Have you spent $30+ on weekly manicures? Want an easy Step-by-Step Guide to an at-home manicure that will last for 14-days+ and keep your nails healthy? Looking for a nail system that is both professional and long-lasting for chip-resistant nails in the healthcare profession or as a busy professional? If you answered yes to any of these questions you are in the right place! Bonus: 2 videos included!
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Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Home Manicures with CND Shellac
I spent years trying out different nail polish brands/systems and spending $$$ on manicures by professionals…until I found the CND Shellac nail system. I came across this brand 2.5 years ago and have been so happy ever since. I use this nail system to complete an at-home manicure in <2 hours per month!
As I have stated in previous blog posts, this is NOT a sponsored post; simply my opinion about a great product I want to share with all of you!
This post may contain affiliate links. Full disclosures HERE.
Never tried painting your nails at home? Unsure about attempting a manicure at home? Follow this ultimate step-by-step guide to an at-home manicure with CND Shellac.
Grab your FREE Resource – Home Manicure Checklist
Overview:
- Step 1: Supplies & Set-Up
- Step 2: Nail Grooming
- Step 3: Paint
- Step 4: Nail Care
- Step 5: Removal
- Videos + Clarisonic Pedicure System
- What color?
- How to check if CND Shellac is Fake or Authentic?
- The products are sold out on Amazon, where else can I purchase from?
- More information about CND Shellac?
- Costs?
Total Time: 1 hour
Get your FREE Checklist to Paint your Nails at Home today!
SHOP ALL SUPPLIES ON MY AMAZON SHOP
Step 1: Supplies & Set-up
Set-Up:
(Click links for products)
UV Gel Light Nail Dryer; UV Replacement Bulbs; Desk Lamp; Nail Grooming Kit; Cuticle Pusher & Spoon Nail; CND Shellac Intro Pack; Lint Free Nail Wipe; OPI Bond Aid; CND Shellac System Kit; ScrubFresh; Removal Kit
Colors:
Top & Base Coat; Winter Glow; Cream Puff
Stores for Products:
Nail Care/Removal:
OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil to Go; CND Solaroil ; Aveda Hand Relief; CND Nail Remover Wrap Pack; Pure Acetone
Step 2: Nail Grooming
- Use your nail grooming kit (great one HERE)
- Remove old nail polish with acetone/nail polish remover
- Cut nails to desired length
- File nails to desired shape – round, square, in-between
- Prep nails to soften cuticles with CND CuticleAway gel around each nail
- Soak nails for 2-4 minutes – Fill bowl with warm water & 2 pumps of hand soap then place hands in bowl to soften cuticles
- Remove hands from water
- Use nail pusher to gently push down cuticles on each nail
- Clean up nails & cut loose cuticles/skin around nails
Grab your FREE Resource – Home Manicure Checklist
Step 3: Paint
- Apply CND FreshScrub with lint free nail wipe to prep nails for CND shellac
- Apply OPI Bond-Aid to help adhere CND shellac to nails
- Shake each CND Shellac bottles vigorously for 1 minute each – see my video at time 8:20 – 9:20 time points
- Apply CND Shellac Base Coat
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply CND Shellac Cream Puff Coat (if using an opaque color, do not need a white coat underneath)
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply CND Shellac Winter Glow Coat
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply CND Shellac Winter Glow Coat
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply CND Shellac Winter Glow Coat (if using any other color, likely will not need this 3rd coat)
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply CND Shellac Top Coat
- Cure for 2 minutes
- Apply Isopropyl Alcohol with lint free nail wipe to remove sticky layer on nails
- Clean-up edges (carefully use nail file or hands to remove polish on skin)
- Apply cuticle oil to moisturize nails (OPI or CND)
Step 4: Nail Care
- Cuticle oil every morning (to-go version – perfect for your handbag!) – new version of CND product with RescueRxx oil to revitalize your nails in 14 days! Recommended between nail polishes (when your nails are natural but still absorbs when you are wearing CND shellac) – for nighttime, consider pairing with cotton gloves & Aveda products below
- Aveda Hand Relief every morning & throughout day + Aveda Renewal Serum at night – this product is absolutely amazing (and the bottle lasts 18-24 months!)
