Frequently asked questions
What product categories does CND make?
CND at ND covers five product categories across 239 SKUs: Gel Color (144 shades), Acrylic Powder (34 SKUs), Base Gel and Top Coat (23 SKUs), Sculpting and Builder Gel (11 SKUs), and Liquid Monomer plus Nail Preps (3 SKUs). The flagship line is Shellac, a gel-lacquer hybrid that sits inside the Gel Color collection alongside the regular CND gel shades.
Why is CND Shellac removal different from other gel brands?
Shellac soaks off in 100 percent acetone without buffing, filing, or drilling. Wrap each nail in cotton soaked with acetone for 10 to 15 minutes and the gel dissolves and lifts off cleanly. This removal method preserves the natural nail underneath, which is why CND-loyal clients tend to stay on the brand long-term. Clients who lost nail thickness from drill-based removal in other systems often switch to CND specifically for this reason.
How does CND pricing work at ND?
CND prices by product type rather than a flat per-color tier. Single-bottle gels and Plexigel products run $22.75 each. Scrub Fresh prep at 7.5 oz runs $11.50. Liquid Monomer scales by size from $22.75 at 4 oz to $258 at the 1-Gallon professional refill (per-ounce cost drops from $5.69 to $2.02 when sized up). Free shipping triggers on every order over $99 with no business license required.
Do I need a UV or LED lamp to cure CND gel and Shellac?
Both work. A 48W LED cures CND base, color, and top coat in 60 seconds per layer. A 36W UV cures the same layers in 120 seconds per layer. Shellac uses the same cure timing as the regular CND gel color line. Make sure clients keep hands flat under the lamp for full cure on the free edge, since uncured free-edge color is the most common lift point.
Which CND products should a new salon stock first?
Start with 12 to 24 Gel Color shades from the 144-shade catalog covering nudes, reds, pinks, and 2 to 3 seasonal trend colors. Add the CND Base Gel plus Top Coat from the Base/Top system. Add 6 to 12 Acrylic Powder shades and 32 oz Liquid Monomer if the salon offers acrylic service. Most salons opening with CND budget around $400 to $700 for the foundation order, then add Sculpting Gels and Pedicure products in month two as services scale.
What's in this CND all-products hub
This hub carries the full 239-SKU CND catalog stocked at ND, spanning gel colors, acrylic systems, base and top coats, sculpting gels, and pedicure products.
CND, short for Creative Nail Design, is a professional-only brand. The line is sold through licensed salons rather than direct-to-consumer retail.
The signature claim of CND is Shellac, the gel-lacquer hybrid that soaks off without filing or drilling. That removal method is the reason CND clients tend to be long-term loyal: no abrasion damage to the natural nail at takeoff.
The 5 product categories inside CND at ND
CND Gel Color Collection (144 SKUs)
The core gel polish line in 144 shades, covering the legacy CND palette plus seasonal additions. This is where most CND-loyal salons replenish week to week.
CND Acrylic Powder (34 SKUs)
Professional acrylic powder for sculpted extensions and overlays. Used alongside CND liquid monomer for the full acrylic service tier.
CND Base Gel & Top (23 SKUs)
The foundation and finishing system: bond aid, base gels in different formulations, and top coats including matte and high-gloss finishes for the gel and Shellac services.
CND Sculpting Gel Collection (11 SKUs)
Builder and sculpting gels for nail extensions and overlays. Used by salons offering full enhancement service alongside or instead of acrylic.
CND Liquid Monomer & Nail Preps (3 SKUs)
EMA-based monomer for the acrylic service, plus the prep products (Scrub Fresh, bond aid) that sit at the start of every CND service workflow.
How to pick the right CND product
- Salon running gel manicures only: stock 12 to 24 Gel Color shades from the 144 catalog plus 1 each Base Gel and Top Coat from the system.
- Salon offering Shellac service: Shellac shades sit inside the Gel Color collection. Add the Shellac-specific top and bond products from the Base/Top hub.
- Salon doing acrylic extensions: pair 6 to 12 Acrylic Powder shades with the EMA Liquid Monomer plus Scrub Fresh prep.
- Salon doing sculpted gel extensions: add 2 to 4 Sculpting Gels for the structure work alongside the regular color line.
- Salon adding pedicure tier: the pedicure products integrate with the same gel and top coat system used in hand service.
Pricing at ND for CND
CND prices by product type rather than a flat per-color tier. Gel Color shades and single-bottle products like Plexigel run $22.75 each. Scrub Fresh prep at 7.5 oz runs $11.50.
Liquid Monomer ships in five sizes from $22.75 at 4 oz to $258 at the 1-Gallon professional refill size. Salons with steady acrylic volume buy 32 oz or 1 Gallon to bring per-ounce cost down from $5.69 (4oz) to $2.02 (1 gallon).
Free shipping triggers on every order over $99. No business license required, no minimum order. In-stock CND products ordered before 2pm Pacific weekdays ship same day.
Step-by-step CND Shellac application
- Prep: shape, push back cuticles, gentle buff to remove surface shine, wipe with CND Scrub Fresh.
- Bond: thin coat of CND Bond Aid, air dry 30 seconds (do not cure).
- Base: thin layer of Shellac Base, cure 60 seconds at 48W LED or 120 seconds at 36W UV.
- Color coat 1: thin even layer, cap the free edge, cure 60 seconds LED.
- Color coat 2: second thin layer for full opacity, cure 60 seconds LED.
- Top coat: Shellac Top for high gloss, cure 60 seconds, wipe inhibition layer with 91 percent alcohol.
Pro tip for removal: the Shellac removal method is what makes CND distinct.
Wrap each nail in cotton soaked with acetone for 10 to 15 minutes. Shellac dissolves and lifts off without buffing or drilling, which preserves the natural nail underneath.
Clients who have lost nail thickness from drill-based removal in other systems often switch to CND for this reason.
Care and longevity for clients
- Wear cleaning gloves for dishes, bathroom scrubs, and garden work. Solvents and abrasives shorten gel wear from 21 days down to 10.
- Apply cuticle oil daily, twice daily for the first week. Hydrated cuticles prevent lifting at the proximal edge.
- Rebook at week three for a fill or full removal. Past three weeks the gel develops microcracks at the free edge that lift.
Salon storage and shelf life
Keep CND bottles upright at room temperature out of direct sun. Heat over 80F thins the gel viscosity and shortens cure consistency.
Liquid Monomer in 32 oz and 1 Gallon sizes should sit in a temperature-stable storage area away from open flames. The EMA formula has a strong vapor profile, so use in well-ventilated work areas.
Unopened bottles last 24 months from the manufacture date. Opened bottles stay usable 18 months at room temperature, or 24 months if stored upright in a drawer away from light.
Related CND collections at ND
Cross-link to the CND drilldowns by product type below.