What Are Acrylic Nails? Here's Everything You Need to Know

What are acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails have been popular for quite some time, but they have been renewed in recent years. So what exactly are acrylic nails? Acrylic nails are a professional solution to long lasting nail color that last up to 4-8 weeks. They can be used to add length or reshape and sculpt your nail. Acrylic nails are applied by combining acrylic polymer powders with a monomer solution to form moldable bead of nail polish on your nail that is then shaped into the desired length and size. The process takes a lot of time to master, but the outcome is well worth the effort!

What are acrylic nails made of?

Have you ever wondered what acrylic nails are made from? Acrylic nails combine two different things, including a liquid substance known as acrylic monomer and a powdered substance known as a polymer. They are made of acrylic polymers and are made by reacting together acrylic monomers like ethyl methacrylate monomer with acrylic polymers like polymethylmethacrylate, which is a mixture of two different monomers. Acrylic nail includes a lot of product types such as press-on nails and sculpted nails. Acrylic nails sculpted onto the natural nail bed are made of a liquid called monomer and powder known as a polymer. Benzophenones – 1 aids in maintaining the powder from being discolored when exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. These two are combined to come up with a thick paste applied by nail technicians onto your natural nails and allow it to dry, which happens so fast. These two products result in a hard defensive layer after some time because they are exposed to the air. Later, the nail technician will fine the hard acrylic nail into a shape of your choice.

Are there different types of acrylic powder?

Are you wondering whether you can get different types of acrylic powder? The answer is yes; there are different types you can find in the stores. They come in many different finishes, formulas and colors. They provide a wide variety of mood effect, shimmer, glitter and glow acrylic, to mention but a few.

You can use these varieties on their own, or if you desire to achieve a wide variety of different looks on your nails, it is also possible to blend them. Some examples of acrylic powder include 2 in 1 dip and acrylic powder, plain acrylic powder, and nail dipping powder. The different acrylic powders are made up of different blends of acrylic polymers that change the way you apply them. 

Dip nail powder is a type of acrylic powder that is applied using a glue liquid called base to stick the powder to your nail. Instead of applying the powder with a brush, you apply it through dipping your finger in a jar of acrylic. It's considered easier to apply than traditional acrylic powder methods.

What colors are available for acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails come in many different colors, finishes, and shades. You can create an endless number of combinations of acrylic nail color, just like any other polish. Some unique finishes of acrylic nail powder include chrome colors, glow in the dark, thermal, holographic, glitters, and many others. Chrome acrylic nails have been trending all over the internet. It is among the most common manicure looks that will completely change your nails appearance. It looks beautiful, striking and luxurious and also uncomplicated and affordable to get. The thermal color on the acrylic nails has a single color at room temperature, but when put into warm water, the pigments will lighten and the color changes.

What nails shape can you create with acrylic powder?

When choosing a nail shape, it is very key to familiarize yourself with the various options available. Even though many shapes are available, the most common shapes you can create using acrylic powder include square, round, oval, almond, and coffin shapes. It is essential to consider your fingers shape, nail bed width and length of the nails before choosing the best style for you. For instance, almond shapes nails fit slim sides that taper towards the end and rounded tip. The square-shaped nails are best for short nails, round-shaped nails are best for longer fingers, coffin-shaped nails are perfect for individuals having narrow nails beds, and finally, oval-shaped nails is a perfect choice for both short and wide nail beds and fingers.

What jar sizes are available for acrylic nail powder?

The acrylic powder is sold in different sizes of jars. The 5 grams acrylic clear round jars, a BPA free container for cream, cosmetic lotion, makeup, and eve shadow. Ten grams, which is 0.35 Oz plastic pot jars, BPA free clear round acrylic container for travel, cosmetic and bead. Twenty gram/20 ml USA acrylic round clear jars have lids for lip balms, makeup, creams, and cosmetics. The most common jar size you see professionals using come in 28g. Professionals also use huge 4oz jars for more commonly used colors, such as clear and white.

