Nail Experts - Shellac or Artificial Tips?

[ilovediznee]

Need some help. I see a ton of people getting their names done with Shellac and I am wondering what the big difference is between that and having tips put on. Is is that Shellac coats the top of your original nails? I also see that Shellac can be more expensive.

Any tips would be appreciated as I want to get mine done but cost is an issue.

Thanks - Diane

 

[chirurgeon]

Never had artificial nails, but the damage the natural nail, which is why I've never done it. I've had shellac once. It was beautiful and lasted, but... It is so hard to remove. I haven't done it again for that reason. I just don't want to be chained to a nail salon. I want to be able to change color more often.

 

[MrsDuck]

Need some help. I see a ton of people getting their names done with Shellac and I am wondering what the big difference is between that and having tips put on. Is is that Shellac coats the top of your original nails? I also see that Shellac can be more expensive.

Any tips would be appreciated as I want to get mine done but cost is an issue.

Thanks - Diane

I'd do Shellac - it's healthier and doesn't damage your nail as bad. I've gotten to the point where I just do a clear shellac on my nails and it almosts lasts me 3 weeks.

 

[Gigi22]

I usually get shellac manicures. Most of the time they last about 2 weeks. Another huge advantage to a shellac manicure is that the shellac is dry by the time you leave the salon, so you don't have to worry about ruining your manicure. Shellac can be removed with 100% acetone, or you can wait until your manicure is starting to fail around the edges and peel the shellac off manually.
I got tips on a couple of nails when I had broken nails and I don't know if I would do it again, it was pricy and the tips grow out and have to be maintained in a salon.

 

[dimimi]

Shellac lasts me 3 weeks

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Love my shellac and it lasts me 3 weeks as well. My nails are dry and splitting so real polish just doesn't last. Shellac has saved my nails!

 

[jk2006]

Shellac is awesome...you just have to be careful when you remove it. Do not peel it off or you'll damage your nails. I do my own after buying the light & supplies on amazon but that is a whole other thread...If you get it done, and done well, it will last 2 weeks & your nails will feel stronger. To take it off, cut a cotton pad in nail-size pieces & wet with acetone remover, put on nail & secure with a strip of aluminum foil for 6-7 minutes, then gently scrape off with a nail tool. Apply nail/cuticle oil. good luck!

 

[Nancy]

I assume shellac is what the salons here call gel nails. Polish, stick in the light and go.

I've had both and I would never go back to the tips. Gel all the way for me. I love that they are totally dry as soon as you are done. No waiting around for what seems like hours to make sure you get no chips or smudges. My nails are horrible, crack and peel like crazy. I now have nice long nails that are mine and they are much stronger. I go every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. I get a full manicure not just polish so it does cost a bit more but I'm worth it

 

[arminnie]

I despise tips. I've tried them several times over the years.

First they always want to make them too long. So they look like something out of the 80s.

And one always comes off at a very inappropriate time - like when you are 2000 miles away from home.

And they just look so fake.

Love the shellac but you have to find someone who really knows how to do it right.

 

[Scornelius]

Shellac! I had my first one done about a month ago and I'm a believer now. I took them off myself last week and while it was quite a process, my nails are in better shape than before the mani, so I'm thrilled. I loved how shiny they looked right up until the day I removed them, and since I had a pale pink colour the new growth wasn't too obvious. I can't wait to do it again.

 

[dyna]

To me both are pricey and high maintence. I started with the tips many yrs ago and have never had a problem. Yes I do have to go back about every 3 weeks for fill in but I can change nail color between visits if I wish.

I've had the tips on that I have almost a yr meaning they are no longer tips but an acylic overlay over my nails. When I 1st get the tips I get them just a bit longer than end of finger then I let the nail grow out which hides a lot of the fake look. Right now my nails are at least an inch past the end of me fingers.

My nails is the 1 thing I do for myself the time I spend at the salon is my alone time. so if I spend all afternoon there so be it.

Breakage I have not broke a nail in more than 2 yrs an it's not as if I don't have long nails.

Reading about the shellac here tho I might give them a try next time I get new tips an start over with my nails.

 

[brockash]

I've done tips for over a decade. They're pricey and a commitment as you have to go back to get a fill every 3 weeks. About a yr ago I decided to try shellac since I had heard so many good things about it. Honesty I wasn't impressed, mine didn't last without being chipped for even 2 weeks and really I'm so used to using my hard acrylic layer of nails for everything, it was hard trying to use my regular nails, for things like putting necklaces etc on. I tried a few diff times but just didn't like them as much as the price ended up being about the same since I had to go back at least every 2 weeks, so I went back to tips.

 

[ilovevacation]

I agree both expensive and a lot of up keep, but if you are looking to get your nails done for a special occasion or just to start getting mani i prefer gel (uv) type polish over tips. It doesn't ruin your nails. Look for utube views on how to remove at home. It is super easy, a little pure acetone, file and foil.

 

[kate_wdw]

I just recently became a gel polish convert. I like that:

* They're more natural looking
* They're changed out completely at each visit (In my experience, tips look less nice they longer they've been on)
* It takes less time to soak them off

 

[D&R love Disney]

I tried the shellac once but my nails are so soft that I lost 3 nails in just 2 days. I do gel overlay and get them done every 2 weeks. Look awesome but it's a commitment for sure.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

I had solar nails for eons, and but switched to gel about three years ago. After watching the process enough times, I decided to get the equipment and do my own.

I do my own nails and toes with gel, and it's as easy as using regular polish, with more steps involved. I remove mine the same way the nail technician did. I use acetone, foil, and cotton balls. If you fail to rough up the top coat first, removal is going to take longer.

I can do my hands in about 30 minutes, and when I'm done, I can do anything I want, right away.

I use Gelish. I went to Sally's and checked out the colors I liked in person, then I purchased the polish, and the light through Amazon. If you Youtube it, you'll get lots of how-to videos.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Are you planning to do this just once for an event, or keep up with it? That makes a difference. I would recommend in almost all cases going with GEL or Shellac. You can buy the acetone to remove yourself if you want to later on. (beauty supply store, cotton balls, acetone, and tin foil) I have always hated tips. I can not get shellac or gel to last more than a week for me, but I wash my hands a lot and do a lot of cleaning.

 

[Janepod]

Gel, always. They look good for 3 weeks on my fingers (i.e., no chips or fading) but I find that after 2 weeks the new nail growth (by the cuticle) is pretty noticeable, depending on the color.

I get a gel pedicure about every 4 weeks too. No chips ever! Life changing.

 

[Arielle22]

I have had acrylic for around 10 years. Last summer I switched to gel. My nails were weak but I let them grow out. Even with the gel my nails broke.

After several months I remembered why I got acrylic in the first place, because my natural nails are really weak! I went back to acrylic but now I get gel on the acrylic. It cost $30 every two weeks and is so worth it.

I have only 1 finger that the acrylic/gel doesn't work well. My right hand pointer finger has had the acrylic totally pop off twice in the past month. The edge of the natural nail pulled away from the acrylic which weakened it.

 

[kmb584]

I don't like tips. I have acrylic applied then a french manicure done with gel polish. No breaking, no chipping.