Gelish or Shellac,which way should I go?

[Loulabella1980]

I really want to do Shellac, but it seems with all the stock trouble and having to use a specific lamp, I am heading towards Gelish mainly because it is available and the lamp only has to be 36 watt (any brand) or LED! Just a couple of questions re Gelish though:
1. Do you HAVE to buff the natural nail, because that is what is putting me off.
2. How do you remove, what materials do you use? ie Shellac have proper remover packs.

 

[nails2nails]

No Buffing of the natural nail
You remove with acetone..put some on a small nail wipe and wrap...some use tin foil..but i use hair foils because they are stronger and just the right size.
Wait 10-15 minutes, then take a orange stick and just push the product off....to be honest most of it crumbles away on the wipes ...that's it !

 

[samjackjord]

They sell a remover which I found to be great and as long as you file the top to break the seal before soaking comes off in 10 minutes leaving no residue. Why not use gelish and shellac? I use both and find that it works well IMOE as they are a different product entirely. If you speak to Jason or georgie at nail harmony they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Hth's

 

[user 35377]

I don't about this in the UK, but I have purchased both and the thing that tipped in me Gelish's direction was: variety of colors and cost per service. My clientele just lean more to the type of colors available from Gelish and not from Shellac and considering the initial outlay for equipment and product along with size of the bottles--Gelish beat Shellac by some distance.

 

[Caz@CCNails]

Hi Guys!

Random question I know, but can Gelish be used with tips? I'm pretty sure Shellac can't because its not strong enough.

 

[Carole.B]

I have done an odd nail when the clients broken one and they have held out the fortnight, I have never done a full hand though. You would need the structure gel, gelish on it's own wouldn't be strong enough.

 

[user 35377]

You need to look over some of the past threads or even the Gelish lover's or Shellac lover's group under the group tab above. You will find all the pics and info you need if you but look!

 

[ro ro]

hi ya very interesting reading through wat you said but sill not sure wat to use shallac or gelish , i just want to carry out manicuring as i do now with opi but achieve longer lasting results, with not a chance of any buffing for sure, wat would you recomend for me , i know there is not a lot of colour choice yet with shelac but there will be please help i want to get set up
ro ro x

 

[geeg]

hi ya very interesting reading through wat you said but sill not sure wat to use shallac or gelish , i just want to carry out manicuring as i do now with opi but achieve longer lasting results, with not a chance of any buffing for sure, wat would you recomend for me , i know there is not a lot of colour choice yet with shelac but there will be please help i want to get set up
ro ro x

There are a few key points I would like to mention if you are a manicurist and natural nails are your business.

Shellac is not a coloured gel. It is much more polish-like and the result looks like polish but with zero dry time and no extra 'bulk' that gels can give to the look of a finished nail. No primer/binder. No extra steps wiping off stickiness with a dry brush. No having to break a seal by top filing the product when removing. Shellac is so EASY and will fit your normal routine with your existing clients like a glove.

Regards the 'buffing' the natural nail issue which seems to be mentioned so often with confusion. I can only give my personal experience. It is recommended by all the coloured gel companies that the surface of the natural nail be buffed before application. Some say they do and some say they don't. But at the recent Scottish beauty show, they were buffing on all the coloured gel stands before application ... All of them without exception ... As part of the routine of preparation. It is very confusing to the Market when there is a conflict of information when one thing is being said and another thing is being done.

There was not one nail buffed during preparation on the Shellac demonstration tables and this was noted by many who attended with great positivity particularly the manicurists who specialise in natural nail treatment. Shellac was developed specifically for use on natural nails.

As for the Shellac lamp ... It is a great investment and it is easily affordable and will cure any gel that requires a 4 bulb lamp so this is good news. It also cures all 5 fingers at one go which knocks 10 minutes off your service time at a stroke. Lots of very positive reasons for looking carefully at Shellac. I wouldn't let the fact that you need the lamp hold you back as it will be a great asset to your business and you will love it.

Shellac has 24 colours and another 12 to come soon and layering options to make dozens and dozens more. There are no problems getting stock and haven't been for many many months now that supply can cope with the huge demand. Good luck with your final choice.

 

[shezler]

I really want to do Shellac, but it seems with all the stock trouble and having to use a specific lamp, I am heading towards Gelish mainly because it is available and the lamp only has to be 36 watt (any brand) or LED! Just a couple of questions re Gelish though:
1. Do you HAVE to buff the natural nail, because that is what is putting me off.
2. How do you remove, what materials do you use? ie Shellac have proper remover packs.

