Hello, nail fanatics! Have you ever wondered how long those glitzy acrylic nails can last on your fingertips?
You’re in for a surprise! Today, we’re delving into the fascinating world of acrylic nails, investigating their lifespan, and providing some amazing acrylic care tips to help them flourish.
Picture this: longer-lasting nails that will keep heads turning and compliments flowing!
If you enjoy trying out new nail designs regularly, having long and resilient acrylics will be your first pick.
So, shall we go right into the secrets of making your acrylic nails stay longer?
How Long Do Acrylic Nails Last?
Are you intrigued to know about the longevity of acrylic nail extensions?
Acrylics are not only a unique nail art choice; they also have related costs in terms of both time and money.
Acrylic nails can last significantly longer than gel or press-on nails when properly maintained. On average, these artificial nails last two to three weeks before needing a fill-in or touch-up appointment.
However, remember that the length might vary depending on factors such as nail growth, personal habits, and nail care routine.
Therefore, to prolong the life of your acrylic nail extensions and reduce the frequency of salon visits, it is essential to practice regular maintenance and care at home.
How long can acrylic nails stay put without any fill-ins
It’s crucial to arrange routine fill-ins if you advocate acrylic or prefer nail extension alternatives. After a few times, you’ll need fill-ins.
Now, let’s talk about the durability of acrylic nails, manicures, and pedicure without needing a fill-in.
Usually, it takes two to three weeks. And acrylic material will start detaching from the nail bed due to the natural nail growth at the cuticle beds.
However, remember that specific periods might vary depending on variables, including your nail growth rate, individual habits, and care. Nonetheless, nail lifts are possible, especially for habitual nail biters and oily-nail victims.
Tips for Long-Lasting Acrylic Nails
1. Make sure your nails are prepared before applying.
Before applying artificial nails, you must prepare your natural nails. Like any nail enhancement technique, it takes time to prepare your nails for a stunning acrylic nail experience properly. So, let’s gather the essentials and delve into the preparation process.
First of all, gather the necessary supplies.
Nail file: to shape and smooth your nails
Cuticle Pusher: With a cuticle pusher, you can gently push your cuticles back.
Nail dehydrator: cleanse and prepare the nail surface.
Nail Primer: it helps enhance adhesion between your natural nails and the acrylic material.
2. How to Get Your Cuticles Ready for Acrylic Polish
Now, prep your cuticles. Push them gently with a cuticle pusher. This step helps create a clean and neat nail bed for the acrylic application.
3. How to file your nails so that you can put on acrylics
Once done with your cuticles, use a gentle nail polish remover to get rid of the nail polish you have on. After your nails are clean and free of polish, use a nail file to shape them into the shape you want, whether square, round or something in between. Always file in one direction to avoid damaging your nails and make a smooth surface. citation
Filing is important when putting on artificial nails for two main reasons:
Smooth Surface:
Filing eliminates ridges and roughness to make artificial nail application smoother.
Improved Adhesion:
Filing roughens the nail bed, which helps the acrylic stick to the natural nails and reduces lifting and peeling.
According to nail artists, the ideal nail file is a medium-grit nail file with around 180 grit. Check the price for the grit nail file on Amazon here.
4. How to Clean Your Nails Right Before Putting on Acrylic
Properly cleaning your acrylic nails is necessary if you want them to last as long as possible and look as good as new. Following these steps will maintain your nails clean and healthy before applying fake nails, providing many benefits.
Cuticle Care:
Pay close attention to your cuticles as you clean your nails. Use a cuticle pusher or a soft towel to push the cuticles back gently. This will reveal the nail bed and make your nails look neat. Taking care of your cuticles makes your nails look better and prevents problems like nail lifting or moisture buildup.
Using acetone to clean acrylic nails is one way that works well. You’ll need cotton pads that you can soak in acetone and then use to wipe down your nails. Acetone is a common solvent that can help clean your nails in several ways:
Effective Removal:
Acetone effectively removes nail polish, gel polish, and acrylic residue that is hard to remove. It dissolves these things quickly, making them easy to eliminate.
