May 1, 2025, 9:24 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Many are familiar with Shellac nails from professional nail salons: a polish that doesn’t dry in the air like traditional nail polish but hardens under a lamp and seems to last forever. However, Shellac can also be applied and removed at home. Here’s a simple guide from STYLEBOOK on how it works and what to watch out for with DIY manicures.
Overview
What Do You Need for a Shellac Manicure at Home?
When removing and applying Shellac, the same products used in professional nail salons are required. In the long run, it’s definitely cheaper than regular appointments with a professional.
What You Need:
- Nail file
- Cleaner or nail polish remover
- LED/UV lamp
- LED/UV nail polish in the desired color
- Some polishes require a special LED/UV top and base coat
It sounds complicated, but it’s easy to get and definitely worth it in the long run. Some beauty shops even offer special starter kits with everything you need for a DIY Shellac manicure, starting at around 30 euros.
Applying It Yourself — Here’s How!
First step: The nails must be clean. Old polish should be thoroughly removed, followed by a simple manicure where you trim, file, and push back the cuticles. The nail surface should be lightly roughened with a file so the polish adheres better. But be careful! Don’t file too much to avoid thinning the nail.
Before applying, clean the nails again with nail polish remover or alcohol to ensure they are completely oil-free. Then apply the Shellac like regular nail polish and place it under the UV or LED lamp. The curing time may vary by a few seconds depending on the product. The exact time is indicated on the polish bottle and can be set on the lamp. Repeat this process twice per hand, and your Shellac manicure is done!
Removing Shellac
Shellac lasts about two weeks on the nails and should be removed when the nail has visibly grown out or if you’re tired of the color. Warning! Never peel or pick the polish off the nails! Peeling can seriously damage the nail, which is not only painful but can also have unpleasant consequences.
What you need to remove Shellac:
- Nail file
- Aluminum foil
- Acetone-based nail polish remover
- Nail oil (olive or coconut oil are good alternatives)
- Cotton pads
- Wooden sticks
First, lightly roughen the old polish on the nails with a file, then soak a cotton pad with acetone-based nail polish remover and place it around the nail. Important: The remover must contain acetone, as Shellac cannot be removed without it. Wrap the nails with cotton pads in aluminum foil and wait about 10 minutes. This will loosen the polish from the nail, and you can easily remove the Shellac layer with a wooden stick or cuticle pusher.
After removing the Shellac, hands and nails should be cared for with oil and hand cream. The reason is that nail polish with acetone dries out hands and significantly damages the nail’s keratin layer.
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When should I avoid Shellac?
The Shellac procedure is a treatment that should be followed by a break of several weeks after three applications to allow the nails to recover. A prerequisite is that the treated nails are completely healthy — the chemical polish can attack and further weaken dry and brittle nails. Additionally, UV or LED polish should not be used on minor injuries to the cuticles or nail bed, as it can further hinder nail regeneration.