From stressful nail-biting to chipping, cracking, and breaking…our nails already go through a lot…right? It’s one of the most ignored parts of our body when it comes to taking care and often the most important when it comes to rocking those diamonds. The interesting thing about nails is…they are one thing you can get into shape without exercising. So, it’s time we help you strike a balance and help you understand if getting those shellac manicures is doing you any good?
First and foremost, what exactly is shellac? It’s a resin-like secretion obtained off the female Lac bug, which, when dissolved in ethanol, produces shellac. The waterproof nature and glaze-like property of shellac makes it a perfect solution for furniture varnish and painting your nails. The chip-free formula, zero dry time, and polish life of over weeks make it a popular choice.
Shellac nail treatment involves the application of multiple layers of polish, which is then followed by intermittent Ultra Violet (UV) light curation period, which could account for roughly 3-4 minutes in total. Then the finishing coat is done with isopropyl alcohol to give that glossy look. So, the question is, what makes it bad for you?
As illustrated by Harvard Health Publishing, the use of UV light to dry the shellac polish coats can lead to the accumulation of harmful UV ray damage, which has the potential to cause cancer. This process, when done over a long time, can create health hazards that not only pose the threat of cancer but also make the nails brittle and lifeless.
The removal of shellac nails will require you to soak your precious nails into acetone solution for over 10 minutes, which means exposure of nails and the skin around to prolonged effects of acetone. This prolonged exposure can make your nails weak, brittle, and cause significant thinning. Also, since shellac nails bond with the top layer of your natural nails, it means saying goodbye to that natural keratin layer.
Though often confused with shellac treatment, gel polishes require a smaller number of coats, which means less exposure to UV light and comparatively better bonding formulation under air drying. This makes the gel polish removal process far less tedious and risky compared to shellac treatment.
Nails are often considered to be the ornaments to our hand and hence require similar care and love. Make sure to give your nails the required break between nail treatments, or maybe try sticking to regular nail paints. This will help to strengthen the nails and nourish the quality of the same. The use of cuticle oils can help in reducing acetone exposure and avoid excessive drying of the skin around.
All in all, we believe the trade-off between natural healthy nails to glossy nail art, which has the potential to cause health problems and deteriorate the quality of nails, is not a brilliant idea because, let’s be honest, it’s all fun and games until someone breaks a nail!
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