Gentle on Nails:
Even though acetone is a strong cleaner, it is not too hard on the nails when used correctly. It reduces the need to scrub or scrape nails too much, which could damage the nail surface.
Prepares the Nail Surface:
Acetone cleans the nail’s surface by steering clear oils, dirt, and other residues. This makes the nails clean and ready for acrylic nails.
Prevention of Infections:
Skin infections can be avoided with regular hygiene practices. Your nails will stay healthy if you keep them free of dirt and germs. This is necessary because acrylic nails can store bacteria and cause nail infections if not kept dry.
Natural nail health is often compromised during removal; however, if used properly, acetone-based nail polish removers pose no long-term risk. There is a caveat, though. The longer acrylics last, the more likely they cause allergic skin reactions in people with specific skin types.
5. Apply a Nail Primer and a Nail Dehydrator.
After cleaning, use rubbing alcohol or a nail dehydrator to dry the nail bed. This ensures the acrylic material will adhere properly to the nails by removing any leftover moisture or oils. Nail beds can be dehydrated to avoid lifting and increase the durability of artificial nails.
Nail primer application
Acrylic nail primer ensures excellent adherence and endurance. Furthermore, nail primer is as vital as a base coat for gel manicures. Nail primer also strengthens the natural nail. Here’s a quick rundown of how acrylic nail primer works:
Enhancing Adhesion:
Nail primer contains chemicals such as methacrylic acid, which creates a somewhat acidic environment on the nail surface. This acidity promotes greater adhesion between natural and artificial nails.
Dehydrating the Nail:
Nail primer also serves as a dehydrator, soaking out any last traces of oil or moisture from the nail bed. Nail dehydration results in a dry surface that facilitates adhesion between the natural nail and the acrylic material. This is a key step in preventing the acrylic nails from lifting or coming off too soon.
Balancing pH Levels:
Nail primer is helpful in maintaining a healthy pH level on the nail bed. The slightly alkaline pH of natural nails can interfere with the bonding of acrylics. Because of the acidic qualities of the primer, the pH is reduced, making it ideal for bonding.
Preventing Fungal or Bacterial Infections:
To prevent fungal or bacterial infections, nail primer is a barrier between the natural nail and the environment. This barrier aids in keeping the nails strong and healthy.
Mia Secret’s nail dehydrator and nail primer combination is a must-have for anyone serious about their acrylic nails. Their dehydrators and primers are made to be compatible with all acrylic paints.
The final step in getting ready for acrylic nails is applying a top coat, which covers the manicure and helps it stay longer.
6. Use a Top Coat
A top coat for acrylic nails serves multiple purposes. It seals and smooths the surface, protecting against chipping and colour fading. It enhances the durability of acrylic nails, strengthening their durability against normal usage.You can use it for touch-ups between the next fill-in requirement. The top coat also creates a glossy finish, adding a touch of elegance to your manicure. Additionally, it seals nail art and designs, preserving their appearance over time. Applying a top coat is the final step in acrylic nail preparation, ensuring a polish and long-lasting manicure.
7. Acrylic nails should not be exposed directly to harsh chemicals or to the elements.
In order to protect your nail art investment – acrylic nails, from damage, you need to avoid doing certain things.
- Exposure to high temperatures and harsh chemicals poses risks, such as peeling and chipping.
- Avoiding or minimizing engagement in these activities whenever possible is advisable to protect your nails.
- Cleaning products and washing dishes are two everyday things that can weaken acrylic nails. Detergents like soap and bleach can wear down the acrylic material.
- Nails can also get damaged by hot baths and long exposure to chlorinated water, like in pools.
- Gardening, especially with solid pesticides, and cooking with heat can be bad for acrylic nails. So, wear gloves so the chemical doesn’t make your nails lift.
- You can keep your acrylic nails in good shape and get great nail perfection by carefully taking the right steps.
- Using hand sanitizers often can also hurt the health of your nails because they dry out your hands. So, when you sanitize your hands, use a good, nourishing hand cream to keep them moist.
