Learn how to make a beautiful and interesting French manicure using shellac on your own at home. Beautiful, well-groomed and attractive nails are the pride of every woman. At first glance, it seems that a manicure is a completely insignificant part of the image, but such a small detail can make an impression no worse than expensive and fashionable clothes or a hairstyle.
Sometimes the modern and incredibly fast pace of life simply does not leave time for proper attention and care for your own fingers. That is why most women and girls of different ages strive to make this type of manicure, which retains its ideal appearance for a long time.
Today, instead of the classic varnishing of marigolds, various modern materials and technologies are used. Recently, shellac gel polish has become very popular. It is French shellac that looks most effective - the classic version of the manicure will last in perfect condition for several weeks.
What is shellac?
Shellac refers to a natural resin that is used in the preparation of industrial varnishes. The coating for nails has a similar consistency and purpose, which is why this name is justified. Shellac is a combination of a classic nail polish with a special gel, which is used by manicurists during nail extension.
Advantages of nail coating with shellac
- The main advantage of this material is its durability. In ideal condition, marigolds will last for several weeks, depending on the rate of nail growth and lifestyle.
- Completely safe technologies and materials are used, which do not contain harmful toxic components. That is why shellac can be done even during pregnancy.
- To remove this type of coating, it is necessary to use a special nail polish remover, but in this case the effect of the solution should be longer.
- Before applying shellac, the marigolds are exposed to minimal impact, and it is also not required to cut the surface of the nail plate.
- The technique for creating a manicure is very simple, so you can do everything yourself at home. It is enough to purchase special equipment, materials and tools.
- The coating is dense enough, thanks to which natural nails receive additional protection - it prevents flaking and brittle nails.
Modern French manicure made with shellac is becoming a versatile option that is perfect for different occasions and looks.
How to make a French manicure with shellac at home?
To decorate marigolds with shellac yourself at home, you must first prepare special tools.
Equipment preparation
Before proceeding directly to work, you must first prepare tools and materials:
- UV lamp with a power of at least 36 W, since it is used to polymerize shellac. The fact is that as a result of exposure to air, this material simply does not dry.
- Shellac - during operation, three types of coating are used. You will need to take a base that protects the nail surface, a decorative colored gel polish, and a top for fixing the coating.
- Primer - This is a special tool that is necessary for drying the nail plate. We can say that this is a primer for the nail plate. It is thanks to the use of a primer that the coating lasts much better and longer.
- Standard manicure set - orange stick, scissors, tweezers, sanding block.
- Degreaser must be used to process the nail plate.
Preparing nails
Before you start creating a French manicure with shellac, you need to properly prepare your nails for the procedure:
- Old varnish, if any, must be removed from the nail surface.
- The nails are given the desired shape and length.
- The cuticle is necessarily processed.
- To remove the cuticle, you can use the orange stick, which gently pushes the cuticle back.
- With the help of a pusher, the cuticle is removed, which has grown to the nail plate. If the skin is attached too tightly, you first need to hold your fingers for a couple of minutes in a salt bath.
- The nail is polished to remove the lipid layer. To do this, you can use a buff (for processing natural nails). The result is an effective but gentle effect on the nail plate. Even though a gentle treatment is performed, you should not get carried away too much, otherwise the nail will become very thin.
- Before applying shellac to your nails to create a French manicure, be sure to degrease the plate.
- A disinfectant is taken and applied to a napkin, after which each nail is processed. It is important to pay special attention to the lateral parts and holes of the nail. This is a mandatory step, on which the duration of the manicure depends.
Shellac French manicure technology
After all the preparatory procedures are fully completed, you can proceed directly to the creation of the manicure itself, following the following steps:
- First of all, the nail plate must be well degreased, after which the next step is performed - first, a primer is applied. It is necessary to completely cover the entire nail plate, but not too thickly. Particular attention is paid to the lateral parts of the nail and the cuticle area.
- Now you need to wait a little until the nail plate acquires a white tint, as if covered with a bloom. After that, you can proceed to the next stage.
