Shellac vs regular polish: which one is made for you?

Shellac vs regular polish?

When you book a manicure, the question comes back every time. And you hesitate every time.

Regular polish is simple, cheap and easy to take off. Gel polish, which many people call shellac after a well-known brand, promises flawless nails for weeks. But it costs more, and it does not come off with a wipe of cotton wool.

So, which one should you choose?

We are going to give you a real answer, not an "it depends".

In this guide, we compare the two, point by point: wear, application, removal, price and effect on the nail. Then we tell you which one to pick for your situation.

The prices quoted are those of SIMEHA Institut, where we apply both polishes every week on the natural nail.

What is the difference between regular polish and gel polish?

Regular polish dries in the air and comes off with ordinary remover; gel polish is cured under a lamp and generally lasts longer. Everything else follows from this difference: the time it takes, the wear, the removal and the price.

The full comparison, at a glance:

The wear times in this table are rough figures from the trade. They vary with your nails and with what your hands do every day.

Now let us look at each point more closely.

Wear: a few days or several weeks?

Regular polish generally lasts a few days before it chips; gel polish generally lasts several weeks. That is the main reason to choose one or the other.

Why such a gap?

Regular polish stays flexible and ends up wearing at the edge of the nail, where it rubs. Housework, washing-up, the keyboard and gardening damage it quickly.

Gel polish, cured under a lamp, forms a tougher layer. What ends a manicure is most often not wear, but regrowth: a band of bare nail appears at the base.

And on toes? Both polishes generally last longer than on hands, because toenails take fewer knocks.

Application: the real difference starts afterwards

At the salon, both take the same time: 30 min for polish on its own, 1 h for the manicure with polish. The difference shows after the appointment.

Regular polish is applied in coats, then dries in the air. It stays fragile for quite a while: avoid rummaging in your bag or pulling on gloves straight away.

Gel polish is cured under a lamp after each coat. When you leave the salon, it is dry. You can use your hands normally.

Are you always in a hurry after an appointment? That is a real advantage of gel polish.

Removal: the point everyone forgets

Regular polish comes off in a minute with remover; gel polish needs a specific removal, which has to be booked. It is the main drawback of gel polish, and the one most often forgotten.

Remember this rule: gel polish must never be scratched or peeled off.

By peeling it off, you remove part of the nail surface with it, and the nail becomes thin and soft. The correct removal softens the polish with a suitable product, then takes it off without forcing.

At SIMEHA Institut, removal costs CHF 20 and takes 30 min. We also offer a removal with filing and oil, at the same price.

Remember to book it at the same time as your new polish.

Price: is the gap really that big?

Per appointment, the price gap is small; over time, you have to count the removal. At SIMEHA Institut, the manicure with polish costs CHF 40 for regular and CHF 55 for gel.

To compare fairly, think over a month rather than a single appointment.

A regular polish that you redo often costs more than it seems if you have it applied each time. Gel polish costs more to apply and comes with a removal, but it is renewed less often.

The detailed calculation is in the guide shellac manicure price.

The effect on the nail: should you worry?

Neither regular polish nor gel polish damages a healthy nail if they are applied and removed correctly. In general, nails damaged after gel polish come from a badly done removal, not from the polish.

A few rules apply to both:

• moisturise your nails and cuticles with an oil or a cream;
• leave the nail bare from time to time, between two manicures;
• wear gloves for the housework and the washing-up;
• do not use your nails as tools.

Are your nails already thin, soft or peeling? Talk to the beautician before the polish goes on. She will tell you whether it is better to wait.

We explain how to get nails back in shape in the guide nail care after shellac.

Regular polish or gel polish: our recommendation

Choose regular polish if you like to change; choose gel polish if you want to stop thinking about it. Here is how to decide according to your situation.

And what if you did not want to choose?

Alternate. Gel polish for busy periods, regular polish or bare nails the rest of the time. It is often the best compromise, for the nail as well as for the budget.

Where can you have your polish applied?

SIMEHA Institut applies regular polish and gel polish at Rue Caroline 41, 1227 Genève, Suisse, in the Acacias district. Polish is applied on the natural nail; we do not offer gel nail extensions or nail tips.

All hand treatments, with their duration and their price, are on the manicure page. There you choose your treatment and your time online, with no account, and you pay at the salon.