Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing your nails and workplace
• Part 3 of 3: Scrape off the paint
• Warnings
• Necessities
• Preparing your nails and workplace
• Packing your nails
• Scrape off the paint

Shellac is a type of nail polish that is a combination of regular nail polish and gel nails. The lacquer can be brushed on the nails like normal nail polish, but must be cured with the help of UV light, just like gel nails. You usually need acetone-based nail polish remover to remove the polish, but acetone can dry out your cuticles and skin. If you want to avoid this, you can try treating your nails with non-acetone nail polish remover.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing your nails and workplace

1. Cover your work area to protect it from nail polish remover. Even non-acetone nail polish can damage some surfaces, so it's best to put newspaper, towels, a garbage bag, or some other protective material where you're going to be working.
   • If you spill enough nail polish remover and the moisture pulls through the protective material, stop what you are doing and clean up the spilled nail polish remover. When the area is dry, lay out new newspaper.
   • Pages ripped from a magazine are also a great option to protect your table or counter top.
   • Choose a place where you can work comfortably, for example at your desk or in front of your TV. The process takes about half an hour.
2. Let the foil sit for 10-15 minutes. This gives the nail polish remover without acetone time to absorb into your nails. When the time is up, peel the foil off the first nail you wrapped and check the shellac. It should look like the polish has come off your nail. The paint may look softer or tackier.
   • If the polish doesn't come off the nail, repack your finger and check your nail again after five minutes.

Part 3 of 3: Scrape off the paint

1. When you're done, apply moisturizer to your nails. Non-acetone nail polish remover can dry out your skin, and scraping polish off your nails can make your nails feel rough. Spread a thin layer of moisturizer such as cuticle oil or hand cream on the surface of your nails.
   • You can also moisturize the skin around your nails if you wish.

Warnings

• Some people recommend scraping, filing, pulling or polishing the polish, but this can tear layers off your nail bed and seriously damage your nails.

Necessities

Preparing your nails and workplace

• Newspaper, towels, garbage bag, etc. (to cover your workplace)
• Coarse nail file (optional)
• Cuticle oil
• Ten strips of aluminum foil of 15-20 cm
• Ten cotton balls

Packing your nails

• Nail polish remover without acetone
• Small bowl (optional)
• Clock or timer

Scrape off the paint

• Cuticle pusher
• Moisturizing agent