Well-groomed female hands, along with facial makeup and dyed hair roots, always attract the attention of both men and women. After all, as Anton Pavlovich Chekhov correctly noted: "Everything should be beautiful in a person: the face, and clothes, and the soul, and thoughts …". Today it is difficult to imagine a well-groomed and stylish woman with peeling nail polish. But what about those who simply don’t have time for a weekly manicure? For many years, this question has been of great concern to both young mothers who want to take care of themselves, and businesswomen who are busy from morning to evening at work.
And now, a few years ago, girls and women around the world had the incredible opportunity to get a manicure just once a month! And the name of this miracle is shellac, or, as it is also called, gel polish. The novelty in the beauty world instantly scattered around the world and simply captured the beauty industry, turning the usual understanding of manicure and pedicure upside down. Women in orderly rows moved to beauty salons to try this innovation on themselves. Gel nail polish and afterfor several years has the same unprecedented popularity among the female sex as in the early years.
And yet, even with the advent of shellac, not everyone has the opportunity to visit a manicurist once a month. Therefore, more and more girls and women are learning to make shellac on their own at home. Today, to help them, there are many courses where they visually teach the process of applying gel polish. In today's article, we will tell you how to make shellac lacquer at home on your own.
What is shellac?
In short, shellac is nothing more than a resin extracted from tropical plants, which is widely used in production. From a cosmetic point of view, shellac is a mixture of ordinary varnish and gel. Its properties are such that this coating does not fade for a long time, does not lose color and generally lasts about 30 days. For all its durability, manufacturers assure that shellac is absolutely hypoallergenic.
Where to start? Preparing for shellac
In order to start using shellac at home, of course, you will have to spend a little money on the necessary equipment and the varnishes themselves. It is important to note right away that the final price of such a set can range from 5,000 thousand to infinity, depending on the quality of the products you prefer and your capabilities. It is important to remember that in order to make shellac yourself at home, you need at least 2 hours of free time, because this procedure is not so fast,like a regular manicure.
So, here's what's included in the shellac kit:
- UV or LED drying lamp;
- manicure tongs;
- hard file;
- buff;
- lint-free wipes;
- pusher;
- nail degreaser;
- gel polishes: base and top coat, primer, color;
- sticky layer remover;
- shellac remover;
- decorative elements.
To purchase all the necessary components, it is better to go to a trusted store in order to avoid buying low-quality goods and subsequent disappointment in the shellac procedure. What is definitely not worth saving on is the gel polishes themselves. They must be of the highest quality to create a permanent manicure.
Nail preparation
In itself, preparing the nail plate for shellac at home is not much different from the usual manicure procedure for all women.
The first thing to do is to soften the cuticle for later removal. For this, a nail bath is done for 15-20 minutes. If the cuticle has not grown very much, then it is enough to push it back with a pusher (iron spatula) or an orange stick. If the cuticle is quite large, then after the bath it should be carefully removed with nail clippers or special oil.
The second is the creation of the form and preparation for coating. To create a certain shape of nails, a coarse file is used. For polishing nail platinum - buff. So, the most appropriate form is determined bythe length and thickness of the fingers, as well as depending on the nail itself. Today, the most fashionable are the forms of "ballerina" and "almond". Both shapes look great on medium to long nails.
The third stage in preparation will be grinding. To do this, you will need a buff file. After the end of this stage, brush off the nail dust from the surface with a special manicure brush.
Gel polish finish
Having prepared your nails, you can start applying varnish. But first you need to degrease them. An important point: for the best result, you should walk especially well on the edges of the nail, and then do not touch them with your hands. This is one of the most important rules that those who decide to make shellac at home should remember. Beginners may think that there are too many rules, but they are not.
Next comes the primer, which serves to better adhere the gel polish to the nail. There are 2 types of primers: acidic and acid-free. The former are used mainly on problematic nails prone to frequent detachments. The latter are suitable for normal he althy nails.
After the primer, the base coat is applied. You need to apply it in a thin layer, as well as all subsequent layers of varnishes. Be sure to seal the ends of the nail, i.e. the butt, for good durability of the gel polish. Dry in a UV lamp for 1.5 minutes, in a LED lamp for 30 seconds. After drying in the lamp, do not touch the nails.
Next, we decide on the color. Having chosen the desired shade, you can start applying. In the same way as the base, you need to apply it with a wrung out brush, sealing the ends. It is important to remember aboutthin layer rule. Let there be several of them rather than one thick one that does not dry out to the end. As a rule, 2 layers are applied - for a better tone. If the gel polish is translucent and not very pigmented, then 3 layers are acceptable. Now you need to dry each layer, as well as the base.
