DIY AT HOME SHELLAC - STEP BY STEP

November 26, 2011

I wouldn't normally go into quite so much depth on a blog post (you know me, I'm brief by nature) but it has been massively requested on Twitter. Lots of you wanted to know the detail of how I did my DIY at home Shellac.

Please do not take this as gospel. I have no idea what I'm doing and am in no way qualified to preach about nail care.

It's taken me a while as my previous dalliance with at home Shellac lasted so long. But now I'm more than ready to re-do it as my regrowth is getting ugly. This is after three weeks of wear:
Colour above is called Rosebud, and like my top coat and base coat, was provided by the lovely Lydia.

Equipment:
My original polishes (base coat, top coat and Rosebud colour) were from Lydia. I've since bought Black Pool from a friend. I wouldn't advise buying on Amazon/eBay as there are a lot of fakes but if you've got a friend in the beauty business they should be able to get some bottles for you.

I bought my lamp from an eBay seller. There weren't any instructions but after a bit of trial and error I sussed it out. This one is 36W, apparently this is important to ensure that it cures the nails properly.

Acetone for removal and isopropanol (alcohol) for removing the sticky inhibition layer left at the very end of the process. These were both very cheap on eBay.

Also from eBay, use lint free (don't know what that means!) pads for removing the sticky inhibition layer, just soak them in the isopropanol.

Process:
1. Brush a thin layer of the base coat on to your nails and then along the edge of your nail to 'seal' it
2. Cure that layer in your UV lamp. CND recommend 10 seconds if using a CND lamp, I'd say I leave it a couple of minutes, just to be sure.

3. The nails won't feel dry after being cured, don't let this deceive you! Paint on your first colour layer thinly and seal the edge again. The first layer will be sheer (this colour is v dark, and I put too much on!)

4. Cure for a while. This does depend on your lamp but I cure the colour for about 4 minutes but that's probably excessive. Repeat for second layer of colour and the top coat.

5. Soak your lint free pad in isopropanol and wipe the sticky inhibition layer from each nail.
6. Ta-da! Done. Just apply some solar oil every day to keep your nails healthy and only do housework wearing rubber gloves.

To remove simply soak ten pieces of cotton wool in acetone and stick them to the end of your fingers using kitchen foil and place underneath a hot water bottle/wheatie. Sarah explains it better than I do!

I wouldn't recommend this to the faint hearted and if you want a professional finish just pay a beautician to do it for you. They're properly trained, experienced and insured to do a good job.

Facebook
Labels: , ,

27 comments:

  1. Glitterishallsorts26 November 2011 20:04

    Aaah what a great post! I rarely shellac but I think this possibly is a viable solution for people who get it done every month at a salon.

    I'm a bit of a coward so I think I'll stick to getting my nail tech to do mine! Xxx

    ReplyDelete

  2. Ah finally...been waiting for this post! It looks pretty simple but you certainly need steady hands and I love the pinky colour!

    ReplyDelete

  3. I'me very tempted to try this now, but I'm scared I'll buy all the tools and then give up! x

    ReplyDelete

  4. Lovely job :) your nails don't look too bad after 3 weeks, mine must grow quicker as the growth annoys me too much so I cant leave mine on for 3 weeks. Think I may do black nails next too xx

    ReplyDelete

  5. Haha, wow! I've been so curious to try Shellac gel myself at home but it sure looks like a lot of work - I thought you could just put a Shellac gel top coat on top of any nail colour and be done with it!

    x Michelle | thefeatherden.net

    ReplyDelete

  6. I've been wanting to try it myself but the issue of getting my hands on the actual polish without spending tons is putting me off. Love shellac though! xx

    ReplyDelete

  7. Thanks for this post! Very interesting and something I might consider in the future!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aspirationsofglam26 November 2011 23:46

    Ive bookmarked this...may give it a try sometime. Yours look fabulous!

