In the summer, girls want to look perfect. This applies not only to a properly and appropriately selected wardrobe, but also to manicure and pedicure. That is why shellac on the legs looks especially harmonious in summer.
Benefits
There are a lot of them. Firstly, shellac on the legs lasts longer than a similar coating on the hands. This is primarily due to the fact that handles do most of the homework, which inevitably leads to contact with water and chemicals. The legs do not have such a problem, which means that the coating lasts longer at times. Secondly, gel polish is applied very simply. Just like regular nail polish, except that it dries not in the air, but in the rays of an ultraviolet lamp. Thirdly, shellac coating on the legs can be done independently, saving money on going to the master or to the salon. But it’s better to put the handles in order with professionals, because they are always in sight, and any flaw will be evident. There is no such problem with feet, because you can always wear closed shoes.
Flaws
I couldn't do without them either. The biggestthe disadvantage is that you need to either purchase a ready-made Shellac kit, or assemble it yourself. If we talk about real original shellac from the American brand CND, then it will cost an average of three thousand rubles. But gel polishes from other companies are several times cheaper, however, the result does not always live up to expectations. In addition, there is another drawback - an ultraviolet lamp. It must be purchased without fail, because without it, gel polish or shellac simply cannot polymerize.
Which lamp to choose
For the home, there is no need to choose a device with many functions and options. The simplest 9-watt ultraviolet lamp is enough, which is most often used by craftsmen as a spare or travel option. In order to perform shellac on the legs at home, this is enough. In addition, such a lamp costs between 300-1000 rubles, which is not too expensive.
Preparing the legs
You can't do without it. Before performing shellac on the legs, you need to carefully treat the skin of the feet and nails. To do this, it is recommended to make a relaxing or, conversely, tonic bath with sea s alt and herbs. It is worth refraining from using any oil, as it will interfere with the good adhesion of the gel polish and the natural nail. Therefore, only sea s alt and herbs are enough. With the help of a grater or foot file, the keratinized layer of the skin is removed, if necessary, several times. The cuticle on the legs is pushed back with a pusher ororange sticks and then removed. This can be done with the help of nippers, a pedicure machine or a special tool. However, it is worth remembering that when working with metal cutting tools, care must be taken. The cuticle is trimmed or "bitten off" only in the area that is easily amenable to this. The nails are neatly shaped with a nail file. It is recommended to first remove the length "under the root" with scissors, since the nail plate grows very quickly on the legs.
Required Materials
To apply shellac to toenails you will need:
- color gel polish (one or more, depending on the intended design and composition);
- base for shellac (it's called Base);
- fixer, or top (Top Soak Gel Polish);
- degreaser, or nail polish remover.
The UV lamp is an integral part of the kit, so you can't do without it.
Applying procedure
Since making shellac on your feet is as easy as applying regular polish, it shouldn't be a problem at home. However, there are some features to consider.
First, the fat layer is removed from the nails with a degreaser or nail polish remover. This is necessary in order for the material to better bond with the nail bed, without detachments and chips in one or two days.
Some masters in the salon apply a special primer to the nails, which also respondsfor reliable adhesion of gel polish and the surface of the nail. However, when using real branded Shellac, this is not necessary. Just enough to degrease.
The base, or "base", is applied in a very thin layer. It is transparent, has no smell, and is slightly thicker in consistency than regular varnish. You can use a special separator so that the material does not stain the skin of adjacent fingers. The base layer is dried in an ultraviolet lamp for about 60-90 seconds, depending on the power of the device.
Colored "Shellac" on the legs (the design in this case means the simplest - monochrome) is then carried out quite simply. A thin layer of gel polish is applied to the dried base, dried in a lamp. If necessary, the action is repeated to get a more saturated shade.
When the color gel polish is applied, dried, it needs to be fixed. That's what the top coat is for. It is applied in a thin layer so that the ends of the nails are sealed, otherwise the material will "slide", chip and burst. The top coat dries in an ultraviolet lamp in an average of 40-90 seconds. It is usually not necessary to remove the sticky layer, since modern Top Coats are made on a special basis, which is completely cured in a UV lamp.
Designs
Many girls quickly get bored with the monotonous coating of nails. That is why the masters spent a lot of effort to develop a technique for applying designon shellac. French on the legs was no exception. By the way, this was one of the very first pedicure nail art options that the masters began to implement.
How is French done on legs? Much easier than by hand. First, there is no need to draw a smooth and perfect smile line. Secondly, you do not need to resort to the help of special stencils. It is enough to have white gel polish and a thin brush on hand.
First, the legs and nails are prepared, then the latter are covered with a base layer, if necessary and desired - in pink. When it dries in the rays of an ultraviolet lamp, a white even strip is drawn with a thin brush on the edge of each nail. It should not be too wide or thick, but as natural and natural as possible. Gel polish is dried, then covered with a top coat.
So you can do absolutely any shellac on your feet. The design is selected strictly individually. So, for example, manicures and pedicures, made in a single composition and color, are in great demand. At home, you can safely experiment with drawings, stickers, patterns, choosing the design that suits you best.