- Similar to that, frequent hand washing is necessary to maintain good hygiene. However, this additional moisture wreaks havoc on acrylics and manicures; as a result, use liberal amounts of hand moisturizer or cuticle oils after each hand-washing ritual to keep the nail beds moisturized and nourished.
- Cheap nail polishes may include methyl methacrylate (MMA) instead of ethyl methacrylate (EMA), which can harm your nails. Suppose you want to protect your nails and have an excellent acrylic manicure experience without the risks of cheap acrylic nail products like methyl methacrylate. In that case, going to a respected nail salon is best. You can keep your acrylic nails healthy and shiny for longer with the help of EMA-infused products and the expertise of trained professionals.
8. Go for a Fill-in When Needed
Although acrylics last long, they eventually detach from the cuticle area as the natural nail grows. Have no fear! Your manicure will seem revitalized and brand new after this spot is filled in. A nail technician or, if you’re competent, you can conduct fill-ins. Fill-ins serve a dual purpose in preventing nail lifting and improving appearance. Aim for a fill-in every two to three weeks, correcting for nail growth to maintain your nails looking their best. Moreover, you can try your hand at fill-ins at home if you’re feeling adventurous. Maintain a perfect manicure by getting fill-ins done regularly, whether by a professional or on your own.
9. Keep Your Nails Healthy & Moisturized
If you want your acrylic nails to last as long as possible and remain in good condition, use a moisturizing product. Moisturizer applied regularly to the cuticles and nail bed helps keep the skin there supple and prevents dryness, both contributing to the growth of solid and healthy fingernails. This moisturizer routine keeps elasticity up, which lessens the chance of breakage or snagging. Moisturizers, hand creams, or balms are helpful because they keep the skin around the hands from drying out and help them look neat and presentable.
cuticle oil and nail oil recommendation
It’s essential to keep your nails and cuticles moist if you want them to stay strong and healthy, mainly if you use acrylics, gels, or dip powder. If nails don’t get enough moisture, they can become weak, thin, and more likely to break. Not moisturizing can also make your cuticles look dark and unhealthy. Using a cuticle oil pen is a simple way to keep your nails and cuticles moist on the go. It is a quick and easy way to keep your nails and cuticles moist, even when busy.
10. Use High-Quality Products:
When doing acrylic nails, it’s important to use high-quality products. Choose well-known brands of acrylic powder, liquid monomer, and other nail care products or hand creams to get the best results and reduce the risk of damage or bad reactions.
11. Strengthen Your Natural Nails:
Give your nails health and strength a top priority. Use cuticle oils or moisturizers regularly to keep your nails and cuticles moist and healthy. This helps keep the natural nails from getting dry, brittle, or damaged.
12. Have Longer Natural Nails:
If you let your natural nails grow out, they can be a strong base for acrylic nails. By letting your natural nails grow longer, you make a stronger base for the acrylics, making them less likely to break or lift.
13. Go For Shorter Acrylic Nails:
If you get acrylic nails, you might want to choose shorter lengths. Most of the time, shorter lengths are more useful and less likely to get damaged or get in the way of daily activities. But if you choose acrylic nails that are too short, keep in mind that the acrylics will have less surface area to stick to, which will make your manicures less strong. So, keep your acrylic nails about the same length for the best results.
14. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on the Acrylics:
It’s important not to put too much stress or pressure on your acrylic nails. Using nails as tools, opening cans, or prying things with too much force can damage or weaken the acrylics. Take care of your acrylic nails so they stay strong and don’t break or lift for no reason.
How often should you get a new set of acrylic nails?
How often you get a new set of acrylic nails depends on how fast your natural nails grow and how you want them to look. Most people get a new set every two to three weeks so their nails can grow and their manicure is perfect.
Are gel extensions or acrylic nails better?
Whether you choose gel extensions or acrylic nails depends on your tastes and needs. Gel extensions are known for being flexible and looking natural, while acrylic nails tend to last longer and give you more ways to customize them. We also suggest putting nail polish on top of acrylics to make them last longer. The Polish manicure has a longer lifespan than any other manicure.