    Liz
    http://www.aspirationsofglam.blogspot.com
    xxx

    ReplyDelete

  9. Thank you for the step by step guide lovely - I think I may have to invest at some point! Do you find doing one hand harder than the other? I always struggle when I'm doing my right hand (as I'm right-handed)? Just wondered if it's not too bad with this? X

    ReplyDelete

  10. Hi hun - I find it just as hard as I would painting my right hand with a normal polish. However, I have to say that it's quite a lengthy process doing it on yourself as you can't do anything whilst one hand is in the lamp. Toes are much easier as you have one foot in whilst you paint the other foot! x

    ReplyDelete

  11. I just had mine done professionally, lasted one day then it started coming off my thumb nail! I'm going back to get it fixed tommorow but all weekend I have had to put up with an ugly half nail (i chose black as the colour so its v.v noticeable too!) I have one of the uv light boxes but don't think I would be brave to try it myself!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The doll on fashion28 November 2011 14:40

    Yours look good! Do you need to file the top of your nail at all to rough the surface?

    The doll on fashion

    ReplyDelete

  13. Thank you for linking me and I am so so sorry I have been so lame and forgot to make that order I said I would, next week i promise 100%!

    ReplyDelete

  14. Great blog post. I get my nails done professionally quite a lot and they do my thumb nails seperate because when you put your hand in to get "cured" your thumb is on its side so doesnt get done properly which is why some people notice their thumbs peeling after a few days. So these are done right at the end and thumbs put in together facing upwards. I hope this tip helps!!! xx

    ReplyDelete

  15. Nice! Great post.

    http://savgrace.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

  16. Do you realise that CND Shellac is only properly cured by using the CND lamp.
    Nail techs like myself do not train in this just for a laugh its because there is science behind it! the placement of the bulbs is cruicle and so is the fan to avoid heat spikes.
    Under curing can cause product breakdown and allergys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Well said. I cannot believe a so-called nail professional would order Shellac in for someone so they could do it at home! Do these people think we train to use this system because we have nothing better to do??
      Her nails look crap anyway.

      Delete

    2. What a b*tch.

      Delete

  17. I've been going to the salon and having my nails done with the CND shellac and find its not lasting as long as it was when I first starting getting it done 9 months ago. Did they change their formula?
    I've also had problems with OPI bubbling if its not cured long enough.
    I ordered from supplied online and started doing my shellac/gel at home.
    Thanks for the tip about the thumb...this is my biggest problem.
    I've tracked my own shellac tales here: http://www.ameliasgirlfriends.com/2012/10/the-shellac-part-1.html

    ReplyDelete

  18. Great article thanks!!! I found a huge range of Shellac colours at http://www.shellacworld.com

    ReplyDelete

  19. I know this blog post is kinda od but for anyone who comes across this via a google search like I did ...
    I got myself a set and have just tried one nail as a test but it was super easy! Really not sure what all the science fuss by the nail technicians is about. Possibly protecting their business? I'll see how it lasts but was way easier than I thought. Also I've opted for blue sky gel as it was cheaper and I've done my research it had very good reviews and user comments.

    Thanks for this post!

    ReplyDelete

  20. Payday Online Loan will be your ultimate position if you might
    be in require of Payday Online Loan within almost no time fot.li this seems to become
    an ideal option for borrowers including tenants and non
    homeowners.

    ReplyDelete

  21. I just received my UV lamp from ebay and all the shellac stuff I need, and by just following these instructions I managed to have perfect results!! Ok the right thumb is not exactly perfect, but it was my first time:)
    Thank you so much for posting this. I found it super helpful!

    ReplyDelete

  22. Love the bitchy posts by the nail techs! As an actual scientist i feel within my rights to say what a load of rubbish. I do my own nails using CND products with a cheap ebay UV lamp and it works just fine - as previous comment says, just do the thumb on its own. Lets remember; we are curing nails not cancer...

    ReplyDelete

  23. It will work with a cheap lamp. I am a nail tech who has done the course but what has been missed here is the nail prep and products & tools used during that process. If you have the slightest oil in your nail bed the shellac will just peal off after a day or too. Its like putting acrylic on the nail without preping it first.

    ReplyDelete

  24. Shellac ..I have never had good nails,always been very thin and would split really easy was going to have then done by a nail tech then thought why not do them myself so bought all the equipment and im sooo pleased with the results Im showing them off at every opportunity .. love it.

    ReplyDelete

  25. Awesome!! I just received mine and what a mess I made. Wasn't aware of the *inhibition* layer so took it off twice!! then followed your instructions and PERFECT!!! Thanks for doing this you explained it really well and the pics were great.. THANK YOU THANK YOU...Vanessa

    ReplyDelete