Shellac is the trade name of CND's gel polish, launched in 2010 and now used as a generic word abroad. In France it is called vernis semi-permanent; in English, gel polish. At You Rêve Paris (7 rue d'Argenteuil, Paris 1st, three minutes from the Louvre) our gel polish is professional OPI GelColor, the same family of product: €30 application / 30 min, manicure + gel polish €45, removal €10, lasts 3 to 4 weeks. Book online.
1. Shellac: a brand, not a technique
The word has a long history. Shellac is a natural resin that has been used for centuries to varnish wood and musical instruments. In 2010 the American brand CND (Creative Nail Design) borrowed the name for what was then a new product: a gel-polish hybrid that brushes on like a polish, cures under a UV/LED lamp like a gel, and soaks off instead of being filed away.
It was so successful that in English-speaking countries "shellac" became the everyday name for the whole category — the way people say Hoover or Kleenex. A Londoner, a New Yorker or an Australian asking for "a shellac manicure" is not necessarily after the CND brand: she wants a long-wear polish that doesn't chip. In France that treatment goes by another name: vernis semi-permanent, or just "semi".
🔎 So, if you typed "shellac Paris" into Google: what you are looking for is called pose de vernis semi-permanent here. It is an everyday treatment we perform all day long, seven days a week — under a different label.
2. The same product in every language
Our clients come from all over the world and every country has its own word. This is the glossary we use daily at the salon — and every line describes the same treatment:
| What you say | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Shellac | UK, Ireland, USA, Australia | CND brand, used as a generic name |
| Gel polish, gel manicure, soak-off gel | English (generic) | The accurate term: a gel polish that soaks off |
| Gelish | USA, Asia | Another brand (Harmony), same category |
| Gel nails | English | ⚠️ Ambiguous: often means builder gel or extensions, not a simple polish |
| Shellac-Nägel, Shellack | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Used as the generic word for gel polish |
| Smalto semipermanente | Italy | Literal translation — same thing |
| Esmalte semipermanente, uñas de gel | Spain, Latin America | Same thing (careful with uñas de gel, sometimes = extensions) |
| Гель-лак, шеллак | Russia, Ukraine, the Baltics | "Gel-lacquer" — and "shellac" used generically |
| 甲油胶, 光疗甲 | China, Taiwan, Singapore | "Glue-polish" / "light-cured nails" — same product |
| ジェルネイル | Japan | "Gel nail" — same thing |
| Vernis semi-permanent, semi | France, Belgium, French-speaking Switzerland | The name of the treatment on our menu |
The whole You Rêve team speaks French, English and 中文: whichever word you use, we will know what you mean. And if you are still hesitating between gel polish, hard gel and classic polish, our three-way comparison settles it in five minutes.
3. Shellac vs OPI GelColor: two brands, one family
At You Rêve, our gel polish is professional OPI GelColor. OPI and CND are the two big American nail houses, and their gel polishes are products of the same family: same principle, same gestures, same removal. What actually sets them apart:
| Criterion | Shellac (CND) | OPI GelColor (at You Rêve) |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Gel-polish hybrid, soak-off | Gel-polish hybrid, soak-off |
| Application | Brushed on, base + colour + top | Brushed on, base + colour + top |
| Curing | UV/LED lamp | LED lamp, a few dozen seconds per coat |
| Advertised wear | 14+ days (according to CND) | 3 to 4 weeks with us |
| Removal | Soak-off | Gentle soak-off, 15 min (€10) |
| Palette | CND colour chart | OPI's iconic shades (Big Apple Red, Bubble Bath, Lincoln Park After Dark…) |
In other words: if you are used to Shellac at home, you will find exactly the same result with us — mirror shine, zero chipping, dry nails when you leave — with a different palette and 3 to 4 weeks of wear. The limiting factor, in the end, is never the polish: it is your nail growing out.
4. What you actually book
On our booking page, look for the words "semi-permanent". Depending on the state of your hands:
- Nails already tidy? The application alone (€30) is enough: it is the exact equivalent of a "shellac" in London or Sydney.