Photo: Before I put on cuticle oil; see how important it is to moisturize your cuticles/nails
Step 5: Removal
- Acetone wraps for 5-10 minutes – Take a cotton ball, place acetone on cotton ball, place on nail, cover with foil wrap (to keep acetone soaked cotton ball on nail), remove after 5-10 minutes
- Removal Kit: Great design and SO easy to use! I love these new products from CND for my busy lifestyle!
Video: How-to paint nails with CND Shellac
Video: Ultimate Guide to Home Manicures: CND Shellac
Overview of Process
What Color?
- I love this Winter Glow color – it is the perfect blush pink color for everyday wear & is perfect for the healthcare setting & university academia setting!
- I own many other CND Shellac colors (as you can see from my photos). My other favorite color is the Wildfire Red color
- If you want my opinion on any other colors, please leave a comment!
How to check if CND Shellac is Fake or Authentic?
- When purchasing nail polish, it is always good practice to verify authenticity
- CND Shellac has specific characteristics for authentic bottles – I recommend reading this POST for more information
- If you are purchasing from a store or online, apply these techniques to verify
The products are sold out at Amazon, where else can I purchase from?
- Honestly, I have purchased almost ALL of my nail supplies from Amazon. I won’t get into a big discussion on Amazon, but I have been a longtime customer of Amazon (I have Prime) and appreciate their AMAZING customer service, return polices, fast shipping, fair pricing, and detailed customer reviews.
- Local nail supply stores
- In Los Angeles area, here are a few places I have purchased from:
- Skyline Beauty Supply on Main Street in Chinatown
- Starlight Nail Supply on Alameda Street in Chinatown
- Beauty Zone on Westminster Ave in Garden Grove
- Skylark Nail & Beauty Supplies on Brookhurst Street in Garden Grove
- I recommend searching Yelp for local stores & reading reviews. Also just call your local stores to see if they have products in stock
- In Los Angeles area, here are a few places I have purchased from:
- Ulta Beauty
- Some Ulta Beauty stores may carry these nail supplies or CND Vinylux (the non-shellac version of CND)
- Sally Beauty
- Some Sally Beauty stores or online may carry these nail supplies
- eBay seller
- Look for a seller that has very high ratings and detailed product descriptions
Close-up of nails after 2.5 weeks! No chips! Nails have just grown out
More Information about CND Shellac?
- CND Shellac Website
- CND PDF – Step by Step Guide
Costs?
- At-Home: Initial Investment = $175 – $200
- Nail Salon: ~$30 / manicure every other week for a year = $30 x 26 = $780
Save $500+ with At-Home Manicures!
Recap:
- Step 1: Supplies & Set-Up
- Step 2: Nail Grooming
- Step 3: Paint
- Step 4: Nail Care
- Step 5: Removal
- Videos
- What color?
- How to check if CND Shellac is Fake or Authentic?
- The products are sold out on Amazon, where else can I purchase from?
- More information about CND Shellac?
- Costs?
Get your FREE Checklist to Paint your Nails at Home today!
Have any questions about this ultimate step-by-step guide? Please leave a comment & I’ll be happy to answer any questions. Thank you for reading!
And if you think a friend would find this post helpful; please share via my teal sharing buttons!
Jessica Louie, PharmD, APh, BCCCP is the CEO of Clarify, Simplify, Align and Host of The Burnout Doctor Podcast. Dr. Louie uses her signature Burnout Doctor Method to coach burned out pharmacists & professionals to simplify because work-life balance is a LIE. Align work into your life & break free from people pleasing, perfectionism and thrive in life on YOUR TERMS.