Shellac vs. Gel: How Are They Different and Which One Is Better?

Going to the nail salon should, in theory, be a relaxing experience. But things can escalate quickly when you’re faced with a plethora of polishes and you’ve already reached peak decision fatigue for the day. (Do you go with the same red polish you always get—or the funky greige you might get sick of in a week?) Then, in the middle of this internal debate, you ask the receptionist for a gel mani and she says, “We only have Shellac, but it’s pretty much the same thing.” But is it? No, they are not the same. Not to worry, I’ll walk you through the key differences between Shellac vs gel below.

The word “Shellac” is actually a trademarked name from CND, the first nail company to bring this type of semipermanent polish to market. You can think of CND Shellac as a hybrid of a gel and regular polish that's found in most salons (find your nearest provider here). Because it’s frequently referred to as your standard “gel mani” or a “Shellac gel mani,” this adds to the confusion between the two.

Also known as “hard gel,” it’s not exclusive to one brand and is made of acrylic monomers and oligomers that bond together when placed under a UV light. The main difference between a gel manicure and Shellac is that gel can be sculpted and shaped to your nail just like acrylic; the finish is also a bit thicker and glossier than Shellac.

Shellac is softer and thinner than gel, so it comes off more easily, which can be a pro or a con depending on what you're looking for in a manicure.

When removing Shellac, you can usually just wrap your nails in acetone-soaked cotton balls and aluminum foil for about ten minutes, which will lift the polish so you can lightly push off the remnants with a cuticle stick. With a gel manicure, you have to buff off the top layer of polish on each nail before you proceed with the acetone.

Other differences to consider:

• Since Shellac comes from one specific brand (CND), there are fewer color options compared to gels, which are manufactured by many different brands, including OPI and Gelish.
• While Shellac lasts much longer than a traditional manicure, it can be more prone to chipping than a gel manicure.

Typically, a gel manicure is more expensive than Shellac. A Shellac manicure can cost anywhere between $25 and $40, depending on where you get it done, and a gel manicure can cost between $25 and $60 per application.

Shellac typically lasts up to 14 days without chipping, and a gel manicure lasts up to three weeks (though I've had gel manicures last for more than a month in the past and only removed them because my nails were growing out underneath).

Regardless of whether you get a Shellac or gel manicure, some peeling or breakage might occur if either is not properly removed (e.g., if you rip it off yourself). As long as you remove it gently and keep your hands and skin moisturized, your nails should be fine.

I definitely advise going to a salon to get a gel manicure taken off. The nail technician will use a coarse file (or an electric one) to sand away the outermost layer of the gel before wrapping the nails with acetone-soaked cotton balls and aluminum foil—similar to the removal process for Shellac. I’ve found that gels need to soak longer before the edges start to lift off and are ready for some elbow grease. (Word to the wise: Not all salons remove gel manicures, and some salons add a charge for removal, so be sure to check before you go.)

Again, gel shouldn’t damage nails if applied and removed properly by a skilled technician, but you might notice some peeling or brittleness in the days following removal. Keep your tips hydrated with cuticle oil and hand cream, and they’ll regain their luster in no time.