Can you use this with Shellac? What is the difference between Shellac and Gel? Why is the CND brand so much more?
1507084
Hi Shannon, Yes you can use this light with Shellac. Shellac and Gel are similar products. They both look beautiful like polish but last for several weeks without chipping or smudging. Your nails will look freshly painted all the time. Shellac is a brand name from CND. I do not know why it cost more, maybe research and development... Gel lasts a little longer but both are great products. Both need to be soaked off to remove. Good luck....Happy Holidays...Alex
1507085
Hi Shannon,Yes you can use this light with Shellac. Shellac and Gel are similar products. They both look beautiful like polish but last for several weeks without chipping or smudging. Your nails will look freshly painted all the time. Shellac is a brand name from CND. I do not know why it cost more, maybe research and development... Gel lasts a little longer but both are great products. Both need to be soaked off to remove. Good luck....Happy Holidays...Alex
1507086
This works perfectly for shellac. I have no personal experience with gel so I can't answer that question. Shellac is expensive but worth it. I routinely have it on my nails for 3 weeks
701142
My apology, I don't check this e-mail often. However, the OPI Axxium gel does not cure very well. I purchased the gel and the light and it seemed to take 30 min for each hand. The gel is so thick and gummy until you have to cure the gel two times on each hand. I would not recommend the OPI Gel or the Light. Honestly, I would invest in CND gel and curing light. CND works 1000 times better then OPI. Just my opinion as a nail tech.
319353
the gel, is a colored "gel" (that looks like nail polish), "Shellac" is a technology invented by Creative Nail Design, is similar to a gel manicure in that it also uses UV light to cure each coat but the Shellac takes about a third of the time to soak off.
2199806
This, dear Hdance, I can't say since gel color is something new. But I maybe able to find out for you. All I know is that you can use it over regular polish.
2076534
I don't know about shellac, I have tried it with regular nail polish and it worked but I didn't get as long a wear as with the gel polish. Sorry I'm not much help.
319350
Shellac is the brand name of a polish hybrid. It's not as strong as a gel. Gelish, OPI, Red Carpet Manicure, IBD, etc. are gel brands. I prefer to wear gels as my nails are very thin and brittle and need the extra support.
1994657
I have not been able to tell the difference, if there is one. I have used this with the CND powders and other brands of powder, including powder mixed with colors and glitter. It works great.
2057631
I have used with delish and a no name and both were great. I would use with any gel polish. But the opi I have not used yet.
1295215
I have used it on several other kinds---DER ME LECt---no formalehyde . You are not supposed to use CND on other polishes but I have found it to work.
1231987
Yes. That's the worst part of the line. You can swap to the Shellac top and base but still use Gelish colors but you'll need a stronger light. Gelish light requirements aren't as high. Just go VERY thin with the Gelish layers especially the top and base using 3 color coats if necessary.
1247971
You can cure the CND Shellac Top and Base Coat gels with a UV LED light, not just a plain LED light. It has to be "ultraviolet" light, in order to cure the gel. The new gel lights are UV LED lights. It takes less time to cure the gel using the UV LED lights, too! You can buy them at some drugstores, now, in the gel polishes section.
2225409
So far I have used Bundle Monster, IBD, Sally Hansen, Sensationail, Elite 99 Chameleon and Christina Gel Polish and they all work great with this lamp. I bet CND Shellac should work great.
310769
Well, I have terrible nails to start with. I has been using the gel polish and it works good but it takes so long to do them and even longer to take it off. So I ordered the CND Vinylux base, color and top coat to try. It does stay on much longer than anything I have tried before. On my better nails it probably lasted close to a week before it started to chip any. If you have good nails it will probably work good for us. Hope this helps.
1488430
I'm using coconut oil, it's better than the gel. Olive oil may be also used. The best of these 2 oils: They're natural and contain no mineral oils.
1661042
Yes that is what I use, I believe when I got it I read reviews and there are like 3 colors it doesn't cure but I mix and match all of my gel polishes and I use CND base and top coat and I have never had any issues.
1276797
I don't use CND, but it works well with all my gel polishes, so I've no reason to doubt it's performance with CND. Replacement bulbs can easily be found all over Amazon and eBay. Search for 9W 365nm U-bulbs.
1773743
Yes! I have used my dryer with both gelish and shellac polishes with equally good results! Works like charm! :-)