And the final stage is the top coat. Here it just needs to be applied in a slightly thicker layer than the previous ones. And again seal all open edges and dry in the lamp for the required amount of time.
Next, you need to remove the sticky layer, if any, with a degreaser. And lubricate the cuticles with oil. If your gel polishes do not have a sticky layer, then the procedure for applying shellac at home for beginners can be considered complete. As you can see, everything is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. But here, as in any other business, skill and patience are needed.
How to remove gel polish yourself?
Of course, women are concerned not only with how to do it, but also with how to remove shellac at home? First you need to prepare some necessary materials. You will need: cotton pads, foil, shellac remover, buff and pusher.
First you need to cut the foil into rectangles. Their size should be such that it is possible to wrap the finger from all sides. Then cut the cotton pads into 4 pieces. Soak liberally with nail polish remover and apply to each nail. From above, wrap the finger with foil so that the entire nail is covered and the product does not evaporate. Depending on the durability of the gel polish andthe number of layers applied, keep the cotton pads for 10-15 minutes.
Next, you need to remove the foil and, if the gel polish is not completely gone, clean the surface of the nails with a pusher. Treat the nail plate with a buff. And finally, apply a caring cream or nail oil.
Also, one of the modern ways to remove shellac at home is to purchase special clips. In fact, they replace the foil, and in themselves are more convenient to use.
Gel polish design
After learning how to do a simple classic shellac manicure, you will definitely want to experiment with different designs and techniques. Especially when pictures with interesting design options for nails beckon from everywhere. And the choice today is so great that it can be very difficult to decide on something specific. The most popular decorative elements for nails are rhinestones, sequins, broths, adhesive strips and water stickers. Consider how to make shellac at home with each of them.
Sequins and rhinestones on shellac
In order to stick rhinestones on top of an already applied coating, you need to carefully take a rhinestone with manicure tweezers and place it in the right place on the nail. For example, a stylish option is when one small rhinestone is located at the base of the nail, in the center. Gluing rhinestones relies on an undried layer of the top coat, pressing them down a little from above, as if imprinting it into the nail. If the already glued rhinestones are covered on top with another layer of top, then you need to be prepared for the fact that their shine will no longer be so strong.
Another trendy trend in nail design is the so-called. glitter coating, in other words, sparkles. Usually, one nail or some part of each of the nails is isolated in this way. Glitter is sold in dry or liquid form. When dry, they are a loose mixture in small jars. And if everything is clear with liquid glitters - they are applied like a regular varnish, then how to make a shellac coating with dry sparkles at home remains unclear.
So, to decorate the nail with dry glitter, you need to prepare the nail and cover it with a base. Next, use a brush to apply a mixture of sparkles mixed with a base coat from a jar. And top with a finishing top. In this way, you can cover the entire nail, make a jacket, or draw patterns.
Bouillon Manicure
Another very interesting option is a manicure using bouillon. Or, as it is called differently, "caviar manicure". It got its bizarre name due to the fact that the broths very much resemble small eggs. But their color is not only black or red, but completely different, suitable for any request. However, so is the size. Making a nail with bouillons is not difficult at all. To do this, you should choose the color of the varnish to match the color of the eggs. Apply base, 2 coats of gel polish and top in the usual way. And after applying the top coat, apply it with another layer and gently sprinkle the nail with balls. At the same time, pressing them into the nail with a finger. And then on the sides of the nail,sprinkled with broths, barely noticeably walk the top, as if fixing the design.
"Eggs" can not only decorate a solid nail, but also use it in decor. It all depends on your abilities and imagination.
Manicure with stripes and water stickers
A couple of years ago, a new trend appeared in all beauty salons - shellac with self-adhesive strips. This option looks very stylish, and the most interesting thing is that with their help you can create a large number of different designs. Such strips are sold in skeins, in different colors and sizes.
Make a manicure with stripes as easy as shelling pears. To do this, you need to stick a strip vertically or horizontally on an already painted nail, cutting off the ends with nail scissors. It is important that the ends of the tape end a little before the end of the nail. This technique is needed in order to keep the strips stronger. And after gluing, they should be fixed with a top coat.
Also, with the help of these ribbons, you can create various patterns. For example, in order to make a striped nail, you need to apply white gel polish, and then glue the strips horizontally, leaving about a centimeter from each edge of the nail. Paint over them, for example, with blue varnish. Then carefully remove all tapes and cover with top. Striped manicure is ready! Other variations of manicure are made in the same way using decorative ribbons.
