Acrylic Nails
What are 'acrylic nails'?
Acrylic nails are an artificial nail that we're building to give the illusion that you have a long, beautiful free edge. For somebody who has ridges, splits or weak nails that no matter what they do they can't get strong healthy nails, this is an alternative to having beautiful nails. Acrylics have now got a bad reputation, but if you use a proper product and application they can look as natural as a natural nail.
What are the pros and cons of having acrylic nails?
Pros and cons of having acrylic nails - cons could be very bad because a manicurist could be using a drill on your nail bed, which breaks down your nail plate. It could be very painful, leaving ridges and bruises. The acrylics could be lifting, which leads into mold, turning them green and bacteria and all kinds of nail funguses. But the pros of acrylics is that if you are getting them done properly they could actually heal your nails and make them more healthy by cracks growing out, splits, weakened nails. If it's applied properly it can look like a natural nail and then once it's taken off the proper way you could actually have a beautiful nail underneath that's grown out and carry on with having natural nails.
What is 'acrylic overlay'?
An acrylic overlay is a layer of acrylic over your own nail. Some women might put a layer of acrylic over their own nail because it holds the polish longer.
What is a 'sculpted acrylic'?
A sculpted acrylic nail is an extension of your natural nail. It's a form that goes underneath the nail bed with acrylic powder and liquid. We brush over the top, over the edge of the sculptured form to give you any length that you need. Most people use sculpted nails to add extension to the length that they might not be happy with on their own nails, or to use for polish to last longer, or to avoid any type of glues. A sculpted nail is a little less abrasive.
How often should I have my acrylics filled?
You should have your acrylic nails filled between every two to three weeks - I wouldn't go past three weeks. Three weeks is pushing it, and the longer you wait to fill them, depending on who's applying them, the more likely it is that they could lift. You never want your acrylics to be lifting because that can be very dangerous to your health and your nails, so make sure they are always super tight.
How should acrylic nails be removed?
Acrylic nails should be removed. There are plastic bags where you put in acetone remover with a little bit of cotton at the end - stick your hands inside for about twenty minutes and it will all come off. You should never have anybody clip the acrylic off with nippers, as this is pulling layers off of your nail bed. You need to be patient, stick them in the bags, don't move, and sit there for about twenty minutes to let them melt away.
Why are my nails thin when the acrylics come off?
First of all, if your manicurist is clipping off the acrylic in between fills because they're lifting, that is taking layers and layers off. If you have somebody that's applying acrylic in the proper way, they shouldn't be lifting. They will just grow out from the cuticle area onward and then you blend it into the bottom. It's over clipping of the product, it's over filing, it could be drilling the nail bed which is breaking down the plate. There are many reasons for them becoming thin with acrylics.
