Everything You Need to Know About Acrylic Nails

 

Beautiful, polished nails are the perfect finishing touch to help pull the look together. Acrylic nails are durable and will give you an instant extension on length. They’re also ideal for nail art. 

Here is everything you need to know about acrylic nails: 

Types of Artificial Nails

• Acrylic nails
• Gel nails
• Sculpted nails
• Wrap nails

Each type has strengths and weaknesses. Various kinds of faux nails strive to create the look of natural fingernails. All sets of artificial nails require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking fresh and natural over time. The eclectic selection of colors and designs adds appeal to getting acrylic nails.

How Acrylics Are Applied

Mix a polymer powder with a liquid monomer and apply it over your nail to create acrylic nails. The mixture begins to set within 20 to 30 seconds and will completely harden within 15 minutes.

• Tips

Tips are used by gluing properly sized tips on the ends of your nails (the tips), and after shaping and filing down to a smooth surface, polishing the entire nail with nail polish or gel. 

• Forms

Forms are fitted onto the nail and used to mold an artificial nail out of the acrylic mixture. The form is then removed so the nail can be shaped properly and buffed to a glossy shine.

Tips and acrylic powders are available in many colors and styles, including French manicures (tan, pink and white), sparkly contours, and some special effects. You may choose to have nail polish applied to your finished nails or have the color built into the nails themselves. Acrylic nails are the thickest, strongest and most durable of all artificial nails.

Gel Nails

Gel nails, made of polymer resin, harden under ultraviolet light. These nails are a bit more expensive but are also more flexible and generally look more natural than acrylics. They are not as durable or strong, however. The UV gels are usually left on to grow off with your natural nail. Remove any selection of the soak-off UV gels with acetone. No-light gels have also been developed as an alternative to UV light-cured gels.

Sculptured Nails

Apply sculptured nails to your natural nail with either fiberglass gel or acrylic material in a form that lengthens and sculpts the nails into the desired appearance. These nails must be filled in regularly to maintain their natural look and last longer.

If you would like to learn more about acrylic nails and how to take care of nails, you should consider taking a nail tech course.