Where can I get acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails can be found in many online platforms such as Amazon and independent online brands like Fairy Glamor, Revel Nail, Kiara Sky, Dip Well, and OPI to name a few. You usually cannot find acrylic powder to purchase on shelves in stores because it is considered a professional nail tool. Prices range from around $12 to $20 for a professional grade jar of acrylic powder.

How do you apply acrylic nails?

After selecting your best nail shape, how long you want it to be and the color, your technician should start fixing your acrylic nails by cleaning, soaking and filling your natural nails. If you want to have an additional length to your natural nails, your technician will add artificial tips after that. After that, the technician applies adhesive before attaching the acrylic nails to all your nail beds. Later on, they sand down and shape the acrylic nails as you want. Lastly, they add more polish, accessories, or nail arts according to your request.

Here are the items you’ll need to apply acrylic nails at home:

• Monomer liquid.
• Acrylic nail brush.
• Acrylic Powder.
• Glass jar to hold monomer liquid.
• Nail filer buffer.
• Manicure tools, like clippers
• Nail extensions (optional).
• Nail art, like stickers (optional).
• Removal tools like acetone.

Here are step by step instructions on how to apply acrylic nails at home:

1. Get your brush, monomer, and powder ready.
2. Dip your brush in the monomer.
3. Gently dip your brush in the powder to form a bead.
4. Place bead at the apex of your nail and gently press the top of the bead to flatten it around your cuticle area.
5. Swipe the bead down to color the middle of your nail.
6. Pick up another bead of powder and place it in the center of your nail.
7. Sculpt the second bead of powder down to cover your entire nail.
8. Wait around 1 minute for the color to fully dry.
9. Buff the shape nail as desired and then seal with a top coat.

Applying acrylic nails takes a lot of practice. You may not even get good at it until 20+ attempts. You need to have a lot of patience when working with acrylic, but once you have the steps and technique down, you won't forget it again! 

Here are some quick tips on how to apply acrylic nails for beginners:

• Don't soak your brush in monomer. Dampen your brush and remove a drop of excess monomer by swiping it along the edge of your vial.
• It's easier to use small beads when you're getting started. Practice with small beads of acrylic.
• You have to move quickly when working with acrylic powder because it can dry fast. If you don't move fast enough the powder will get lumpy. Sometimes you can smooth the lumps out by dipping your brush in monomer and trying to work the powder more.
• Don't work the powder too much. Try to use long, quick strokes.
• Keep the thickest part of the nail at the apex, about a centimeter from your cuticle.

How much do acrylic nails cost?

At the nail salon, the price of acrylic nail differs depending on different technicians. Normally, acrylic manicure usually costs $35 to $45 for a standard set. Color pink and white prices are a bit higher, $50 to $60. Acrylic nails cost can also depend on their designs. When you are fixing the acrylic nails you own at home; it will not cost a lot. You may end up spending only on the equipment's needed for the whole process to be done.

If you want to do your acrylic nails at home, the startup tools you will need to do your own set is a hefty price, however it will cost much less than a nail salon in the long run. You can expect to pay around $30-$80 in startup items if you want to do your nails at home. You can look forward to collecting and purchasing the colors you enjoy and can use daily for around $13-$20 a jar and each jar lasts for around 40+ manicures. That is a ton of manicures!

How long can you wear acrylic nails?

In general, how long your acrylic nails last depends on how well you take good care of them. How long they last differ from one person to another. Acrylic nails can be worn for roughly six to eight weeks if you fill them after every two to three weeks. The filling of your acrylic nails after a certain period will always enhance your manicure appearance and makes it last for a longer period. Fills are vital since immediately your nails begin to grow, the time lifting starts to take place. You can make your acrylic last longer by wearing gloves while engaging in house chores such as cleaning. Use moisturizer and cuticle oil to maintain the health of your hands and nails. A much as acrylic nails may not chip for several weeks, scheduling a fill-in appointment is very key after every two weeks to make your nails grow well.

