Acrylic nails have been around for decades, but because of a combination of celebrities, Instagram, and a collective nail art fixation in nail salons, they’ve had a rebirth in recent years. Acrylics are great for adding length and strength to your nails, and they may also help you create a wider, more evenly shaped canvas for intricate manicure designs. One of the key reasons for their popularity is that, when properly placed, acrylic nails are incredibly resilient and long-lasting.
In this guide, we are going to go through how long do acrylic nails last. This includes treatment at nail salons, aftercare, homecare, time frame and touch-up sessions. Read on to find out how long acrylic nails last and how to maintain them!
How long do acrylic nails last?
Acrylics should last six to eight weeks, with a fill required every two to three weeks, depending on how quickly your nails develop. A fill- a.k.a. a touch-up between the bottom of the nail and the cuticle- not only improves the beauty of the manicure but also extends its life. Visiting the nail salon for fills is crucial because lifting occurs as your nails begin to grow.
Even if the acrylic nails are applied correctly, the longevity of the nails will vary, owing to the following factors:
- The individual’s nail type- those with naturally oily nails are more prone to early lifting.
- The acrylics’ exposure to the atmosphere.
- The acrylic monomer and polymer utilised are of good quality.
Related Article: The Easiest Way To Remove Press-on Nails Without Ruining Your Natural Ones
How to make acrylic nails last longer
You can still use your hands with acrylics, contrary to popular assumption, however, it is recommended that you wear gloves when doing activities like cleaning. To keep your hands and nails healthy, apply moisturiser and cuticle oil.
Do your research on the nail salon, just like you would with any other therapy. Proper care and attention to detail can help your manicure last longer in the long term. Beyond that, wearing acrylics past their expiration date and failing to keep up with fills are the two worst enemies of acrylics.
- Make sure your nails are properly prepped. How properly your natural nails were treated before the acrylic treatment is the most crucial aspect that influences how long your acrylic nails will last. Adequate preparation helps the acrylic nails attach better to your natural nails, lowering the possibilities of them lifting or chipping.
- Cuticles should be pushed back and the area around them should be filed before applying acrylic. Because if you don’t prepare your cuticles, the acrylic will attach to them rather than the nail plate, causing major lifting. A cuticle pusher can gently push your cuticles back and align them.
- After your cuticles have been pushed back, you should file your nails softly. Make sure to file each nail’s whole surface, paying specific attention to the back end of your nails, which is closest to your cuticles. Preparing the nails gets rid of the greasy sheen on your nails and makes the nail plate’s surface rougher.
- You’ll need to dust and clean your nails once you’ve prepped your cuticles and filed your nails. To clean your nails, use cotton pads soaked in either pure acetone or pure rubbing alcohol. This removes any dust, grime, and some oils from your nails, which could hinder your artificial nails from adhering to your natural nails. Pure acetone dissolves the majority of the oil on your nails while also removing any debris, dust, and pathogens.
- A Nail Dehydrator and a Nail Primer are extremely necessary for acrylic application; without them, your acrylic nails would readily lift and will not stay long.
- Over your acrylic nails, a top coat will produce a firm protective layer. This acts as a seal to prevent water, detergent, and other harsh chemicals out of your acrylic nails, which can cause them to deteriorate. Make sure your acrylic nails aren’t scraped or broken. Give your acrylic nails a lovely glossy sheen with a smooth finish.
Check also the best summer nails ideas.
Taking care afterwards
- Don’t put too much stress on the acrylics. Excessive pressure and strain on acrylic nails can cause them to weaken over time, resulting in lifting.
- Avoid exposing your acrylic nails to harsh environments and chemicals. Extremely high or low temperatures, as well as exposure to powerful chemicals, can severely weaken your acrylic nails, causing them to peel and chip.
- Acrylic nails are commonly weakened by the following activities:
- Keeping the house clean and cleaning the dishes – Detergents like soap and bleach have a tendency to eat away at acrylics.
- Baths with hot soapy water- The warm soapy water will weaken your artificial nails.
- Acrylic nails can be damaged by prolonged exposure to chlorine pool water.
- Gardening can damage your acrylics, especially if you use harsh pesticides.
- Cooking- exposing your acrylic nails to extreme heat has a harmful impact.
- Because acrylic nails are so long-lasting, your natural nails will eventually grow out, leaving a gap around the cuticle area. This gap can now be filled in and covered, giving your manicure a fresh new look. Fill-ins can be done by your nail technician or by you if you are proficient enough. They also aid in the prevention of lifting. Depending on the quantity of growth that occurs, it is preferable to go to the nail salon for a fill-in every 2-3 weeks.
- If your natural nails are continuously drying out, they may split and peel, weakening your acrylic nails. Because artificial nails are connected to the nail plate, if the nail plate begins to fracture and peel, the acrylic will likely lift and peel as well. This is why it’s so important to maintain your cuticles and nails moisturised and hydrated.
- A cuticle oil pen, which is very portable and allows you to easily hydrate your nails and cuticles to maintain them healthy and avoid cracking, is recommended.
- Not all acrylic items are created equal; some are of poor quality and will not last as long as acrylic nails are supposed to. Sticking to well-known brands and nail salons that employ high-quality products is a good idea.
- Have Natural Nails That Are Longer. When acrylic nails are placed to nails that have some length, they are less likely to lift. Because there is less surface area to grasp onto when acrylic is placed on extra short nails, they become weaker. As a result, it is strongly advised that you do not cut your natural nails prior to receiving acrylic nails.
- Your acrylic nails are more prone to lift early if they are longer. This is why, if you want your acrylic nails to last as long as possible, you should choose a shorter design.
- The longer your acrylic nails are, the more pressure and strain they are going to receive throughout your typical daily activities. This is due to the fact that they have a bigger surface area on which force can act. To become entangled and hooked in various situations, such as on fabrics, putting a great deal of pressure on them. The more pressure and strain you put on your acrylic nails, the weaker the glue becomes, causing the nails to lift more quickly.
Before you will make a choice, it is worth reading information on How To Remove Acrylic Nails.
All in all, acrylics are pretty easy to maintain. All we need to do is follow the aftercare for them to last longer. This includes all the above and using high quality products in nail salons. To wrap this all up, how long do acrylic nails last? They can last six to eight weeks maximum as long as they have been properly applied and taken care of afterwards!
Source: Vogue.in