurance
Shu Uemura ME Brown 850 eyeshadow
L'Oreal Super Liner - can't remember the shade but it's the glittery black one
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous mascara

I'm very pleased with the ME Brown eyeshadow, it's a pretty colour and not similar enough to Satin Taupe for me to feel like it's a dupe. I got IR Beige 800 at the same time but I'm not as enamoured with it as it's a pale, yellow gold rather than beige. I'm not sure I can make it work for me but we'll see.

I thought I would update you on the Shellac manicure. I had it done on Thursday night and yesterday I got a little tear. I now have a tear on my thumb and since I took the photos it's torn again on the same thumb nail. It's very disappointing but not at all unexpected.

How they look after 4 days

The Damage!

I think lifestyle must be to blame, I must be very heavy on my hands and nails. I hadn't realised until I uploaded the photos how dry my hands were. I've since found a bottle of almond oil and I will apply regularly to the skin around the nails in a bid to stop them drying out. I will keep you updated on manicure watch, I think I'll be lucky to hit the week mark without more major damage. Back to the drawing board I suppose...

Shellac Manicure: First Impressions

I've been keen to try and gel manicure for a little while now. After a bit of nudging and assistance from Sarah from I Heart Cosmetics, I booked myself in for a bit of "research". If you read my whitterings regularly, you'll know my nails are poor. Their condition, as well as my home life, seem to ruin regular manicures in less than a day, so the idea of something lasting a couple of weeks sounds wonderful.

I had the manicure last night and went for the colour Rose Bud. The lady that did my nails had both Shellac and Gelish colours and after a little discussion she said that this particular polish had lasted the longest on clients with similar nail problems to me. As I suspected, because my nails are prone to peeling, the gel manicure may not last as long as the usual two weeks. Of course, I will chart my progress like a good beauty blogger!

So far so good, my nails still look as good as they did last night. The finish feels different to normal. A little thicker and more rubbery but not unpleasant. The colour is pretty and quite safe (I originally picked something more vampy), though it does seem a wee bit transparent in certain lights. I do love the fact that my nails look well groomed though and I'm keeping everything crossed that it will really be a no chip manicure even on my terrible nails.

I hope you're all having a wonderful New Year's Eve (or New Year's Day if you're one of my Aussie followers). I'm looking forward to more blogging excitement in 2011!