How do you remove acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails enhance the beauty of your nails for a long period compared to natural nails, which are just painted with nail polish. Nevertheless, they remain to be fake nails, which will, therefore within few weeks, appear to be messy and ugly. The natural nails will begin to grow again beneath the polish line and above the fingertips. They may even start to crack and separate from the natural nails and begin pulling your clothes and hair. This is a clear alarm that it is now time to take off the acrylic nails. Acrylic nails can either be removed using acetone or without acetone. Some people have a bad history of removing their acrylic nails using acetone remover. They get burned off their fingerprints along with acrylic. Therefore, these made the need to search for a different alternative to removing acrylic nails without acetone.

How do you remove acrylic nails without acetone?

Have you been wondering of methods to use to get rid of acrylic nails at home using household equipment without requiring acetone to have nail polish remover? There are three simple and safe ways of removing your acrylic nails without acetone having a remover solution. These three criteria you can use in doing away with your acrylic nails without necessarily needing nail polish remover solution or heading to the salon or rather nail technician who is always very expensive.

Method 1: Use dental floss to remove your acrylic nails without acetone.

The use of dental floss: Using dental floss to remove your acrylic nails from home is among the best methods you can ever use. It might sometimes be time-consuming and expensive to visit nail technicians in salons to remove your acrylic nails; worry no more. The use of dental floss involves using dentist recommended dental floss to remove off the nails one at a time. The process might be painful in a case where your nails are strong or short. As much as you can do this alone, it is key to seek help from another person. Ensure you have good dental floss to have a comfortable stand for every nail before starting the entire process. When using dental floss to remove your acrylic nails, use the following steps:

1. Gently pry up the whole bottom edge of an acrylic nail using a cuticle stick.
2. Your partner should then face you and take a piece of dental floss and keenly slide it beneath and along the whole length of your pride acrylic nails.
3. Let them then work the floss back and forth gently while moving across the nail.
4. The process should be repeated with each nail until they are all removed and your acrylic nails are no more.
5. Clean your nails with a nail buffer if your natural nails are torn or even cracked during the process.
6. Apply cuticles cream and moisturizer to retain the shape of your skin.

Method 2: Using a laminated business card to remove your acrylic nails without acetone.

Using a laminated business card to remove acrylic nails is much easier than using the dental floss method. The card must be very strong and laminated to aid in removing acrylic nails without using acetone. For this to be done, it involves various steps, including:

1. Using a cuticle stick, slowly pry up the whole bottom edge of an acrylic nail.
2. Slide the corner of the card and slowly slide it up and down, gently work your way across your nail bed.
3. Work on one side of the nail before you turn to the opposite side for it not to rip your natural nail under the acrylic.
4. The same process should be redone until all the fingernails are done.
5. Using a nail buffer, clean your nails through buffing.
6. Use cuticle cream and moisturizer to get back your skin to shape.

Method 3: Using a nail file to remove your acrylic nails without acetone.

File the acrylic nail: When using this method, you need to have a nail clipper, buffing tool, cuticle stick, and scissors for cuticles, moisturizer, and cuticle skin. The whole process involves:

1. Trimming the tips of your acrylic nails to be shortened using a nail clipper. Always ensure you cut off many tough acrylics as possible. File your nails and use the course filer to file them if the coating is so hard.
2. File down the acrylic coat using the coarse side of the buffing tool. Gently work on a nail at a time, filing off the acrylic to obtain your natural nail.
3. Pry up the edge of fake acrylic nails using a curricle stick found on top of your natural nails. Place your cuticle scissors tips under the pried acrylic nail and use it to begin clipping away the acrylic until when you are done removing all the acrylics from each nail.
4. Using a buffer, clean up the nails through buffing.
5. Shape your natural nails using a clipper and filler.
6. Use cuticle cream and moisturizer to get your skin back into its normal shape.

How to remove acrylic nails with acetone.