- A special transparent base is applied under the shellac in the thinnest and most dense layer possible. The loose saw cut or the end part of the nail must be well processed and sealed.
- Now you need to dry the marigolds for 2 minutes under an ultraviolet lamp.
- Color can be applied. It is not necessary to use a foundation tone, but then, in the process of nail growth, the regrown part will be noticeable, and as a result, the manicure will quickly look sloppy. It is quite enough to apply just one coat, but if it is loose, you can reuse the shellac. It is important to remember that after each application of shellac, the nails must be dried for 2 minutes under the lamp.
- The most important point is the formation of a smile. When working with shellac, it is not necessary to use a stencil.
- You need to try to exactly repeat the natural line of the nail. The strokes are applied gently with a thin brush along the free edge of the nail plate. If mistakes are made, they can be easily corrected with a brush previously soaked in a disinfector.
- In most cases, just one coat is sufficient.
- Then the result is fixed for 2 minutes under the lamp. If difficulties arise at this stage, you should additionally familiarize yourself with the technique of applying shellac to create a French manicure.
- The final coat can be applied - top. It is important to apply the topcoat in two coats, drying between each coats.
- During the application of each finishing layer, you need to seal the sections of the nail plates, otherwise the varnish will very quickly move away from the nail surface.
- At the end of the procedure, nourishing oil is applied to the cuticle.
French shellac for short nails - design photo
When working with short nails, the same techniques and methods are used as for long ones. Recently, it is neat little marigolds that are very popular, because they look very beautiful, stylish and restrained. Using a simple technology, you can decorate short marigolds with shellac on your own at home.
French manicure design with shellac
Thanks to a fairly large variety of French manicure options with shellac, you can create not only a beautiful and stylish, but also a truly unique manicure.
Classic French manicure
Austere and elegant manicure does not lose its popularity and is ideal for different looks. Marigolds of a neutral peach or pink shade and a neat white smile line will be a wonderful decoration for both a young girl and an older woman. It is important that when creating a French manicure with shellac, the lines are perfect.
Colored French manicure
If there is a desire to slightly diversify the familiar classics, you can use bright shades. For example, the free edge of the nail can be decorated with almost any shade, creating a unique and inimitable manicure. This is a great option for a jacket for the summer season. You can not only choose different colors, but also the shape of the smile line. For example, a smile in the form of a pointed funnel looks very interesting, allowing you to visually lengthen the marigolds.
French moon manicure
This version of the French manicure is a mirror image of the classic jacket. The base of the nail, along the cuticle line, can be drawn not only in white, but also in a different color. In addition, a traditional smile line can be drawn along the edge of the nail, which is often applied in other places on the nail plate. This type of manicure, most often, is chosen by young and self-confident girls who like to attract increased attention of others.
French manicure with a pattern
This is one of the most original ways to decorate your fingers - an interesting and stylish pattern can be applied to the nails. It is important to apply the picture just before covering the nail with a top coat. You can use both ready-made stickers and draw a picture yourself. Match your mood with a plot to create a stylish and original French shellac manicure.
French manicure with shellac with decor
There is a really wide field for a flight of imagination. To decorate marigolds, you can use rhinestones, sparkles or beads - the choice is yours. Such a manicure looks not only original and stylish, but also very simple to perform. Quite often, this decor method is used to mask small mistakes made during the creation of a manicure.
Gradient French manicure
Recently, a smooth transition from one shade to another with a complete absence of sharp boundaries is gaining more and more popularity. This type of manicure is also considered the classic version of the jacket. In almost all cases, one tone is used as the basis, outside of which a transition from bright colors to almost bleached is performed.
Multi-textured French shellac
This version of manicure is quite difficult to perform, so you won't be able to do everything yourself without practice. It is necessary to learn how to combine matte and glossy coatings, to create a beautiful volume. At the stage of fixing, the final actions are performed, but you need to work very carefully so as not to spoil everything.
After getting acquainted with the latest novelties and ideas in the world of manicure, each girl will be able to choose the perfect option for herself. When creating a new image, listen not only to fashion trends, but also to your own mood, thanks to which you can become the owner of a beautiful, original and truly unique manicure.
