Nails: Shellac, Gel, Acryllic... Help!

[jsparrow10]

Thank you for starting this thread! We're leaving Sun, wedding Friday but not sure if anything will be open 4th of July so I'm not sure the option that will still look good a week later being in the water alot as well!

[beckys98]

I've had some bad luck with shellac chipping within a week! Last time I went to Jamaica, in fact. I'm worried about it getting messed up while we're there and not being able to get it off. So I'm doing a regular manicure the day before we leave (a Saturday) and I'm doing a polish change only at the resort on wedding day (a Thursday) right before my hair/makeup appt.

[Sabes44]

I am getting gel done for mine!  I did it last time we went on vacation and took engagement photos and looked perfect after almost 2 weeks of fun in the sun.  My only dilemma is what color to get!  I want a pinkish nude color that won't look outdated or too bright in photos. 

[rachelia160]

I have to show off my gel mani I got done for my upcoming bachelorette/shower weekend - I'm obsessed!

 

 

@@beckys98 - the duration of gel polish is totally dependent on how well the person does your manicure.  If the technician doesn't do a good job, it could chip within days, but if you go to a place that really knows what they're doing, it's almost impossible to have it chip. If you still were thinking of doing a gel manicure, I would just maybe try a different salon that has really good Yelp reviews for their shellac/gel.

@@Sabes44 -  I was looking for the exact same pink/nude color you mentioned and I love how this looks on my nails! I think it'll look really neutral in pictures but it's still pink enough to be pretty in person.

[calgarybride2015]

I have to show off my gel mani I got done for my upcoming bachelorette/shower weekend - I'm obsessed!

 

 

@@beckys98 - the duration of gel polish is totally dependent on how well the person does your manicure. If the technician doesn't do a good job, it could chip within days, but if you go to a place that really knows what they're doing, it's almost impossible to have it chip. If you still were thinking of doing a gel manicure, I would just maybe try a different salon that has really good Yelp reviews for their shellac/gel.

@@Sabes44 - I was looking for the exact same pink/nude color you mentioned and I love how this looks on my nails! I think it'll look really neutral in pictures but it's still pink enough to be pretty in person.

I think I figured it out. You use the term gel for what we say shellac for. At my nail salon gel is like acrylic and there is no way it can chip :)

 

Your nails look fantastic and I love the look of the sparkles falling down your nail. I know there's a term for it but it's escaping me

 

 

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[rachelia160]

@@calgarybride2015 glitter ombrè!

 

The gel/shellac thing is super confusing because everyone calls it different things.  For me, gel polish is the overall term for the kind that lasts 2 weeks that they cure under a LED or UV light. Shellac was the first kind gel polish on the market so a lot of people use it as a blanket term, myself included when I'm just talking about it in real life, but on here I try to use the all-inclusive "gel polish," since that includes a bunch of brands, including OPI, which is my favorite.  I actually like official "Shellac" brand gel polish the least - it hasn't seemed to last as long on my nails as OPI.

[calgarybride2015]

I agree I use shellac as the blanket term. I use gel as the other term against acrylic. So not sure what else to call it either as it's certainly not a 'polish'.

 

Ombré is a great term!!! I did mine this weekend after all this talk and for once tried the one nail different. It's growing on me. I never wear full polish so this is huge for me. Usually just have the colored tips.

 

 

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[beckys98]

Love the glitter! That is super cute!

 

I have to show off my gel mani I got done for my upcoming bachelorette/shower weekend - I'm obsessed!

 

 

@@beckys98 - the duration of gel polish is totally dependent on how well the person does your manicure.  If the technician doesn't do a good job, it could chip within days, but if you go to a place that really knows what they're doing, it's almost impossible to have it chip. If you still were thinking of doing a gel manicure, I would just maybe try a different salon that has really good Yelp reviews for their shellac/gel.

@@Sabes44 -  I was looking for the exact same pink/nude color you mentioned and I love how this looks on my nails! I think it'll look really neutral in pictures but it's still pink enough to be pretty in person.

[Sabes44]

@rachelia160  Pretty!!  What color is the base?  

[MrsCtoB]

I did Gel nails with extensions (my nails were bit down from all the nerves Lol) for my wedding. They looked great! I had them done on the Tuesday, we left on Wednesday, and the wedding was on Saturday. They looked great even when we returned, a full 2 weeks later!!!

I did gel because I had done gel polish or shellac on my nails with no extension for a previous trip and one nail chipped with transferring luggage etc. 

I know from past experience that acrylic turns yellowish in the sun/chlorine etc. 

 

I really like Bubble Bath from OPI (they have it in gel too) and Care to Danse from OPI also. 

Edited April 27, 2015 by MrsCtoB