I do TONS of Shellac - it's my most popular offering as a nail tech. I'm about to go cold turkey for 3 weeks (our cruise, plus one week in Canada) without access to my lamp and supplies! I'll be wearing a French Polish Shellac with embellishments, but as it will probably need replacing by the time I get to Canada, I'll have to hit the polish til I get home.
It's such lovely stuff - when it's applied properly it does everything it says. Gentle to the nail, looks great for 2 weeks, easy to remove.
Find a tech with a good reputation, who uses a nice thin application (lots of nail techs make it too thick, which means it can crack and chip off), and uses the proper CND lamp. If the lamp doesn't have CND or "Creative Nail" written on it, find another tech. It's a curing issue - using the right lamp means it will last as long as it should.
Reminder (although this should be in the Navigator), I will have lots of nail supplies with me should anyone need a touch-up or a quick mani by the poolside. I'll bring OPI polishes, repair stuff (silk and resin), nail decals and odds and ends. So if you're having a nail disaster and can't get into the spa, ring me on cabin 6071
(I guess the idea of not doing nails for a few weeks is putting me in withdrawals...)