CND’s new Shellac polishes last 2 weeks (no chips, we swear)

If you’re as picky as I am when it comes to chipped manicures—and feel resistant to spending $25 on the regular for a fleeting few days of nail perfection—look no further. The new Shellac line from CND (which stands for Creative Nail Design; its founder, Jan Arnold, is a prolific creator of nail looks for runway shows) promises two weeks of no-chip polish, a big claim that was five years in the making in the research labs.

It’s a “hybrid” of regular polish and gel: Like a gel, it offers that rock-hard longevity, “cures” dry under a UV lamp, and you have to go back to the salon to get it removed (a 10-minute process involving acetone-soaked fingerwraps). But it looks and is applied exactly like normal nail polish; there’s no buffing, soaking or drilling, and the finish is thin and flexible and glossy. It’s also free of the three chemical baddies: formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. Huge plus: There’s no dry time. No panic when you dig for your phone on your way out and accidentally gash a big smear on your peter pointer.

Shellac is being rolled out in about 1,500 salons Canada-wide (go to cnd.com for a list, coming soon) in an initial 12 popular shades, with 12 more to come later in the year. As I type, I’m admiring my fingertips with their spotless three-day-old coat of Fedora, a pitch-dark burgundy.

The service will cost about 50% more than a regular mani, and removal will be about $10. Not bad for two weeks of perfection.

See beauty editor Lesa Hannah’s interview with Jan Arnold backstage at the Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2010 show.

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