Shellac is CND's soak-off system that sits between gel and lacquer: it brushes on like polish, cures under a lamp and comes off by soaking, without drilling. Each colour on this page is a 0.25 oz bottle with a built-in brush, listed by shade number and name, such as 008 Aurora, 015 Bellini or 032 Cherry Apple. Check each listing for stock before you plan a service around one shade.
Shellac is sold as a system, so use the Shellac base coat under the colour and a Shellac top coat over it. CND makes base coat in 0.25 oz and 0.42 oz bottles and several top coats, including a Duraforce top. Keep every layer thin and cap the free edge with each coat, because thick layers cure unevenly and that is where chipping and peeling usually start.
The cure times printed on CND product pages differ by product and by lamp, so follow the instructions on the bottle for the lamp you use rather than one fixed number. Apply two thin colour coats, curing each one, then the top coat. Finish by wiping the top coat after curing if the bottle tells you to, and end the service with cuticle oil.
Shellac is a soak-off product. Break the shine of the top coat, then soak the nails in acetone or use acetone wraps until the colour softens, and lift it away gently with an orangewood stick. Do not scrape or force the natural nail: if the colour is still holding, wrap it for a few more minutes. Because removal needs no drilling, Shellac suits clients who want to protect their natural nails.
The Shellac base coat and top coat are sold in packs of 6 and 12 bottles on the CND Shellac base and top page, with base coat in 0.25 oz and 0.42 oz bottles and top coat in 0.25 oz bottles. Order the base and top with your colours so the full system is on hand, and check each listing for stock before you order.