If you haven’t yet taken the plunge and gotten acrylic nails done, you are one of few! Despite the controversy surrounding this popular method, it’s one of the safest nail techniques to get done. For the acrylic nail novice who’s recently fallen in love with their new set, it’s only natural to ask: how long should you have acrylics on?
A general rule of thumb is that acrylics shouldn’t be left on for longer than 8 weeks at a time, and this is if you take care of them with meticulous attention. This time frame can significantly decrease based on the state of your natural nails upon application, and how often you book check-in appointments.
Arming yourself with the knowledge to know how long to keep your nails on will not only prolong the life of your set but will also preserve the strength of your natural nails. In this article, we’ll go over the lifespan of acrylics, how to keep them in tip-top shape, and more.
How Long Do Acrylics Last?
To ensure that your acrylics last as long as they can, the first thing you need to do is ensure they’re being done by a reputable technician. Applying acrylics is a feat that requires significant practice to master. When properly applied, and with your maintenance, a single set of nails can last you 6-8 weeks.
Acrylics are built to last. They build a shell around your natural nail that coats it with a mixture of a monomer and a polymer, so they offer a much more lasting design and finish than gel polish, much less a traditional manicure!
The most important thing to keep in mind if you’re trying to make your acrylic set last is to regularly go in for fills. Even the most diligent person can’t fight natural nail growth, and filling in those areas with more acrylic will keep those raw edges from lifting. Most people set fill appointments every 2 to 3 weeks, but it depends on your nail growth.
Here’s what to expect at a fill-in appointment:
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Buffing and Smoothing
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Using acetone, your nail technician will first remove any polish that’s on your acrylic.
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Depending on how your nail looks, your tech will either fill your acrylic in from the base of your nail or the tip. Either way, they will use physical nail tools to buff those areas and smooth them down.
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Doing this ensures an even blend of the existing acrylic and your natural nail, thus creating a smooth base for the new acrylic to lay on.
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Acrylic Touch Up
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Once your base is good to go, a primer is applied to your new growth. Primers dehydrate the nail and prep it so that the acrylic can better stick to your natural fingers.
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When you’re all prepped and primed, a small bead of acrylic will be placed on the area and smoothed using an acrylic brush. Your technician will smooth this bead out so it lays flush against the existing- making it look like there was no growth to begin with!
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Polish is then applied to keep everything looking seamless.
Potential Dangers Of Keeping Acrylic Nails On
If you don’t have time to go in for an appointment, or if you’re simply curious about how long you can keep your set on before a fill becomes unavoidable, you may be wondering about the possible consequences of leaving your acrylic nails on for longer than you should.
The main thing you can expect from keeping acrylics on is that a couple of them aren’t gonna survive the journey. Your nails won’t fall off all at once, so you’ll likely be left rocking an uneven number of acrylics on your hands at some point. While there are no dangers that come with this, it isn’t necessarily an ideal state to be in.
With the unavoidable growth that will come with keeping your nails on, the edges of your acrylic will lift in time. This lifting can get annoying to deal with, particularly when you’re running your fingers through your hair or shampooing. Not only that, but it could get caught on everyday objects and rip your acrylic off, hurting your natural nail in the process.
Keeping your acrylics on puts you at risk of a dangerous removal. Whether your nail pops off on its own, or it gets ripped off by accident, your natural nail will be left compromised. The most damaging process of acrylic nails is the removal process, and not doing so properly will leave your real nail thin and brittle, or torn off entirely (ouch!).
Properly Removing Acrylic Nails
Instead of having your hands suffer through the growth process, we recommend getting your acrylics properly removed. This is the best option for your natural nails, as it preserves their integrity and is more gentle than them falling off on their own. You can either get your nails removed at the salon or with a DIY method.
For salon visits, expect your acrylic nails to be removed using the soak-off method. This typically involves 100% acetone, cotton pads, and aluminum foil, but the process can look different at your salon. Whichever way they approach removal, it’ll be an easy, albeit time-consuming, process if you go to a trustworthy nail technician.
If you decide to remove your acrylics on your own, the method shouldn’t vary by much. The reason why salons love the soak-off method is that it’s the most effective means of removal. Following those same guidelines in your DIY technique will bear the best results. You don’t need a license to get the same supplies the professionals use, so it’s worth the time!
Should I Let My Nails Breathe Between Acrylic Applications?
Contrary to popular belief, your nails don’t actually “breathe”. They don’t need to be in contact with oxygen to grow, so if that’s your main reason behind wanting an acrylic break, you don’t have to worry. However, there are some benefits behind letting your nails go bare for a bit in between nail appointments.
Letting your natural nails grow uninterrupted, without disruption from polishes, gels, and acrylic shells will allow your nails to rebuild and reinforce their natural protective layer. This will help preserve your nail strength, and make for a healthy base for succeeding polish applications.
Going bare also gives you the chance to feed your nail with nutrients directly. When you’re polish-free, you can apply moisturizers, strengtheners, oils, and nail hardeners with the confidence that they’re penetrating straight into your nail (not needing to work their way through a layer of polish or acrylic).
Conclusion
There are few things more stunning in the beauty world than a fresh set of acrylic nails. Since you’re now armed with the knowledge of how long you should keep your claws on, you can keep your hands looking on point 24/7, 365!