Miracle Manicure - 3 weeks on

I'm always pleased when a product does what it promises, I love it when it surpasses my expectations.

Shellac manicure just after application

Shellac says that their polish wears flawlessly for 14 days and 3 weeks on, it's still looking fabulous and I haven't been careful with them. The only problem is that my nails have grown and the colour is moving up.

3 weeks later

So now for the second test, removal. Shellac does sell removal wraps which minimises the contact of acetone with the skin, but at £3 a pack to do all your nails, it does add additional cost to the manicure and they are fiddley to use.

What I would recommend is; buying nail varnish containing acetone (available from boots, superdrug etc.) which you fill a small bowl with. Then put this bowl in a larger bowl of hot water (a bit like a bain-Marie) and pop your nails in and the polish melts off easily.

I'm heading off on holiday in a few weeks and getting a Shellac manicure will be top of my beauty preparation list.

CND’s Shellac manicure www.cnd.com cost me £27 from my local salon (House of Beauty Cambridge www.cambridgebeauty.co.uk)