Acrylic nail questions

[SnowWhite33]

I'm going to have my nails done for our upcoming vacation. I have had acrylics several times, but normally do not wear them. I will have them short, I just wanted them to look nice for vacation.

What happens if I have one break while there?
No they have a nail salon on property?
What should I pack as a nail repair kit?

And which do you prefer- round or squared ends? Is one better than the other? Sounds like a dumb question, but I can't decide

Any other tips or suggestions?

I'm having them done on Friday 6/3 and we leave on Monday 6/6. Thanks in advance

.

 

[ToddyLu]

I hear yah! I worked for four months to grow my own nails for our May trip and the week before we left my left thumb nail ripped at the edge--so it had to go. I was growing them too long and should have known better. I am a nurse so I have not been able to wear acrylics for years. I would got with a shorter square tip with a rounded edge not sharp squared edge. You will be touching lots of surfaces and I think the softer edge would work better. I would purchase a cheap "kit" at Walmart and apply one if that happened--or just not worry about it and bring a file to deal with the break.

The only nail salons I am aware of on property are in the spas at SSR and GF. I am sure there would be one just off property, but wouldn't waste my time. I think just bringing a file and keeping them clean with frequent handwshing would be the best bet.

Do not let them use a drill across the top of your nail if that is the way you have had them attach the acrylic in the past. Ask them to rough it up with a file and bring your own file, buffer, orange stick and polish. You don't want a nail infection on vacation. For a soft French white I like the Marshmellow color by Essie at Walmart. I have used it several times on my natural nail and the other nurses thought it was a great French color. Fancy Fingers makes some pretty colors with a shimmer (very very mutted glittery shimmer) to it that I like very much and I get them at Sally's.

FOr my last trip I painted them a Fancy Finger red color then applied a small rhinestone for a Mickey head, then went and made small ears with a black nail art pen. Over the top I added a top coat and the dern things stayed on all week. My Mickey's were the size of pen tip, very small, sutle and sooooo cute.

Have a great trip and a relaxing nail visit. You will be fine.

 

[Duet]

I have been wearing acrylics for years (nail biter - bad habit I know) and very seldom do I have one break. For our trip I am doing a pink and white french with the ends straight but the corners slightly rounded. My nail tech put on the new tips 2 weeks ago and they are gorgeous. I will be going in for a fresh fill on Tuesday and we fly out for Florida on Wednesday. The only thing to watch out for with a french (or with a sheer polish) is that the polish will yellow in the sun. I use yellow stopper top coat which will help for a few days, then I will remove the top coat and quickly reapply.

I am not sure if any of the spas on property do acrylic nails or not. In my experience you would really have to wack your nail a good one to break it. However, now that I've said this hopefully I am not looking for a nail tech next week!

 

[ToddyLu]

I guess I am thinking that a sharp corner of the nail would break off easier or get chipped with getting on and off rides that you will be reaching for quickly. I think the rounded edge is more expensive looking and less " I have acrylic nails" looking.

Have you decided to go French or with a color.

 

[ToddyLu]

I lost my acrylics after Katrina and all the repair work, then I started biting them again and I work in a wound care center---oh goodness how nasty that sounds

Of course I keep them out of my mouth at work and wash my hands constantly--but at nighttime while I am watching POTC they find their way to my mouth--ewwww. So I made a decision and stopped doing that in January. I am very proud of myself and have been using a product called Trind to get them strong. It has formaldehyde in it so I only use it once a week.

 

[SnowWhite33]

I think I'm going to do French manicure. I would like some sort of very light/flowery design, not on all of them just 1 on each hand. I would love to have some sort of Mickey, but I'm sure they would look at me like I was crazy for asking. I wonder if I were to show them a simple mickey head if they could do that.

I had not thought of a nail infection, yuck.

 

[SnowWhite33]

I'm not a biter, but I peel my nails away Really, its embarrassing, they are short, dry, and have these ugly ridges across them.

I am very proud of myself though because I have, for the most part, been leaving my toes alone I decided that just one time I was going to have pretty painted toes at WDW

 

[ToddyLu]

 

[ToddyLu]

Haahaa, toes are a whole other beast aren't they. I trim toenails at work--yeah, I know--but anyway I cannot stand to have a pedicure. I am so stressed out by the end it is not fun at all. I have only had 2--and told my Mom not to give them to me anymore. We laughed that something she thought would make me relax actually was more like a trip to the dentist--actually worse for me. So she is my pedicurist and has difficulty getting me to be still while we put them in warm soap and water, push the cuticles, etc. I am OK with the paint and she did a great job on me the other day. Of course I do her nails and toes in return. I love doing nails.

I had the opportunity to do the Scottish flag on my friend's nails recently. She went to NYC for the Scottish parade and wanted the nails to boot. They were very cute.

 

[SnowWhite33]

I like those, cute!


Pedicures? NOPE not gonna happen for me, I'll just have painted toes and be done I don't think I could sit through one.

And you are a better person that I am-I couldn't touch someone's feet, lol.

