Acrylic nails are one of the most popular beauty treatments in the industry. You can treat yourself to a trip to your local salon or give yourself an at-home treatment. Your nails are a way to add a little personality to your look, whether it’s wearing your favorite color or choosing a design that speaks to your aesthetic. Acrylic nails are a little more complicated than your traditional manicure. We’re running you through everything you need to know, including how to remove acrylic nails. Before we get into how to remove Acrylic Nails, let’s talk about what they are! If you’re in a hurry, go ahead and skip the intro and scroll down!
What Are Acrylic Nails?
If you’ve ever taken a scroll through Instagram, you’ll have seen hundreds of celebrities and influencers showing off their fresh acrylic nails. These nails add length and style, giving you an even shape that is perfect for being inventive and incorporating fun and whimsical designs. Everyone from Billie Eilish to Kylie Jenner and Cardi B are synonymous with their skyscraper acrylics that they’re never seen without. These nail extensions give your instant length and strengthen your nails, allowing you to be inventive with their design and shape.
Acrylic nails are made using a mixture of liquid monomer and powder polymer, which create a paste that bonds to your natural nails. The mixture can be used to create any desired shape, with the formula hardening to add extra strength and thickness to your nails. If you’re someone who loves the look of long nails but struggles to grow your natural nails, acrylics will be right up your street.
How Are Acrylic Nails Different?
Acrylic nails are often compared to gel nails as they both strengthen your natural nails by adding an extra layer. Compared to gel, acrylics are stronger as it makes the nails more durable. If you’re looking for length, the best option is always going to be acrylic nails. You can still get a natural look with acrylic nails by choosing a neutral shade for your polish.
Your set of acrylic nails can last between six to eight weeks, depending on the condition of your nails. You’ll also need a fill every two to three weeks, in line with your nail’s growth cycle. A fill is a touch-up to the cuticle area, where you’ll notice the first signs of growth, which is also when your acrylics can start to lift.
One of the benefits of acrylic nails is that their upkeep is minimal and they’re easy to care for. Unlike a normal manicure, you don’t have to worry about chipping, and your nails are less likely to break. While there are some steps you want to take to keep your nails healthy, the maintenance is still a lot smaller than traditional nail treatments.
When To Wear Acrylic Nails
If you’re new to the world of acrylic nails, you might be thinking of experimenting with them for a special occasion. Acrylic nails are the perfect investment before a vacation or when you have a big event on your social calendar. As they typically last for a few weeks, it’s a great opportunity to treat yourself before a special event. You won’t have to worry about your nails chipping or carrying an extra bottle of polish with you.
Choosing Your Acrylic Nails
The manicure aspect of your acrylics is where you can have fun. Don’t be afraid to experiment and go outside your comfort zone, especially if the rest of your style is minimalistic. If you don’t have a design in mind, your nail technician will help suggest a few popular options. You might find a style on Instagram or Twitter that you fall in love with. Bring along a few references photos to your appointment to help your nail technician recreate the look. There is no shortage of inspiration online for your first set of acrylic nails. We would recommend checking Pinterest for some ideas!
Along with the colour and design, you want to consider the shape and length. An oval shape is perfect for beginners as it’s the most common style. Another popular shape is the coffin-inspired nails, which are popular amongst celebrities like the Kardashian-Jenner sisters. If it’s your first time getting acrylic nails, it’s always best to go with a shorter length. You can start increasing the length with every appointment until you find a comfortable shape and length that suits your lifestyle.
How To Remove Acrylic Nails
The most important aspect of acrylic nails is knowing how to remove them. If you can remove them properly, it won’t cause any permanent damage to your nails or weaken them. For this reason, we’re don’t usually recommend removing your acrylic nails at home. The worse thing you can do is pluck your acrylics off yourself. The safest way to remove acrylic nails is to go and see your nail technician. If you try to remove them yourself, you can easily damage the nail bed and cause permanent damage.
A professional nail technician will remove your acrylics using an electric file that takes off the top layer. Once this layer has been safely removed, your nails are wrapped with foil that contains an acetone-filled fabric. It takes around 15 minutes for this solution to soak into your nails. Once the foils are removed, your technician will use a cuticle pusher to take off any remaining acrylic. The final step is to use a cuticle oil to give your nails a nourishing boost of hydration to keep them healthy. Having your acrylics properly removed will help keep your natural nails intact.
Every salon and nail technician has their own method for how to remove acrylic nails. If your nails are particularly brittle and weak, then it’s worth asking about their removal process before booking. Some technicians prefer to soak each nail in an acetone solution for 30 minutes to break down the acrylics.
Another reason you want to go to a professional to have your acrylics removed is that they’ll use sterilised tools. You won’t have to worry about any nasty infections, and you can be sure your natural nails will be in safe hands.
How To Care For Acrylic Nails
If you’re planning to add acrylic nails as a regular part of your routine, you want to give your nails some breathing time between appointments. Some people choose to book in for acrylics as often as every two to three weeks. If you fall into this category, you want to take a break after every three to six months of wearing acrylics. This short break will give your nails time to rejuvenate and aid the growth cycle. After you completely soak off your acrylics to give them some time to breathe, you want to have an IBX treatment to help strengthen the top layer of your nail bed.
When you’re wearing acrylic nails, you can still go about your normal activities. If you’re planning to do any cleaning or washing-up, it’s a good idea to wear a pair of gloves. Avoid keeping your hands under water for long periods, including when you’re washing your hair.
You should take extra care to give your hands and nails some TLC. Invest in a cuticle oil and a hand cream that you can apply to keep your skin hydrated. Keep both of them in your handbag and apply them whenever you get a free moment. Cuticle oil especially will be your nail’s new BFF.
Before your first set of acrylic nails, you want to make sure your natural nails are in a healthy condition and able to deal with the acrylic solution. Give your nails a pick-me-up by applying a nail strengthener, such as jojoba oil, which will fully absorb into your nails.
Source : polishperfect.co