Nail Care

It's nail care day! Today for nail care I'm going to talk about the negatives of working with acrylic nails. I love the idea of acrylic nails but overall I'm not a huge fan. I have gotten acrylics three times in my life. They are really pretty but when you want to take them off, good luck. From my personal experience, they make your nails hurt because of all the cleaning and filing they do. They also make your nails very thin when you go to get them taken off. I also don't like that every time I need them refilled I have to pay to go to a nail salon. I like being able to take care of my nails myself. Here is one of the downfalls of having acrylic nails all the time.

 A gap will sometimes develop between the acrylic nail and the natural nail. This gap provides a warm, moist environment where a nail infection can grow. If the acrylic nail is bumped, it could potentially separate from the natural nail. 

When can a nail infection develop...

A nail infection can develop if the acrylic nails are too long or too rigid. It can also happen if the acrylic nails were applied with unsanitary tools. If you develop a nail infection, your natural nail might become thick or ragged and appear discolored.

If you must..

If you do choose to have acrylic nails applied in a salon, here are a few steps to take to minimize the risks:

1. Stick to salons that display current state license, and work only with licensed technicians
2. Be aware of fumes. A strong odor could be a sign that the salon is poorly ventilated
3. Make sure your nail technician properly sterilizes all tools used and washed his/her hands between every customer
4. Soak your nails in a fresh bowl of soapy water before the treatment begins
5. Don't allow your cuticles to be pushed back or trimmed. This can result in a nail infection
6. Don't allow the surface of your natural nails to be filed before acrylic nails are applied. This will weaken your natural nails
7. Request that the nail technician uses a brand new nail file-or bring your own because nail files cannot be sterilized

If you decide to apply your acrylic nails at home, follow all safety precautions printed on packaging. Be careful to protect the skin around your nails from the chemicals used to apply the acrylics.