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On the shelves of the fashion world is yet another kind of acryllic manicure treatment that lasts two weeks: Perfect for those holiday trips. Although in theory, the manicure is not harmful for the nails, after a few reports from women claiming nail breakage and brittleness and damage, researchers from U.S., set out to study the process.

According to dermatologists at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Shellac or OPI Axxium treatments, known as a two-week manicure, could leave nails thin, brittle and peeling, reports Mail Online.

To conduct the study, dermatologist Andrea Chen, took the test on her own nails. Before starting the manicure, with the help of various instruments, she measured the thickness of her nails and again she measured them after the process. 

Chen found that there was a definite decrease in the thickness after the treatment, although it is unclear whether the reduction in the thickness was a result of the manicure or the removal process (the manicure must be soaked off in an acetone solution), the report said. 

Beauty editor Emma Hill believes that removing the varnish is what causes the thinning.

"Acetone dries out your nails. My nails took four months to recover after I had two manicures back to back," Hill was quoted as saying by Mail Online.

Shellac spokeswoman Samantha Sweet, however, argues that when done by a trained technician, the application and removal should not cause any problem. 

"Applying Shellac shouldn't damage the nail surface. The polish has a honeycomb construction, making it porous. The oils penetrate and nourish nails," she said.

She further states that a proper removal process should simply include soaking cotton in acetone and placing it in the nail paint till it softens and not soaking the fingers entirely in acetone.   

"You shouldn't be saturating the nail with acetone, and you certainly shouldn't soak the entire hand in a bowl of acetone," she said.

There is more to nail care apart from just getting a manicure done.

"Definitely use a nail oil afterwards and keep them short," says Hill. "Use hand cream and massage almond oil into the nail and cuticle daily. This should minimize damage, but there are no guarantees."