Acrylic Nails - All You Need To Know

Hi everyone,

I have been having my nails done with acrylics, on and off, for about 7 years now and if you have read my blog for a while you may have noticed I like to write a fair few Nails Of The Day (NOTD) posts and I have also recently started a nail polish collection series (here). I think it was always inevitable that I would develop a love for a good manicure after going to the salon with my mum from a young age and sitting with her while she got her nails done. I loved everything about it and found it mesmerising to watch her nails being transformed.

The lovely Shireen from Reflection of Sanity (check her blog out here, it's amazing and she is so funny and gives really great, honest reviews) suggested I write a post all about my experience with acrylic nails and hopefully try to answer any questions you guys might have, so that's what I am going to do today.

There are many options when it comes to choosing the type of nail you want to go for but I have always had acrylic and then usually a gel polish in between when I want to give my nails a rest. I'd say finding a great nail technician is really important when it comes to having  acrylic nails as someone that doesn't know what they are doing can really make a mess of your natural nail and I have certainly had my fair share of bad experiences! I have been going to the same Nail Technician more or less from the beginning and have followed her round when she has moved salons as I know she will go a good job and her prices are reasonable.

When it comes to style and shape, I like to mix it up and that's one great thing about acrylic nails, if you don't like them you can just change them! I have had square, oval, ballerina and most recently pointy shapes and I vary the length depending on how I'm feeling and what I have got coming up. Longer nails can make every day tasks such as fastening your buttons or putting on earrings a real challenge so if you have a very hands on job for example, it might be best to have them a little shorter!

I used to have my infills done every two weeks but these days I get them done every three and I think that is about right for me. In terms of getting a new set I tend to just play it by ear. If they are starting to look a bit rough round the edges or they are breaking more often because they are getting weak then I know it's time to start a fresh. With acrylics, it is important to get them soaked off properly if you want a new set or you want to give your nails a break. I have tried to pick mine off in the past and let me tell you, it is both painful and really bad for your naturals nails! Go to a salon and get them soaked off properly with acetone! If I am leaving them off I get a manicure as well to help with the condition of my own nails and make them look and feel better.

One question that everyone always asks me is do acrylics damage your natural nails? and the answer is yes. When I take my acrylic nails off I absolutely hate the feel of my natural ones. They are weak and bendy and sometimes have ridges in them where the acrylic has been. I have been having acrylic nails for a long time and I am bad at giving them a break so mine are in worse condition than they would be if I just had them done once or twice a year for example. If you want them done for a special occasion or a holiday and you have them soaked off properly then the damage will be minimal and you will able to get them back into shape. However, if you are like me and get them done constantly then be prepared for the damage to your natural nails to be more significant.

When I do give my natural nails a break I try to look after them by keeping them hydrated with a nail creams and cuticle oils. I also tend to keep them short and apply a nail treatment like OPI Nail Envy to help build their strength up again. If you can leave nail polish off for a while and let them breathe then I think that's good too but I am terrible at doing this and always end up applying gel which is not the best idea as you are essentially just covering them up again and not letting the air to them.

If you are thinking about getting acrylic nails then there are pros and cons to weigh up. On the plus side, they look great and I think a good manicure makes you look polished and can elongate your fingers which I think looks really elegant. You can also play around with design, shape and nail art much more easily and switch things up when you get bored and fancy a change. I also really enjoy going to get my nails done and having a little pamper time every few weeks.

For me, I would say the main negative is the damage to your natural nails. I wish I had given my nails a breather more often and if I could go back in time I probably wouldn't have had them done as much as I have. There is also the cost to think about. The Nail Technician that I go to is really reasonable and I pay £15 for my infills and £25 for a soak off and new set but you can pay way more than that at some salons. 

I love having acrlyic nails but if you have nice natural nails I would say to only have them for special occasions and to make sure you look after your natural nails when you have had them removed. It is really easy to keep thinking 'oh I'll just have them done once more' and then before you know it 7 years have passed!!

I hope you have found this useful if you have been thinking of having acrylic nails but if I have missed anything or you have any questions please let me know in the comments and I will try my best to answer :)

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx