Why Is Shellac Not Vegan?

In recent years, more people have been paying attention to what goes into their beauty products. Not just for health or sustainability, but for animal cruelty reasons too.

When people change over to a vegan diet, or they start becoming aware of the impact their beauty regime has, one question we often get asked is “Why is shellac not vegan?”. If you’re someone who wants a vegan manicure or vegan pedicure, knowing the answer to this question can help you make a more conscious choice.

So, let’s break it down…

What Is Shellac?

Most people know shellac is a long-lasting nail varnish, but not so many people know where it comes from.

The name comes from a resin that’s secreted by the lac bug. So, traditional shellac contains ingredients made from animal sources.

Shellac resin is harvested from the bark of trees where the female lac bugs live. The insects are native to Thailand and India, and they are farmed specifically to collect this resin.

To collect the resin, the branches of the trees are scraped, which often kills many of the bugs living there. The resin is then processed into a protective, shiny coating, which is used in both nail care and wood finishing.

So, whilst Shellac™ from CND is great for creating a non-chip manicure, it is not vegan due to the use of animal by-products.

Why Is It Not Vegan?

We’ve covered that shellac nail varnish is made using animal-sourced products but why exactly is it not vegan?

The confusion here often lies in the misconception that being vegan involves solely diet choices, but this is not true. People following a vegan way of life will usually eliminate any animal-sourced products from their lives. This includes what they put on their plate, but what they wear too, such as leather, wool or shellac nail varnish.

It’s not just about what’s in the product, it’s also about how the product is made. So, even if a nail varnish contains no animal-derived products, if it has been tested on animals, it wouldn’t be classed as vegan.

Traditional shellac fails on both counts, meaning it’s a no-go for people who want an ethical, vegan manicure or pedicure.

How Daisy’s Nail Company Does Things Differently

At Daisy’s, we believe beautiful nails can be created cruelty-free. We offer vegan pedicures and vegan manicures using long-lasting, plant-based, cruelty-free products. No beetles harmed, but no compromises on quality, either.

Whether you're fully vegan or just starting your cruelty-free journey, switching to ethical nail care is easier than ever. And the results? Still glossy. Still strong. Just a whole lot kinder.