 

[aubriee]

I've had oval shaped solar nails for years and love them. The old regular acrylics always broke before my two week fill appointments. I have never broken a solar nail though. Yeah, they're pink and white (french manicure look), but periodically I still have my nail tech paint over them. She always paints some sort of design either on my index fingers or the fingers next to my pinkies. About a year ago I was reading a thread here on the DIS about Mickey toes and saw a design I loved. I printed it off and every time I get a manicure and pedicure just before a Disney trip, I take it in and my nail tech paints the design on both my toes and fingers. I may change the base color (red, hot pink, lime green, etc), but the design pretty much stays the same. Every time I walk in with it, my nail tech says, "You must be going back to Disney World". When I was at WDW a couple of weeks ago I had them done with a really bright neon hot pink base, black Mickey heads, and white, light blue, and silver glitter firework design. Just make sure they use the end of a paint brush or drill bit to make the Mickey heads and don't freelance them. My toes always match my fingers.

Here is the design:

this is what they look like for our upcoming trip. I think they turned out great for an amateur!

 

[SnowWhite33]

I like that design too-just more decisions to make before my trip

I'm going to look for that thread....

 

[idoeyes1]

I like to get the gel nails instead of acryllic. You can ask for a "pink and white" where they use pink gel on the nail bed and white gel to get the french manicure look. But there is no paint on your nails so they don't chip and it its cured with a UV light and won't yellow while on vacation.

 

[DopeysMom]

I like to get the gel nails instead of acryllic. You can ask for a "pink and white" where they use pink gel on the nail bed and white gel to get the french manicure look. But there is no paint on your nails so they don't chip and it its cured with a UV light and won't yellow while on vacation.

Agreed. If you are going to wear them short anyway..the UV Gel nails are much better for your nails and wear and tear. They last about the same amount of time (2-3 weeks) before they start to peel off rather than need to get a fill in. I LOVE THEM!

 

[PrincessMom4]

Gel nails are good too.

 

[littlelamb70]

I like to get the gel nails instead of acryllic. You can ask for a "pink and white" where they use pink gel on the nail bed and white gel to get the french manicure look. But there is no paint on your nails so they don't chip and it its cured with a UV light and won't yellow while on vacation.

I second this! I switched from acrylic to gel nails 2 years ago and LOVE LOVE LOVE the gel. They are MUCH stronger and last so much longer then acrylic. With acrylic, I had to go every 2 weeks like clockwork for a fill, with the gel, I can usually get away with at least 3 weeks, sometimes 4 before I need a fill and they still look really good. My salon also has gel colors, not just pink and white, which is a plus for me because I'm always doing something creative with my nails

 

[tricia2307]

I always use acrylic nails and make sure I pack super glue just in case of breakage. Who has time to go for a repair and if you catch the nail before it comes off completely it will look like new. The glue will work its way off in about two weeks, just enough time to get you back home to your local salon!

I go for a french polish effect which looks fantastic in the sunshine!

Enjoy.

 

[SnowWhite33]

I like to get the gel nails instead of acryllic. You can ask for a "pink and white" where they use pink gel on the nail bed and white gel to get the french manicure look. But there is no paint on your nails so they don't chip and it its cured with a UV light and won't yellow while on vacation.

Agreed. If you are going to wear them short anyway..the UV Gel nails are much better for your nails and wear and tear. They last about the same amount of time (2-3 weeks) before they start to peel off rather than need to get a fill in. I LOVE THEM!

Gel nails are good too.

Do the gel nails cost more? Do most salons do them?

Obviously it's been a long while since I've had my nails done-I've never even heard of gel nails, so thank you for bringing those to my attention.

 

[DopeysMom]

I'm sure it depends on where you go and where you live, but on avg a set of acrylic tips costs 25-30 dollars and then 18-20 for a fill in. I pay 25 dollars for the gel nails each time I get them...there is no such thing as a fill in. They are relatively new, but I think most salons have them now.

 

[nkereina]

Didn't get a chance to read the whole thread but I used to wear acrylics all the time and I rarely broke one. If I did, I would use regular nail clippers to clip off any sharp ends until I could go get it repaired. You might also be able to chip it off entirely if you work at it but be careful because acrylics do a number on your natural nail and picking them off makes it worst. I've found they were was easier to break once they grew out and got longer, but I still rarely broke one. Also, if you use tanning beds, the UV in tanning beds make acrylics yellow (I always did French, not sure if this happens with color). They sell nail tips at salons and online you can put over your nails while in the tanning bed to prevent this and I highly recommend it! I don't recall having the same effect in natural sunlight though.

As for the gel, I have never done these but in all the nail salons I've gone to, I'd say about 80% offered them and they were more expensive.

Lately what I have been doing is the shellac manicure. It is a polish that goes on your natural nail - no tips - and is cured with a UV light. There is no dry time and the color lasts about 3 weeks. Many salons are doing these now (I've seen it more at upscale full service salons rather than Vietnamese nail salons). It causes no damage to your natural nail. It is difficult to get off, and you should go back and get soaked in acetone to have it removed, but other than that they are a great and healthier alternative to the acrylics!