- Want the full treatment?Classic manicure + gel polish (€45): shaping, cuticles, massage, then colour. It is one of our most-booked services.
- Arriving with Shellac applied elsewhere? Add the removal (€5 if a new application follows, €10 otherwise). Shellac, Gelish or any soak-off gel polish comes off with a gentle soak — we do it every day on sets from all over the world.
- Soft or brittle nails? Look at BIAB overlay + gel polish (€70) instead, which reinforces the nail under the colour.
A lower off-peak price applies automatically on quiet weekday slots: the price shown at booking is the price you pay.
5. How the application goes (30 min)
- Prep. Shaping, cuticle push-back, light surface buffing and dehydration — this step is what makes the polish last, not the lamp.
- Base. One thin coat of GelColor base, cured under the LED lamp.
- Colour. Two thin coats of your shade, LED between each. Thin is the key word: a well-applied gel polish has no visible thickness.
- Top coat. The shine layer, cured in turn, then a quick wipe. You leave with dry nails, no risk of smudging on the street.
Fancy a little extra? French tips, chrome, ombré or baby boomer go straight onto the gel polish — everything is on our nail art page.
6. Aftercare, and above all: removal
Gel polish needs no particular care during its 3 to 4 weeks: a little cuticle oil now and then, gloves for housework, that's it. The only rule that matters is the one at the end: never peel it off. Picking gel polish off takes the top layers of keratin with it — that is what causes the thin, ridged nails wrongly blamed on the product.
Removal is done at the salon by gentle soaking (€10, 15 min; €5 if a new application follows), and we can go straight into a new colour. If your nails are already thin or peeling, our guide damaged nails after gel polish or gel explains what to do. Our complete gel polish guide answers everything else.
7. Visiting Paris? What to know
- Where: 7 rue d'Argenteuil, Paris 1st — three minutes from the Louvre and the Tuileries, metro Tuileries (line 1) or Pyramides (lines 7 and 14).
- When: open 7 days a week, 10 am to 8 pm, Sundays included.
- How:online booking in English, French or Chinese, instant confirmation. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to same-day availability — calling ahead is the safest.
- In which language: the whole team speaks French, English and 中文. Say "Shellac", "gel polish", "гель-лак" or "甲油胶": we've got it.
Book your gel polish application
The Shellac equivalent, in OPI GelColor, three minutes from the Louvre. Application €30 · with manicure €45 · lasts 3 to 4 weeks. Paris 1st, 7 days a week.
Book onlineFrequently asked questions
Yes, in the sense the word is used abroad: a gel polish applied on the natural nail, cured under an LED lamp and removed by soaking. Shellac is CND's brand; at You Rêve Paris (7 rue d'Argenteuil, Paris 1st) the gel polish we apply is professional OPI GelColor, a product of the same family. Book "Pose de vernis semi-permanent" (€30, 30 min) or "Manucure classique + semi-permanent" (€45, 45 min).
Yes. Shellac is the trade name of CND's gel polish, launched in 2010. The word became generic in English-speaking countries, like Hoover or Kleenex. In France the treatment is called vernis semi-permanent; in English gel polish, gel manicure or soak-off gel; Gelish is another brand. All of these describe the same technique: a thin gel-polish hybrid brushed on, cured under a UV/LED lamp and soaked off.
OPI gel polish application on hands costs €30 (30 min) if your nails are already in good shape. With hand care, count €45 for the Classic Manicure + gel polish (45 min) or €65 for the Luxury SPA Manicure + gel polish (60 min). Application on toes is €30, removal €10. A lower off-peak price applies automatically on quiet weekday slots.
At You Rêve Paris, OPI GelColor gel polish lasts 3 to 4 weeks without chipping; the limit is your nail growing out, not the polish itself. CND advertises 14+ days of wear for Shellac. In both cases the product is removed in the salon by gentle soaking, never peeled off.
Yes. Shellac, Gelish or any other soak-off gel polish comes off with a gentle acetone soak in about 15 min: that is our Dépose semi-permanent service, €10 (€5 if a new application follows). If you are wearing builder gel or extensions, it is an extension removal (€20). Either way we can go straight into a fresh application if you wish.