Promises…promises!
Mascara that will lengthen and separate our lashes. Shampoo that will add shine and bounce. Deodorant that will make our underarms smoother. The beauty industry is very big on promises, and they don’t always pan out.
When CND Shellac approached me about testing out their Shellac manicure, I was warily interested. I’m tough on my nails between running after kids and keeping the house afloat. I love the look of a fresh mani, but it rarely lasts longer than a few days. CND Shellac was promising (in writing) ZERO dry time, 14 day wear and a mirror finish. I had to put them to the test.
Day 1
A shellac manicure doesn’t really take any longer than a regular manicure. There’s a base coat, two coats of colour and a top coat. After each coat, you need to cure the shellac with a minute or two under the special UV Lamp. There’s a great selection of colours available from light whites and pinks to bright colours like Tropix, which I chose.
Day 8
The thin flexible formula really does protect the nails (seen here after a full Victoria Day weekend spent gardening and cleaning deck furniture) and maintains a beautiful mirror finish. At this point in my manicure I’d already received more compliments on my hands than I’d ever had before.
Day 14
Yeah, two full weeks later and my nails looked almost as good as the day of my manicure.
I didn’t feel I could offer a full review until I’d experienced the removal. Today, on day 15 I went in for a quick 8 minute removal (which involved wrapping my nails in removal and tinfoil caps) and a reapplication. My nails looked healthy post-removal and my new Lobster Roll finger tips are already garnering me raves.
CND Shellac manicures cost approximately 50% more than a regular mani. Find a salon near you that offers CND products by visiting their website.
I was not compensated for my review, and all opinions are my own. I was treated to my first CND Shellac manicure, but happily paid for a second.
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