If you don't like any of the proposed decors, we advise you to pay attention to nail stickers. Herestill easier. You just need to choose the images you like and carefully cut them out. Then dip with tweezers in a glass of water and transfer to the nail. Top fasten top.
Fashion manicure with ombre or gradient
The hit of the last year was a manicure using the "ombre" or "gradient" technique. But whatever you call this design, it means one thing - a smooth overflow from one color to another. And here the fantasy is where to roam. Because there are a great many gradient manicures. For example, an ombre can be two-tone - from dark to light, or maybe five-color with predominantly bright tones. Whatever performance you like, its technique does not change from this. In order to make shellac ombre at home, you will need at least 2 colored gel polishes and a clean brush.
Let's give an example of how to make a shellac gradient at home using a three-color transition. First you need to apply the lightest varnish over the entire nail and dry it in a lamp. Next, apply a varnish of a darker shade to the middle of the nail plate and shade the lower border. Dry again. And then apply the third shade of varnish on the remaining part and gently blend the borders. Finish with a top coat. Now you know how to quickly make shellac ombre at home.
Moon Manicure
One of the latest fashion trends in the world of nail art has become a moon manicure. In fact, as one of the laws of fashion says: everything new is a well-forgotten old. Lunar manicure is back tous from the distant 1920s. It was at that time that the first nail polishes appeared, and women began to study them and try to do manicures. Then it was believed that the varnish should not cover the entire surface of the nail as a whole, but only its middle part. Accordingly, bypassing the lunula (white crescent at the base of the nail) and the tip of the outer edge. The rationale for this was the erroneous opinion that varnish can harm the nail plate and interfere with its growth. In the photographs of film stars and models of that time, the same moon manicure is clearly visible.
Today, girls and women are no longer afraid to paint their nails, so the fashion for this type of nail coloring has changed a little. And she came to our time already with nail tips painted over, but with a highlighted lunula.
So, how to make moon shellac at home? To begin with, perform all the necessary manipulations with nails until the moment of applying colored gel polish. After all the steps are completed, you need to paint over the lunula with a carefully selected color. Don't worry if it's not perfect. Dry this layer in a lamp. Then, with a thin brush, take the second color and draw the lunula along its contour from the outside, as if outlining. And then, with a thick brush, paint over the remaining nail, bypassing the resulting crescent. A layer of the second colored varnish should completely cover all imperfections when painting the lunula. The final step is the top coat. Everything, a stylish retro manicure is ready!
Geometry and minimalism
And perhaps the latest of the most stylish nail designstoday we can name designs in minimalist and geometric directions. But, unlike previous manicures, these can be made from completely different materials and with different techniques.
Geometry on the nails is an image of clear lines, angles and shapes. To make shellac nails with a geometric pattern at home, you can use self-adhesive tape. On a nail already covered with colored gel polish, glue the tape in different directions, creating a pattern. You can also use a thin brush and draw triangles, squares or just single clear lines on your nails.
The option looks very beautiful and elegant when a shiny triangle comes from the base of the nail to its middle. And the main color of the varnish is pastel.
As for the newfangled minimalism now, it also touched on nail art. Today there are a million ideas for the design of nails on this topic. Such a manicure looks as if unfinished, but it is precisely this effect that those who are close to this direction achieve.
To create nail minimalism you will need a very thin brush and a little imagination. For example, you can draw a small circle (3-5 mm) on each nail. This option is interesting, especially if the circles on all nails will be located in different places. The finest drawing of plants also looks great, but this requires some skill. If you don't have one yet, you can use water stickers with images of minimalist figures.
KThe advantages of such a manicure include its conciseness and the fact that it is easy to combine it with almost any outfit. At the same time, it is not at all boring like a simple nail polish and allows you to diversify your look by adding a touch of sophistication to it.
Nail Correction
One of the frequently asked questions from beginners is how to make a shellac correction at home? This does not mean how to remove the old coating and apply a new one, we talked about this above. And what to do if one or more nails have peeled off the varnish or the nails have simply grown back, and the manicure looks stale.
In both cases, approximately the same action is done. For any type of gel polish chipping from the surface of the nail, you need to take a buff and gently file the damaged area, minimally injuring the nearby coating. Then brush off the dust with a special brush and cover the entire surface of the nail with a varnish of a suitable color. Top with top coat. In the same way, you can extend the life of an overgrown manicure without resorting to removing it.
Another fun way to cover up peeling nail polish is to cover it up with glitter gel polish or decorate it with rhinestones. This way, your manicure will last for some more time.
In today's article, we looked at how to make shellac at home. The step-by-step process of applying gel polish is much easier than it might seem to the uninitiated. I would like to believe that our review will help you in understanding this pleasant and so feminine procedure.
