Are you someone who wants perfectly painted nails all the time? Then acrylic nails are your best friend.
Let’s do an overview of what acrylic nails are? How to apply them?
What are Acrylic nails?
The name Acrylic has an interesting meaning to it, have a look. To put it simply, acrylic nails are a mix of powder and liquid monomer that’s combined into a blob of dough, shaped onto your nails with a brush, and then air-dried. Acrylics do not require a lamp to cure, and they’re great for changing the shape or extending your nails.
Acrylic nails are mostly suggested for people with damaged nails, broken nails or people with a habit of biting nails. Acrylics are hard to chirp off and look very natural if applied to your nails. The only issue is they are very hard to maintain and expensive.
How do you apply acrylic nails?
Acrylic nails can be applied to both your finger and toenails. It can be used as a nail replacement and extension for your toenails.
Many salons offer acrylics on hand and toenails. They can be applied by using tools like nail tips or sculpted using nail forms. But if you are skilled enough, you can manage to apply the acrylics for yourself. The application is almost identical to applying acrylic nails on your fingertips.
The best part about using acrylic nails is that they look very natural; one can not distinguish between natural and artificial. People debate if they are safe while using them on your toenails; if you are confused, give this blog a read.
How long does acrylic nails last?
The first question that comes to our mind is “How long does acrylic nails last”. Acrylics are nails investment where you invest your money and time to make sure they last a longer time.
Usually acrylic nails last up to 2-3 weeks but you need to go for nail filing to make sure they look good as new. The durability also depends on how you take care of your nails.
- The amount of activity performed in a day depends on how much activity you perform in a day like walking and running if they are applied on your toenails. If on fingernails then using your phone, washing dishes and cooking.
- The length and shape of acrylic nails: Your acrylic nails vary a lot when it comes to how long they will last. As shorter length is easier to manage then longer.
- The type of shoes you wear (if applied on toenails): If you choose to wear shoes like sneakers throughout the day there is a chance your acrylics will get affected. It is suggested to wear front open shoes to avoid any damage and discomfort.
- Avoid putting pressure on your acrylics: Using your phone and tapping on your screen can smudge the acrylic paint on your fingernail.
- How good you can take care of them: If you keep your acrylics clean and dry, they will last longer.
How to take care of your acrylic nails so that they last longer
The right care and maintenance are vital for keeping your acrylics looking their absolute best until your next top-up at the salon.
- Keep them dry: Make sure acrylics are dry all the time as the paint will fade away if water is used a lot.
- Topcoat: As for fingernails, do apply a top coat now and then to make sure the nail paint looks fresh and smudge-free.
- Everyday activities: As discussed above, keep your everyday activities minimum to make your acrylics last long.
What will happen if acrylic nails stay in for too long?
If acrylic nails stay in for too long, you will have a high risk for infection, which is nail ingrown or bacterial fungus. When you continually bump your nails, gaps may develop between the acrylic nail and your natural nail bed. The resulting gap allows moisture to collect, creating the perfect fungal growth environment. This is usually more common when nails are left for three months. Bacteria or fungal infection is also common when nails are re-glued without adequately cleaning the gap.
Some skin types are susceptible to some of the chemicals used to fix acrylic nails. Therefore, the longer they stay in contact, the higher the likelihood of developing an allergic skin reaction. The third problem that may arise if you allow your acrylic nails to wait too long is that the chemicals may dry your nails’ natural oils. This makes your nails brittle, which encourages nail breakage or loss.
Wrapping it up
Acrylic nails can last up to 2-3 weeks, but durability depends on how you take care of them. The maintenance depends on how much pressure you put on your nails, including both fingers and toes. Nail experts say nail acrylics are not easy to maintain, and applying them is also tricky. But if you are up for it, make sure they last long and look fresh as new.
