How to Make Acrylic Nails Last Longer

 

1. Be gentle with your nails

As long as your acrylics are applied correctly, you'll only incur damage if you're rough with them. "Be gentle with your hands and don't use your nails as tools," says Rose.

2. Keep them away from water

"Wear dishwashing gloves and don’t soak your hands in water," says Rose. That's because over-exposure to water can cause the acrylics to lift from the nails, which can then lead to breakage (to both the acrylic and possibly your natural nail.)

3. Don't pick

Plain and simple — don't pick at your acrylics. Leave them be and allow them to thrive.

When Acrylic Nails Can Cause Damage

Acrylic nails won't cause damage to your natural nails as long as they're done right. That's why you should always go to a professional to handle your acrylics — and make sure they're good. "Do your research! If the cost of the service is extremely low you should steer clear," says Rose.

Rose says she often sees damage happen with improper removal. "When the client pulls them off, it removes layers of keratin and weakens the nails," says Rose.

How to Safely Remove Acrylic Nails

Acrylic removal is not something you should do at home. For example, while an e-file is a totally safe tool when used by a trained professional, sometimes an uninformed nail tech (or overzealous DIYer might over-grind the nails, "leaving the nail beds to be thin and damaged," she says. Miyata adds that "your natural nails can be ruined by over-filing if you don’t know how much to file."