When it comes to nails, I'm all about the gel and shellac. I hate waiting for my nails to dry, and I absolutely
hate the look of chipped nails. When the day finally came where I decided to invest in a kit of my own, I wasn't sure if I should go for gel or shellac, so I decided to try both! So here's the good, the bad, and the ugly:
Gel: Sally Hansen
Comes with LED light, acetone, nail cleansing wipes, base, color, and top coat.
Results: 1. Black glitter 2. Classic red
The Good: Kit has everything you need at a reasonable price of about $69.99. It comes with one color and you can get others at CVS, Duane Reade, Harmons etc. Super easy to use, and very fast. 30 seconds under the light per coat and your done!
The Bad: LED light is pretty small, so you can only do about one hand at a time excluding the thumb. If you try to fit your hand in there it's an awkward, claw-like hand position. For only 30 seconds it's not really a hassle, I did my thumb separately and then the other four fingers.
The Ugly: These gel polishes aren't as long lasting as they claim to be. Even though they claim to be no chip, I've definitely had chipping after a week every time I've used it. Also, these polishes tend to peel after a while especially when exposed to a lot of water (i.e. swimming, washing dishes)
Shellac: Thermal Spa UV light and CND
After much observation at the salon, I went on amazon and bought this UV light and nail polishes separately on Amazon. They do offer a
kit (which is much more expensive, about $123 with the lamp not included), and it comes with a lot of accessories, such as nail wraps, cuticle creams, etc. that I didn't really need. Instead I bought individually:
Results: 1. Bright pink 2. French mani
The Good: These shellac polishes have a higher quality finish and last much longer. I can go for about 2 weeks before they've grown out, and I've experienced little to no chipping.
The Bad: They do take a little longer to do (2 min per coat), however the few extra minutes it takes to complete is definitely worth it. Also, I have to order these polishes online or go to specialty nail supply stores since I can't seem to find them in drugstores.
The Ugly: These polishes are much pricier (up to $15 a bottle) and if you're paying shipping, it's even more. I suggest buying colors that can work year round, or a few favorite colors for each season.
Both kits require you to
soak your nails in acetone (cotton ball/ tinfoil method works best for me) to remove your polish. Neither brand requires more or less time, they each come off with ease when done properly. Good luck!
P.S.- When buying colors for whatever brand you choose, just make sure that the polish and lamp are compatible. For example, CND requires a UV lamp, so don't try to use an LED one or the polish will not cure.
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