When it comes to painting over existing paint, we often get confused. Because different paints or coatings have different properties. Some paints have adhesiveness that helps to stick to other paint. But some colors chip off from the existing surface.
So, you might be confused about whether you can put nail polish over shellac or not. Well, you have to know details about nail polish and its properties. Moreover, you have to learn about the consequences of applying nail polish over another paint.
Understanding the properties and adhesiveness of shellac is also essential.
Can you put nail polish over shellac?
You can put nail polish over shellac. You can even use regular nail polish over the shellac paint. But the quality of the nail polish should be good. Otherwise, the finish of nail polish will not look good. Nail polish dries over shellac fast and sticks to the shellac surface well.
Table of Contents
However, we use nail polish with different colors directly on the nails. Sometimes, we also mix the nail polish with other materials or over another color. You can put nail polish over shellac for some reason. So, let’s see why you can put nail polish over shellac.
Compatible polish:
When you paint one polish to another, you have to know about the compatibility of these two materials. Because if these two are not compatible with each other, the paint will not be durable.
Shellac and nail polish are compatible with each other. Even their ingredients have similarities. So you can apply nail polish over shellac because they are compatible.
Adhesiveness:
Another good reason is the adhesiveness of shellac and nail polish. Even they have such adhesiveness that you can interchangeably use them. Nail polish has enough adhesiveness that holds it to the shellac surface.
Moreover, shellac also has adhesiveness that holds the nail polish. When the nail polish dries over shellac, it creates a durable coating. This nail polish coating will not chip off easily. So, you can apply nail polish over shellac.
Protective polish:
Another reason for using nail polish over shellac is to protect the shellac. Generally, shellac paint is also durable without nail polish. But when you put nail polish over this paint, it will give another layer of protection.
So, the shellac paint will not chip off quickly. The overall polish will remain durable for a long time. That’s why you can use nail polish over shellac for extra protection.
Can you paint over shellac nails with normal polish?
You can paint over shellac nails with regular polish. But nail polish can be of different types. So, let’s see whether you can paint over shellac nails with these polishes.
Regular nail polish on shellac:
You can use regular nail polish on shellac. But the nail polish should be of good quality. Sometimes, bad-quality nail polish doesn’t have good adhesiveness. So the nail polish doesn’t stick to the shellac surface.
So, using a good quality regular nail polish on shellac will be perfect. Moreover, apply regular nail polish on shellac after the shellac paint dries. Otherwise, wet shellac will not hold the nail polish over it. Dry shellac will be perfect for holding regular nail polish over it.
Clear nail polish on shellac:
You can also use clear nail polish on shellac. Generally, clear nail polish provides a transparent layer over the nail. If you use clear nail polish on shellac, the color of the shellac paint will not change. But the shellac will look glossy.
So, if you want to make the nails glossy, you can put clear nail polish over shellac. Moreover, clear nail polish on shellac will give a protective layer over the shellac nails. An extra layer for the clear nail polish will also protect the nails from physical damage.
Besides, the shellac paint will remain long-lasting and durable. The paint will not chip off from the nails easily.
Glitter nail polish on shellac:
Glitter nail polish on shellac is also suitable. Generally, nail polishes are compatible with shellac paint on nails. So, you use the glitter-type nail polish on shellac also. Glitter nail polishes give the nails an attractive and glittery appearance.
So, you can first use a basic color of shellac paint on nails. Then you can use glitter nail polish over shellac. This will enhance the appearance of the nail paint. Moreover, the nails will look glittery. Shellac paint has good adhesiveness to hold the glitter nail polish on itself.
Do you need special nail polish for shellac?
No, you don’t need special nail polish for shellac. You can use regular nail polish over shellac. Generally, when you use one paint over another, the paints should have compatibility and adhesiveness.
Shellac and nail polish both have these qualities. So, you don’t need to use special nail polish for shellac. If you want to apply nail polish over shellac, you can use a high-quality nail polish that can be durable.
Moreover, you have to use nail polish when the shellac paint is dry entirely. Otherwise, the nail polish will chip off quickly.
What kind of nail polish is used for shellac?
Generally, different types of nail polishes can be used for shellac. For example, regular nail polish is the most used nail polish for shellac. Moreover, clear nail polish is pretty common to use on shellac.
Because clear nail polish doesn’t change the shellac paint’s color. But it gives an excess protective layer. So, clear nail polish is pretty convenient over shellac. Many people also like to use colored nail polish over shellac.
So, you can also use different colors to get variations. Besides, glitter nail polish can also be used on shellac. Glitter nail polish will give a glittery and glossy vibe to the nails. So, you can use different types and colors of nail polish on shellac.
But when choosing nail polish, try to choose a good quality nail polish to make it durable.
How to paint over shellac nails with nail polish?
Now that you know you can paint over shellac nails with nail polish, you might want to see the process. So, let’s see how you can paint over shellac nails with nail polish.
Cleaning the nails:
When you want to put multiple layers of nail paints on your nails, you must clean the nails first. Clean nails will make the paints smooth and durable. Otherwise, dirt or build-ups on the nails can spoil the multiple nail coatings on your nail.
Drying the first coat:
For painting over shellac nails with nail polish, you have to dry the shellac paint first. If you don’t dry the first coat well, other coatings will not stick to the coat properly. Even if you coat nail polish over the shellac paint, it will chip off after some days.
So, drying the previous paint is essential before applying another paint.
Choosing high-quality paint:
When choosing nail polish for painting over shellac, you have to choose a high-quality nail polish. Because some paints can lack adhesiveness. So, these paints will not be compatible with shellac. So, it would be best if you chose a good quality nail polish.
Different shades and types of nail polish:
You have options to use different types of nail polish over shellac. So, you can use clear nail polish or regular nail polish over shellac. Moreover, if you want variations of color, you can use different shades of nail polishes over shellac.
Besides, glittery nail polish will make the nails look attractive.
Can you use normal nail polish remover on shellac?
You can use normal nail polish remover on shellac. But normal nail polish remover will not work the best to remove nail polish on shellac. Because when you want to remove nail polish with shellac, both paints should be removed.
Otherwise, it will look messy on your nails. So, you can use pure acetone to remove both nail polish and shellac from the nails. Generally, normal nail polish will be removed easily with nail polish remover. But this nail polish remover is not pure acetone.
You have to use something more robust than the normal nail polish to remove shellac and nail polish over it. So, you can use pure acetone to remove nail polish over shellac paint on your nails.
Final Thoughts
You can use different types of nail polishes over shellac. As shellac is very compatible with nail polish. Nail polish will stick to the shellac surface. You can use clear, glitter, or regular nail polish on the nails. But it would be best if you chose a high-quality nail polish to use on shellac.