Nail breakthrough

Shellac. Photo / Supplied

A salon-only nail polish service that has just launched globally seems bound to shake up the nail industry. Dubbed the first hybrid colour for nails, Shellac is an American innovation that has impressed plenty of those in the beauty world who have been invited to give it an early go, myself included.

Its best feature is that after a couple of minutes of each coat being "cured" under a UV light, it's dry. Not just touch dry, but tap-on-the table, fish-your-keys-from-your-handbag dry - no smudges, no dents, no smell.

An established Californian-based company, Creative Nail Design, is behind Shellac and says it goes on like polish, has the strength of gel and comes off easily.

I can attest to the first two claims - my polish is shiny and remained absolutely chip-free after nearly two weeks, until while writing this I decided to try to dent it, given that normal wear and tear hadn't. I had to bite the end of my nail really hard, repeatedly, to chip off a tiny bit of polish. I then levered the edge up and peeled it back, until a small section of polish broke off. This took real determination.

Shellac is designed to last 14 days and requires professional removal, but without the damaging drilling or the sometimes harsh filing or soaking fake nail removal can involve. I get the impression my polish could easily last longer, but I've noticed my nail growth is starting to expose an unpainted area at the cuticle which is why fortnightly is the suggested repaint time (similar to the gel nail backfilling guideline).

Application involves the usual base coat, two thin colour coats and a top coat, with the UV light curing the polish.

It is removed by wrapping each nail in a specially designed acetone pad for 10 minutes to dissolve the polish. Any residue is edged out with an orange stick. Technicians who have tried this tell me it's an easy process, though I've yet to experience it. Again it's a salon-only service which can be combined with colour reapplication.

I've never been tempted by fake nails, but those who have tried them say Shellac is similar to good gels. What appeals to me is that it is looks like polish, but with the very real bonus of eliminating dry time and chipping. There's 12 colours to choose from so far, with more to come.

If you're determinedly DIY or like changing your nail colour to match your outfit every other day, then this won't be for you. It's also going to cost more than a quick paint job at the mall. Creative Nails, the New Zealand distributor, is lining up salon stockists nationwide and says the costs for the 30-minute application will vary, but should be around $40 to $60.

To my mind that's money worth paying for a special occasion such as a business trip or a wedding and honeymoon when a groomed appearance is essential but you don't want to waste time fixing up flaws.

For a polish guaranteed to last, Shellac is ideal.

Ph 0800 624 569 for stockists; www.creativenails.co.nz