Is SHELLAC™ the same as gel polish?

The short answer to that is no. SHELLAC™ is a gel hybrid that takes the best from a traditional gel - the durability, and nail polish - no nail damage.

Upon launching, SHELLAC™ is the first treatment of its kind and is the first ever fully patented gel polish system in the world. SHELLAC™ is also trademarked, meaning that it can only be used to describe this particular treatment from CND™, which is sold only to professionals in the salon business.

Why is SHELLAC™ different than gel?

The purpose of SHELLAC™ is to resolve the two big concerns from the side of the customer getting their nails done and the professional. For the professional using it, it is the convenience of a fast and durable treatment of high quality. For the consumer, it is the health of their nails.

Due to its formulation, the nail does not need to get buffed (filed), which ultimately weakens it, for the product to adhere to the nail. It also allows for smaller molecules to pass through, such as the award-winning SolarOil™ that can penetrate it and condition the nail while SHELLAC™ is on the nail. It also allows for acetone to pass through and quickly release polymers for fast and safe removal. That is why SHELLAC™ has been marketed as a breathable formula. As a result, the nail does not need to be filed and damaged both during application and removal. This means that you can continue wearing SHELLAC™ for years without damaging the nail, which makes it the most caring gel treatment you can get in a salon with no compromise on durability. A traditional gel would usually require you to file the nail both before applying and after removing, which thins out the nail, making it prone to breakage and flakiness.

Why is SHELLAC™ so popular?

Its uniqueness and properties made SHELLAC™ an iconic treatment, whose popularity rose quickly around the globe. In some places, SHELLAC™ has been used as a synonym for gel (which it is not) as means of making a gel treatment more booked in a salon. This often means that many end-consumers find it difficult to distinguish between what is SHELLAC™ and what is a traditional gel.

Besides the easy application that cares for the nail and its durability, SHELLAC™ is also quick to remove - both in the salon and at home. It is a 100% soak-off service, meaning that it can be removed using the specially-made acetone-based OfflyFast™ with moisturizing properties.