While the work of a talented nail technician won't break quickly, biweekly salon visits are a must. However, is there anything else you can do to make sure your nails stay gorgeous until your next fill? Read on as we share tips from the top pros on keeping your acrylics looking fresh, even if it's been almost two weeks since your last salon visit.1. Baby Your Nails!
The number one rule of acrylics is to treat them gently. This means you've got a bit of permission to act like a diva—avoid opening cans or doing other things that could damage or break your nails. Believe us, a separated acrylic can be super painful.
Cosmetologist Tina Alberino is also a firm believer that you should never try to lift anything heavy with your fingernails. If you need to dig in the dirt to plant your garden, you should also definitely put on some gloves!
2. Consider Top Coat Applications
Getting gel polish over your acrylic nails is a bit pricier, but it can really extend the lifetime of your manicure. If you opt for the regular polish, ask your nail tech about applying top coat. The nail pros at Essie recommend applying top coat every 2-3 days to prevent chips and cracks from developing in your polish.
3. Never Pretend to Be a Nail Tech
If you ARE a licensed nail tech, this doesn't apply for you. For the rest of us who haven't been trained, don't try anything complicated at home. This includes trying to clip your acrylic nails, fix serious lifts or breaks, or even doing your own fill. Trust us, it's not a good idea.
In the absolute worst case scenario, if you accidentally trap bacteria between your acrylic and nail when trying to fix a major nail lift with nail glue, you could cause a painful infection. When in doubt, it's always wisest to head straight into the salon.
4. Wear Gloves
Exposure to water, dish detergent, and other cleaning chemicals can cause your acrylics to lift, separate, or become weakened. Limited exposure to water is fine, but you should protect your hands with gloves if you're ever going to be scrubbing away.
Beauty journalist Alison Bryant is a firm believer in "keep[ing] a pair of rubber gloves by the sink." It will be hard to miss them if you need to scrub some pots and pans.
5. Avoid Acetone
Certain chemicals do not mix well with acrylics, and acetone nail polish remover is definitely one of them. Talk to your nail tech to be certain, but it's typically wise to head to the salon for a polish change. Women's Daily Magazine also recommends that you avoid exposure to turpentine and heat at all costs, because they can also cause your acrylics to deteriorate.
6. Use Vitamin E
Dry cuticles and hands can be common, especially if you have skin that's prone to dryness or you're in a particularly cold climate. Podiatrist Dr. Carolyn Siegel recommends using vitamin E oil or shea butter on your skin up to once a day, depending on dryness. However, for most people, one application per week should be sufficient.
You can get cuticle cream that contains vitamin E at most beauty supply stores, or even break open a capsule of the oil for just pennies per application. You should not attempt this treatment if you have a separated acrylic, because getting lotion between your natural nail and acrylic could lead to issues.
READ MORE on http://www.more.com/beauty/nails/nail-care/how-care-your-acrylic-nails-10-tips-pros
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