Finding a small chip in your brand new manicure is enough to drain the blood from your face. Sure, it’s not the world’s worst travesty, but if you spent money on a manicure that’s supposed to last weeks, you expect (and deserve) to get what you pay for. While eventual wear and tear is inevitable on your shellac manicure, there are some easy ways to get the most out of a single application.
Don’t Rush the Drying
Everyone has a busy schedule. Oftentimes we can barely fit our shellac appointment into our day. While a shellac application is quite quick, you still might be tempted to rush the drying period. You might even think that because your nails feel dry when you touch them that they are impervious to smudges and chips. But we suggest you stay as long as necessary for the UV light to dry all the way to the bottom layer.
Protect Yourself
Having a beautiful set of nails doesn’t mean that the work stops. The dishes still need to be done and the garden still needs weeding. Before sticking your hands in hot or cold water, slip on some rubber gloves. The dish gloves protect your skin and nails from becoming dry and brittle from extreme temperatures while also protecting the shellac from chemicals and detergents.
Stay Moisturized
This advice applies to everyday life, not only when you get a manicure. Ensuring that your skin and nails are constantly moisturized protects and soothes them. It’s especially important to moisturize the skin around your nails in order to prevent flaking or dry cuticles. Before bed, add a drop of cuticle oil to the bottom of your nail beds and rub your skin gently. This will keep your nails hydrated while you sleep to provide long-lasting protection.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
One of the reasons we love shellac so much is that it offers a gorgeous array of beautiful and rich colours. The last thing you want to happen is for the colour to fade. To prevent your colour from fading, keep your hands out of direct sunlight or apply an SPF product for hands and nails. If you really want to make your shellac last while you’re on vacation, try to minimize the amount of time you spend in chlorine pools.
Don’t Pick At It
You may feel the shellac around the edges start to lift. That’s typically where the wear and tear starts to happen. If you feel the urge to pick at it—it’s just going to come off anyway, right?—don’t! Removing shellac without the proper equipment can seriously damage or remove the top layer of your nail bed, which isn’t only unattractive but it also weakens your nails and makes it harder for future nail polish to stay on.
Apply a Top Coat
This might be considered a little bit of a cheat, but who cares? If you really want to squeeze out a few more chip-free days before accepting the inevitable, simply apply a clear layer of a fast-drying or nail-strengthening top coat. Eventually, the shellac should be removed or replaced with a whole new colour, so we don’t suggest you do this constantly.
Fortunately, there’s a much easier solution! Come into The Nail Pro and get a fresh shellac manicure. Contact us today to book your appointment.
