Polish junkies beware! There’s a new prod in town that will have you coming back for your fix again and again.

Ok so what I’m about to talk about isn’t exactly brand spankin’ new but heck, it’s new to me! By now I’m sure most of you have at least heard of Shellac, an extremely innovative product launched by CND late last year that gives you a perfect looking manicure. Shocking no? Ahh but you see the catch is that it lasts up to fourteen days without chipping and stays ultra shiny and glossy looking – like acrylic but without the tacky plastic extensions.

If we’re going to get all explanatory about it I would describe it as a crossbred species between nail polish and gel. It looks just like a regular polish however boasts impressive durability, it’s also super shiny, making it look like the nails of really organised girls who actually apply top coat every second day.

Shellac has a base coat, colour and top coat but is cured in a UV light so there is zero dry time. (Tip: Some manicurists will try get away with using a different brand for the clear base and top coat as it’s probably cheaper. RUN. This is dodgy! Your Shellac will last longer and have a better finish using the correct three-step system). Removal is quick and easy with remover wraps that limit finger and skin exposure to acetone by keeping it pinpointed on just one nail.

Make sure you have your talons shaped short and squarish as this always makes a manicure look neat and ultra chic. CND’s Shellac comes in a wide range of dazzling colours with everything from the perfect nude, to jewel coloured plum to richest of blacks so there is something to suit all tastes.

I decided to go with one of the new shades “Masquerade”. This colour is to die for, a rich maroon in the nicest shimmery-without-being-glittery way possible. So I put this innovative prod through my own little test to see just what kind of staying power it really had and these were the results ....

Day 1

Day 6 (looking like fat, white slug fingers in this light eww)

Day 11

Overall I was super impressed. Beautifully coloured, shiny perfect looking claws for a good week and a half. At about day 12 I noticed that the edges were lifting a little on one or two nails and it took ALL my will power not to peel the Shellac off – yes it even comes off that easy at the end but I don’t advise doing this as it certainly isn’t recommended for optimum nail health.

One of the most significant benefits of this professional nail service for me was that it left it me with 'perfect girl', “I just stepped out of the salon” nails for pretty much two weeks!

Price varies depending on nail salon. You can visit the CND website HERE to find your nearest nail salon offering Shellac.

Have you ever tried CND Shellac? What did you think?

And ... here's a little cheeky floral nail inspo just for fun!