-doesn't burn.
-cures all the way.
-easy to remove.
-lessens the chance of allergies.
Thebesttech, in his enthusiasm for CND, often says things that are incorrect and/or misleading. CND is a magnificent brand with great products, but there are many other great brands and products out there. A brand is an important decision (and going with CND is certainly not a bad choice), but much of what he speaks to are about techs and how they work, not about the brands. Identify your needs, choose a reputable brand and work in a responsible manner.
But let me address his other points:
- Burning – I am assuming he means heat spikes.
All brands, including CND, can cause heat spikes/burning if improperly applied and/or cured. The curing of gel is an exothermic reaction and heat is released. Too much product applied means a strong exothermic reaction. Additionally, overly buffed and filed nails are very sensitive and can burn quite easily and it is very painful. Cheap, unprofessional brands build durability and fast cures by using lots of photoiniator which puts out lots more heat during curing. The large amount of photoinitators also increases the likelihood of sensitivity and allergies. Reputable professional brands do not burn if applied thinly, cured with the proper lamp, and applied on healthy nails.
-Cures all the way.
All reputable professional brands when applied and cured properly, cure completely (i.e., >90%). But gels harden at only about 55% cured. Because there is no easy means of determining a proper cure (even for CND), your best assurance of a proper cure is to follow the manufacturer's instructions,
especially using the proper lamp.
-Easy removal. Shellac removes easily because it is a hybrid, but there are other hybrids out there and other brands with easy removal as well. And ease of removal often equates with less durable, so one is always seeking the proper balance between durability and removal, and it's not the same for everyone. But easy removal really isn't really about ease, it's about time and patience. Given enough time and acetone, any decent product will come off. The real issue is making sure you are patient and thorough enough to give the product the time needed to remove it without doing damage to the nails.
-Allergies. Possibly the biggest looming issue out there. Sooner or later the chickens will come home to roost on this and it will have a huge impact on the industry. CND Shellac is hypoallergenic, but there is no medical definition to this. Yes, CND R&D is wonderful, but other brands, large and small (Light Elegance, IKONIQ?), have made R&D a cornerstone of their brand and OPI's R&D division alone is larger than
all of CND. While it is certainly manufacturers' responsibility to create products with low likelihood of allergies, the fact is that allergies are most often caused by techs using products improperly. So it is our responsibility to train and work in a way that minimizes allergies (on ourselves and our clients).