How to Keep Your Nails Long After Acrylic Removal – Essence

Traditional acrylics are probably the most popular varieties of nail extensions. We have seen them on Flo-Jo, Lil’ Kim and, in the intense case, the community of beauty lovers Newark Long Nail Goddesses. From their customizable shape and thicknessBecause of their long-lasting durability, acrylics are the usual of beauty within the nail world. That is, until they need to be removed.

“Acrylics can always damage the nail, especially if they are not applied correctly,” says a nail technician Kinaya Haug says ESSENCE. While you might prefer sturdy nails, they’re less flexible than other extensions and require regular refills, which puts your natural nail in danger. “The thickness and where you apply the bulk of the acrylic can cause them to crack in place, which can affect your nail.”

Still, minimizing damage after you drill them remains to be within the cards. As the nail artist behind a few of Sha’carri Richardson’s groundbreaking talons, Haug discusses how to keep your nails long—and robust—after your acrylic is removed.

How harmful are acrylic nails?

You may feel attached to your acrylic nails, but it surely’s vital to understand how they work. affects the natural nail. Acrylics are applied to a elegant nail with a combination of powder and liquid monomer, shaped with a brush, after which air-dried. However, “over-polishing the natural nail can affect its health once the acrylic is removed,” Haug says.

While acrylics are more durable than Gel-X and press-on, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch out. “If you’re hard on your nails or use them as tools, they will definitely damage your natural nail.”

What to avoid when removing acrylic paints?

While acrylic removal requires each drilling and soaking, the hidden danger shouldn’t be just thinning nails but in addition the chemicals emitted. “If you file a lot before soaking, wear a mask because the particles are dangerous to your body,” she says. “Protect yourself, as many salons still use MMA (methyl methacrylate), which is a toxic ingredient banned in the United States and is more difficult to remove because it has a slippery, jelly-like consistency.”

How often should acrylics be used to avoid damaging nails?

“Nail cycling” is a standard practice used to give natural nails a “break” between sessions. But Haug debunks this as a requirement. “I have tons of clients who never take a break from their nail care and come back every two weeks,” she says. “Their nails are healthy because they’re maintaining them by renewing themselves before they break.”

She warns: “If you decide to get acrylic, be sure to schedule a check-up because as your nails start growing, they are more likely to break and become damaged.”

How to rebuild the length and strength of nails after they’re removed?

After the acrylic is removed, your nails may appear thinner and weaker than once they were first applied. “I stand by the incontrovertible fact that I actually have seen people’s natural nails grow to lengths they might not have reached in the event that they had acrylics, just because they got here in usually for constructing gel manicure“– he says – it’s a skinny layer of hard gel that is meant to protect the natural nail.

“If you might be the style of one that doesn’t want anything in your nails but wants them to be strong and long, I’d suggest either taking supplements that support nail growth and strength, or using Nail Strengthener and be very gentle along with your hands.”

What is a healthier alternative to acrylic extensions?

“I started using Gel-X tips because my friend Weenay has so many customers who have had good results with them and I love them so far,” says Haug. The first and only soft gel nail extension system in the marketplace, After Gel-X the ideas are light, ultra-thin and sturdy, which translates into no-area of interest trend.

“They don’t have the chemical smell that affects our bodies, they don’t break in the same way so your nails are a little safer, they’re faster, which both my clients and I love, and they last the same amount of time,” she says. “They’re the new hot thing and so far I’m really enjoying them.”