A shellac gel manicure or pedicure involves a special polish that does not chip for at least two weeks your nails are clipped and filed and hands and feet are moisturized as in a regular manicure or pedicure the gel polish is colored gel which looks and goes on like regular polish after each application of each coat base main and top the nail technician puts your nails underneath a uv light to dry the gel a process known as curing for 30 seconds to a minute nails are completely dr