Acrylic nails are awesome for so many reasons, such as their durability and the fact that they last for months at a time. Plus, you can form acrylics into any shape you like, and they can add the perfect amount of length to your natural nail. And let’s not forget about the fact that acrylics come in an amazing assortment of colors to choose from! It’s important that you go to a nail tech who knows what they’re doing because acrylic nails take a lot of time and skill to get right. If your acrylics are not applied properly, they can cause nail damage.
While you should leave the application process to the professionals, maintaining your acrylics after you get them done is all on you. There are plenty of dos and don’ts when it comes to acrylics, and it’s good to know what will help or hinder your acrylic upkeep. Acrylic nails will last for up to six months as long as they are properly maintained. We know that getting your nails done with acrylics isn’t cheap, so you probably want to keep them in good condition for as long as you can.
The good news is, acrylics are actually very easy to take care of. They require pretty much no maintenance at all, but there are a few things you can do here and there to help with their durability. The biggest thing that will help you with acrylic maintenance is remembering what not to do with your nails. Avoiding certain activities will help to make sure you avoid breaks and cracks, which might result in you taking another trip back to the nail salon.
Aftercare for Acrylic Nails
Acrylics really do wonders for everyone’s nails! You can pretty much go about your life, business as usual. You just need to be cautious when doing certain activities such as typing, opening packages and containers, lifting weights or other heavy objects, and doing anything that might apply pressure to your nails. Basically, if something heavy is pushing on the nail, there is always the chance it might crack or break. Even though acrylics are the strongest type of nail, they aren’t made of steel and do tend to break from time to time. This is why working with the base of your fingers instead of your nails is essential for acrylic upkeep.
If you are worried about breaking, we suggest starting out with shorter acrylics. Once you get used to them, you can try out longer nails. No matter the length, one thing you can do to maintain your nails is to moisturize your hands and use cuticle oil. Having healthy and moisturized hands and nails is super important for nail longevity. It will help to keep the cuticle soft, which is important so that it doesn’t crack or split. This can lead to nail breakage.
If you get regular polish on top of your acrylics, then another thing you can do to maintain them is applying a clear topcoat two or three times between appointments. You don’t want to do it more than that, or it could cause the polish to look too thick. Adding the extra topcoat layers will help to prevent polish chipping and add a protective layer to the acrylics.
What Do I Do if My Acrylics Break or Crack?
First things first: if your nail(s) breaks, don’t panic and don’t get upset. Even though acrylics are extremely tough, durable, and long-lasting, they aren’t invincible. Sometimes, a broken nail is inevitable, even if you are extra careful. Maybe you hit it at the wrong angle or applied too much pressure when trying to open something. No matter what went wrong, a break is a break, and it’s super annoying when it happens. Don’t stress, though, because it isn’t the end of the world, and there’s a couple of things you can do to fix the situation.
You have two main options to choose from when your acrylics break or crack: remove the nail, or have the nail fixed professionally by a nail technician. However, some people will try to repair the cracked or broken nail at home.
While there are claims online that you can attempt to repair a cracked acrylic yourself using nail glue, a teabag, and a nail file, this easy mini nail surgery works better on a natural nail than on an acrylic nail. A home repair seems like a way to save time and money, but it typically isn’t strong enough to repair acrylics.
To attempt to seal a crack, you need to cut a small piece of a teabag (about the same size as the crack) and cover the crack with it to make sure it’s the right size. Then, take your glue and place a small dot on the teabag. Press it down over the crack and smooth it out, so there are no bumps. Wait for it to dry completely and make sure there are no sticky spots. Then, take your file and file down the area until it’s completely smooth. You may want to attempt this method if you need a quick, temporary fix before heading to the salon, but it isn’t recommended.
It’s important to note that this repair technique is for cracks in the nail and not clean breaks. If you have a clean break in your acrylics, then you can still repair it yourself. Simply take nail glue (or super glue) and line the break on your nail. Then, reattach the piece that broke off. Hold it firmly in place for at least 30 seconds. You will need to be extra careful until it is fully dry, and even then, you should consider moving up your next nail appointment so you can have it filled in by your nail tech. Please ensure that your nails are clean and dry before attempting this nail reattachment method.
You have two main options to choose from when your acrylics break or crack. The first thing you can do is simply remove the nail and let it be until your next nail appointment. We know this isn’t ideal, considering you will have one out-of-place nail, but it might be your best bet in some cases. If the break is really bad (leaving you with jagged or sharp edges), then you are better off removing it than repairing it. Thankfully, it isn’t hard to do at all. First, you will need to file the acrylic down to about where your natural nail is. Then, take your file and file all over the nail, smoothing and cutting down the acrylic. Your last step is to soak the acrylic in acetone until it softens. Once the acrylic is soaked in acetone, it will dissolve off.
Your second option is to just head straight to the nail salon so your nail tech can do the repair. This is obviously the best option because your nail tech will properly fix your nail, and you won’t have to spend time missing a nail. They will most likely remove the broken nail and start fresh. The downside to this is that it’s time-consuming, and at some salons, they will charge you to fix the nail.
What Products Create The Best Acrylic Nails?
If you want to have acrylic nails that last for months and maintain their shape and color, then you need to invest in a high-quality product. V Beauty Pure has an amazing selection of acrylics for you to choose from. We have a wide variety of colors, including those that are neutral, bright and cheery, dark and edgy, and fun and sparkly. Whatever your nail color preference, we have a great option for you. Our acrylic powders are durable, long-lasting, and look beautiful on any nail, so you know you’re getting the best product available.
Our Liquid Glitter Collection has arrived just in time for spring and summer. It’s bursting with fun and unique colors that will definitely brighten your day and bring a smile to your face. Plus, the collection has all of the cutest and trendiest colors you can get for acrylics right now. There are different shades of pinks and purples, plus some orange, blue, green, and yellow colors that really pop. Everyone will be asking you about your nails and want to know where they can get their hands on the fun colors. And don’t worry if bright and bold isn’t your thing when it comes to nails. We’ve got almost every color you can think of!
Conclusion
At this point, you should be an expert on maintaining and taking care of your acrylic nails. Acrylics are an investment, so you should do everything that you can to keep them in good condition. This will prevent extra trips to the salon, which will save you both time and money. Acrylic nails are not hard to maintain, and you only really need to avoid putting pressure on them so they don’t break.
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