What is a Gelac manicure or pedicure?
Gellac is a lightweight gel polish that combines the long-lasting effects of a gel nail with the easy application of a regular varnish. The process requires a UV lamp for “curing”, and takes around 10 minutes to remove.
What is Gellac good for?
Gelac’s manufacturers, IBD, claim that Gellac is the “must-have 14-day manicure – no chipping, no smudging, no kidding!” The idea is that the gel bonds more securely than regular polish, which results in a longer-lasting, shinier result. Some therapists also claim Gellac is good for strengthening weak nails and promoting growth.
Before you go
Although your therapist will prepare your nails, it’s common courtesy to remove any regular polish (Gelac polish requires a special removal process, so your technician will do this if you are a return customer), and make sure your hands are clean.
Precautions
If you have any fungal nail infections, open sores or other wounds on or around your fingers then it is recommended that you do not have a Gellac manicure. If in doubt, speak to your nail technician.
What to expect from a Gellac manicure
- Your therapist will clean, prep and lightly file your nails
- The application of a base coat dehydrates the nail bed and prepares the nail for optimum adhesion
- A thin layer of Gellac polish is applied to your fingers and cured under UV light for three minutes
- The same is done for the other hand, then the thumbs are painted and cured separately
- The application and three-minute curing process is repeated on fingers then thumbs
- A top coat is applied to fingers then thumbs, with curing of one minute
- Each nail is then briefly cleansed to remove any tacky residue