Comparison of Sculptured Nails vs. Acrylic Nails

When it comes to nail art there are some distinct differences between acrylic and sculpted nails.

Understanding the differences and weighing the benefits of sculptured nails vs acrylic nails is the absolute best way to determine what style is right for you and your occasion. The first thing to understand is that though both of these types of nails are in fact false nails and do require some form of acrylic, sculptured nails are a bit different than a standard set of acrylics. Understanding these basic differences is the best way to get the results that you want in the least amount of time.

Sculptured Nails

Looking first at sculptured nails, this type of nail is often an acrylic based nail that is built up and shaped around a form or to a specific shape by the nail artist. A sculptured nail can take basically any shape that is desired by the client from the practical oval shape to dagger like nails or even shapes like hearts and stars. With a sculptured nail the nail artist will first apply the basic acrylic base that will keep the nail attached to the finger and the natural nail.

After this step is completed, the artist will build up the tip of the nail to the specified shape using either gel or acrylic powder and chemicals. The shaping of the nail does tend to make it a bit weaker so this area is likely to be thicker and a bit bulkier than a typical acrylic nail. Also, since these nails are often free form, they will not be as uniform as a typical acrylic which may cause a bit of trouble for some users.

Though they are not entirely uniform, the nail artist has been trained to create the most perfect nails possible through free form. This option gives users a bit more freedom when it comes to the ultimate shape of the nail.

Acrylic Nails

With a typical acrylic the first step is of course to build up the base. This is going to keep the nail affixed to the finger and to the natural nail. This base is exactly the same, or at the very least, incredibly similar to the base of the sculptured nail. The main difference is in the way that the tip is both built up and applied. With a typical acrylic there is a form that the nail artist will glue to the finger prior to building up the base and all acrylic will be built on that form. This creates uniform nails that are nearly identical to one another and creates a much more traditional and uniform shape. This is often the best option for every day wear and use. Evergreen Beauty College offers nail technician courses to everyone with a passion for nail art. If you would like to learn more about nail art, contact us and we will answer any questions you might have.