Hi Loulabella1980, I use both Shellac and Gelish. Both are very similar products achieving the same results for clients, longer lasting colour on their natural nails.
When applying, the products differ slightly for instance the Gelish primer has to be cured for 2 minutes whereas Shellac is only 10 seconds.
You do get a great range of colours and glitters from Gelish, but I think the general public have heard of Shellac more.
Shellac is cheaper to buy per bottle but, but you get double the quantity with Gelish.
I personally like both products and enjoy using both. hth's.

 

[purpleivy]

There are a few key points I would like to mention if you are a manicurist and natural nails are your business.

There are no problems getting stock and haven't been for many many months now that supply can cope with the huge demand. Good luck with your final choice.

Are you sure about this? When I got my kit a couple of weeks ago I was told that there was a national shortage of Cream Puff (great when you're getting your beginner kit and want to get cracking) and yesterday when I was there, I was told there is a national shortage of Rockstar Purple (or whatever it's called).

It's really frustrating to have this happen, alternatives being a round trip of 25 miles, an hour lost or alternatively a heap of money spent on postage. I've been to the store 3 times now I think and not got everything on my list each time.

If I was an existing user I might blame myself for not being organised enough to manage what I had in, but as a newbie attempting to build up my kit it's really frustrating!

 

[airhead]

all l can say is l first got shellac and thought it was nice but when l added gelish for the extra colours my business went through the roof , so many referals and clients love it total different response than to shellac also find it much harder wearing for client and nail tec and is still thin application .

 

[SkyLounge]

I use both Shellac and Gelish in my business. A lot of clients will ask for the Shellac because they have heard of this product more. But once I explain the similarities to them, they will atleast try the Gelish. A majority. Of my clients will use either one depending on what color they wish to have. Shellac has come out with a few more colors but I haven't purchased any yet.

IMO they both are great. Shellac is easier for me to stock up on because I can purchase it locally from Cosmoprof whereas the Gelish I have to order.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[nixnewcastle]

I'm looking at stocking Jessica generation as you can also retail the matching midi nail polish so I don't want to miss out on retail opportunities. WHY OH WHY DID YOU DISCONTINUE YOUR POLISH RANGE THAT MATCHES SHELLAC CND????

 

[Bellé|Beauty]

Sorry to jump in on this.

I feel like an idiot asking this, but what is gelish :-s

Thanks x

 

[shezler]

Sorry to jump in on this.

I feel like an idiot asking this, but what is gelish :-s

Thanks x

Hi Gelish has the same results as Shellac. They both contain 50% nail varnish and 50% gel, or there abouts. They are advertised as being longer lasting then conventional nail varnishes, as long as they are applied correctly and in line with manufacturers guide lines. Hope this answers your question.

 

[Unique.Tips]

I have to say I had a client come in with gelish today and I had to soak that crap for 30 minutes!!! And it still didn't want to come off. I have to say the color and look of its two week wear was amazing but the removal made me decide to stick with Shellac which soaks off in 10 minutes.... Really!!

 

[Misspiggy9]

Gelish is quick to soak off but the topcoat needs to be buffed before soak off then it will remove in 10-15 mins. If it isn't buffed then it will take ages to get off. I think gelish is lovely product great range of colours, love the topcoat as it stays really glossy, recommend to anyone. I do both gelish and biosculpture and feel that these reach out to a really good range of clients.

 

[Pooh8bear]

I too do Gelish & Bio Sculpture & wouldn't be without either...although Gelish is becoming really popular with even the Bio Sculpture clients as it looks thinner & more natural & lasts the same length of time.

One thing that has stopped some of my Bio Sculpture clients swapping to Gelish is that They don't do the matching polish as Bio do, shame really as it is another good thing to retail to the clients.

 

[CP1975]

I do bio sculpture and just taken on gelish. My clients are loving gelish and happy to swap as they prefer the colour range. I do combine the two - gelish base and finish with bio colour in-between them.

It's lasting longer than using just bio sculpture.
It soaks of so much quicker and better, quicker to apply than bio sculpture.

But not having a matching nail varnish to match is a downside - hence I use the bio colours - till I don't have any left, then I'll have the gelish colour to replace.

Makes varnish at manicures easier too using gelish.
Client could remove on their own if wanted to as it's easy.

I tried shellac on myself and although I liked it I knew it was not up to the Bio Sculpture standard of wearability whereas the gelish is.