• A Shellac pedicure lasts up to two weeks (with intense shine and no chipping at all!)
• It feels like regular polish, not thick and clunky like gels or acrylics.
• You can choose from at least 24 summery colors.
• It costs only marginally more than a typical pedicure.

The Bad:

• Not every Shellac or gel pedicure is the real deal. Shellac is a brand manufactured by Creative Nail Design (CND). Some "Shellac" pedicures are actually hybrid acrylic-gel pedicures, and others can be simply glue and powder.   Either might leave you inadvertently exposed to methylmethacrylate or ethylmethacrylate, two toxic chemicals that can cause fingernail damage,deformity and dermatitis.
• CND certifies salons, but they noted in an  article in the New York Times that less than half of the salons in New York that offer the Shellac treatment are actually certified to perform it.     
• The Shellac process takes longer than a standard manicure as each layer, base coat, 2 coats of polish, and the top coat, each need to be cured under the UV lamp.   
• To remove the ultra-resistant gel manicure,  the technician must wrap pads soaked in acetone around the nail for 10 to 40 minutes or more. But some manicurists take shortcuts and try to scrape and pry it off the nail for speed.  Others file it down with a drill, often leaving the natural nail paper thin.  Both, according to a study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, can damage the nail bed, the nail matrix, and in rare cases, the nerve.  
• Soaking the nails in acetone is not advised as acetone is toxic and can be absorbed into the body and into the bloodstream.

• Shellac contains methylpyrrolidone, a chemical that causes reproductive toxicity and is on California's Prop 65 list of toxic chemicals.  Some reformulated versions are free of methylpyrrolidone, but you must check labels carefully as the original version is still sold.  
• UV light is required to cure the gel, and it is the same light found in (but stronger and more concentrated) tanning beds.  This exposure to UV light can cause premature aging and cancer. 
• There are 20 toxic chemicals found in nail glue, polish, hardeners, additives, powders and removers.  The US Environmental Protection Agency  warned that they can cause kidney and/or liver damage, nerve injury, and irritation of the eyes, skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract.

What to do:

• If you just gotta have a Shellac pedicure, be sure to protect your feet, cuticles and nails from UV cancer-causing rays by applying a full spectrum, water-resistant physical sunscreen like those made by EltaMD.  
• Find a reputable salon that is certified in Shellac and whose technicians are licensed. (Licenses for all technicians must be prominently displayed).   
• Do not go to any salon that uses unmarked bottles and ask your technician to tell you what is in the products.  If she/he doesn't know, assume it is toxic unless proven otherwise.    
• Examine the ingredient list on each bottle of CND Shellac UV Base Coat, CND Shellac UV Color Coat, and CND Shellac UV Top Coat to search for any dangerous ingredients.
• As always, make sure that the salon in clean and that the instruments are sterilized properly.    

Then, most importantly, make a Strawberry Margarita (see below), a Maui Mango Smoothie or a Yellin for Watermelon Mojito with BeautyScoop, of course, to keep your nails healthy and strong!