What are Acrylic Nails?
Acrylic nails are one of the hottest nail care trends at the moment. My Instagram feed is filled to the brim with posts of people’s long, perfectly curved and delicately shaped nails, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous of them. The colours, the length, the styles, it’s all just so enviable. Acrylics offer a world of possibilities for you and your nails, but it’s important to understand what you’re getting into when you apply them. Let’s break down some of the basics of acrylic nails.
What are acrylic nails anyway?
The method was actually invented in the 1950’s, by a dentist no less, as a temporary replacement for a broken nail. Today, acrylic nails are made from a mixture of liquid monomer and powder, where they form a small ball of dough. The nails are then shaped as desired and air-dried (no special lamp cures needed!).
How are acrylic nails applied?
When you meet with your nail technician, the nails will already be shaped and dried. Acrylics are adaptable in that they can be applied to either your whole nail or just the ends of your nails, depending on what you want. Your nail technician will apply a layer of glue on either the base of your nail or the ends of your nails based on what you desire, and from there the acrylic nails will be applied. After the acrylics are attached, your technician will cut and shape the nails to your specified length and style, giving your nails an exciting and fresh new look!
What happens next?
The great thing about acrylic nails is they offer you an abundance of new opportunities for nail designs. Extending the length of your nails ensures the technicians have lots of room to work with when designing them, so feel free to let your creativity flourish! The first thing they will do is apply your choice of nail polish. Dip powder, gel polish, and even regular nail polish are all safe to use on acrylic nails, so you have lots of options to choose from. From there feel free to experiment with different designs, rhinestones, colour combinations, and whatever else your nails desire!
How do I maintain acrylic nails?
It is essential that your acrylic nails are properly maintained to keep both your manicure and your natural nails looking healthy. Most clients with acrylics come in every two or three weeks to get them filled, which means a nail technician will apply a fresh layer of acrylic or polish at the base of your nail as your natural nails start to grow in. It is also essential to keep acrylic nails clean and dry to prevent bacteria from getting wedged within them. As long as the acrylics are maintained this way, sets of acrylic nails can be worn for six to eight weeks before needing to be removed entirely.
How are acrylics removed?
Once your acrylic nails have reached the end of their life, your nail technician will ensure they are removed safely. They will first soak your nails in acetone, and when the acrylic becomes soft enough they will be able to take them off easily and gently. Underneath you will see a set of healthy-looking natural nails, and from there you can apply a whole new set of acrylics!
Written by: Deanna F.