When removing acrylic nails using acetone involves certain stages, including:

1. Clipping the tips from your acrylic nails to obtain a short length.
2. After that, remove away the topcoat on your acrylic by filing. You can opt for an e-file or buffer.
3. Soak a cotton ball in warm acetone and use it directly on top of your nails, covering the remaining acrylic and wrap every finger in foil. The process should be repeated for every nail and later on soak them for 20-30 minutes.
4. When removing the foil, wipe the nails using a wet cotton ball, and all of the acrylics should be removed from it. Always ensure no acrylic is left on the nail before you start filling and shaping the natural nail. You will then have a fresh canvas for your next set of acrylic.

What are the most popular acrylic nail brands?

Some of the most popular acrylic nail brands used in professional salons are not available to purchase by non-professionals, such as OPI or SNS. It can be hard to come across these colors for sale.

There are other brands that sell directly to consumers through their online storefront. Here are some popular acrylic nail brands: Revel Nail, Kiara Sky, Dip Well, Glam and Glitz, Fairy Glamor. 

Who invented acrylic nails?

Fred Slack invented acrylic nails. In 1954, a dentist broke his fingernail at work and designed an artificial nail as a real looking temporary replacement. After doing many experiments with various materials to enhance his invention, his brother Tom patented a successful version and came up with Patti Nails. As time went by, the demand for nail services doubled, and in the late 70s, Dr Stuart Nordstrom designed today's professional liquid and powder used in acrylic nails currently. The creation of acrylic nail finally opened the way to invent hard gel, soak off gel and gel polish, commonly located in our salons today.

Are acrylic nails safe?

Acrylic nails are safer when compared to other nail products, such as gel, that need UV lights to cure. Acrylics have been used for over 50 years and has been a popular staple in the nail community, so it's safe to say they have a good reputation for being safe. Nevertheless, acrylics can cause harm to your nails if you do not follow the correct procedure when applying it. The process of removing acrylic nails can make your nails weak, but this can be avoided completely when correctly done; it will not lead to any serious or permanent damage. That well said, it is best to seek a professional to remove your acrylic nails if you do not know what you're doing.

What are the benefits of acrylic nails?

Having a good looking nail can make you feel more beautiful and confident in everyday life. Unluckily, natural nails sometimes tend to be brittle and have greater chances of cracking and chipping that some offer a very painful feeling. On the other hand, acrylic nails can serve as the perfect manner for any female to have beautiful looking nails that can be easily maintained. They come with various advantages, including:

1. They last for a long time: Acrylic nails are common because they offer long-lasting service. They do easily break like natural nails and last longer than gel nails. Moreover, they have been present for a long period; therefore, nail technicians are well informed about the methods of applying and removing these nails. This will shed off your worries of meeting an inexperienced nail technician to do your nails.
2. They have many options to choose from: Acrylic nails can be used to occupy the whole nail or be used as an extension at the tips of the nails. This offers one a choice of having just a French tip manicure using your natural nails. You can as well choose from many designs that can be polished on the nails. When you feel bored with the current design used on your nails, you have an option of removing and have new nails applied using a different design.
3. They are natural-looking: Acrylic nails will always appear like your natural nails, depending on how you decide to paint your nails. You have to go for an experienced nail technician who can more closely imitate the look of natural nails to get this result.
4. They protect your weak nails: Acrylic nails can aid women having unhealthy nails that chip or break easily. This will assist in preventing painful breaks and makes you do things that you may not have fears of breaking your nails.
5. They prevent nail biting: Covering up the nail with the same nail is among the best option for preventing nail-biting. Many women who struggle with nail-biting will find no issue in biting acrylic nails because they are very durable and hard to chew or bite in the first place.
6. They can be sculpted: One of the cool things about acrylic nail powder is you can use it to sculpt unique 3D nail designs and patterns. You can't do that with gel!

In summary, acrylic nails are a great way to enhance the look of your nails with long lasting color and length. Acrylics come in many different colors, finishes, and are safe to use in a wide variety of applications. They are a popular choice for those that do not want to deal with the hassle of their polishes constantly chipping and can be applied at home or professionally.

Why do you like acrylic nails? Are they your favorite choice of nail polish? Let us know in the comments!