CND™ SHELLAC® Troubleshooting

Most common SHELLLAC® bottle issues, and what to do in each case. Find your quick fix here.

I just received a new SHELLAC® color, and it doesn´t look like the one I already have in the same color. Why is that? 

The reason you might be experiencing it is, that either the bottle you have or wasn't shaken properly before. If the bottle is not shaken properly from the start, the product will quickly become very thick in viscosity and the color will be different. Once you get a new bottle of the same color, you will notice a difference, and think that the new bottle has wrong or faulty color. In this case,  the previous version of it has not been used properly. To avoid that happening in the future, make sure you shake the bottle, for a minimum of 2-3 minutes to ensure that everything has mixed properly. See an example below of how the color transforms after the proper mixing is done.

I have only used half of a SHELLAC® bottle,  but it is already very thick, so I cannot use it anymore, it must be defective? 

It is important that you shake your SHELLAC® colors from the start, so that the heavy pigments, at the bottom of the bottle, can be mixed with the light liquids, if they are not, then the viscosity of the product, will very quickly become thick and hard to work with, and you will need to replace it. Find more must-know knowledge on how to work properly with SHELLAC ® by taking our ICG App Education. See how you can register as a user here:  Do not forget to join our professional community where you can get answers 24/7 on questions and issues you are facing from experienced SHELLAC® pros:

I just got a new SHELLAC® color, and when I apply it on the nails, I notice little lumps in it. Can it be too old?

All brushes have a bit of transport rubber in them, so that can occur with some SHELLAC® bottles. Therefore, it is recommended that before using a new color, you carefully clean the brush in the bottle, with a nail wipe applied with Top Finish . In this way, you clean any remaining rubber out of the brush.

When I apply my SHELLAC® base coat and cure it, it looks like there are small grains of sand on the surface. What is wrong with the base coat?

This problem usually occurs, when your base coat is applied too thick, or the nail plate was not cleaned properly. To avoid this, make sure it is applied very thinly, and the nail plate is totally clean before you proceed with the base coat.

I have bought a SHELLAC® color to match a VINYLUX™ color that I love, but it is not quite the same color in SHELLAC®. Why is that?

CND™ always tries to completely match the color in the two systems, but since they are two very different products, with different ingredients, a slight difference will sometimes occur on some colors.That is a normal occurence with SHELLAC® and VINYLUX™.

I just opened a new SHELLAC® color, and it seems thick and strange in the color, almost transparent. What is wrong with it? 

The first thing you need to do, is to make sure the product is well shaked 2-3 minutes for best results. If after the proper shaking, the color is still strange and transparent. Please also remember that all SHELLAC® colors have a shelf life of 12 month, so even if you have not opened the bottle, the product will gradually break down and eventually no longer be usable. To prolong the shelf life of your SHELLAC® bottle, make sure to store it in a colder and darker place and away from direct sunlight. 

I just received my order, and one of the SHELLAC® colors has the old brush in it, I only want to receive them with new brushes. Is that possible?

We would love to, if it was possible, but CND is still in the process of changing the brush on all the colors, but there may still be some single colors with old brushes in. Therefore some of your bottles might come with an older brush and  will be replaced with a new one in  the furture.