Acrylic nails ???? Please read

[sarahluvsdisney]

hello everyone

This post is for all women who have acrylic nail tips.
I wonder if you could help me.
I have decided that I want to get my nails done. Having never done this before ( only with the stick on variety from the store) I have 2 options. My local salon offers two types - Acrylic tips that they glue on top of the existing nail then coat the whole nail in more acrylic. The other choice is they build directly onto your existing nail with acrylic and extend your natural nail. Which do you think I should go for???
I know this seems a little wierd asking this question but everyone has been so helpful on my previous posts regarding Disney that I thought i would give it a shot !!!
I am a little wary as to how strong they will be but everyone seems to have them so I wanted to give them a go.

Many thanks in advance.
Sarah

 

[WeirdEyes]

I have acrylic nails because my nails won't grow because they are always breaking off. I would probably just get the tips put on because I'm sure it would be cheaper and it will look the same. Also, once you're nails are grown out, the tip will be gone. Good luck!

 

[whirlsy]

I have tips and love them, I had a full set before but I always get french manicures so they talked me into these, Very fast and easy and I love the no touch ups, I am going on my 3rd week without anything done to them I will get a fill this weekend and plus they are getting a bit long for me, Ilike them sorta short compared to most.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I had acrylic tips for 6 months...when I finally took them off, my nails were SHOT...took me over a year to get them to the point where they would grow and not split. So please be VERY careful about WHERE you go for these tips.

IMO - do NOT go to a 'mall salon' where they charge you $25-$35 for a set a tips. They are using an "illegal" substance for the acrylic reaction...you can google MMA and find out more info then you'd care to know.

Generally - don't let anyone use a drill (looks like a dremmel) to 'rough up' the surface of your nails...good indication that they are using this "bad" stuff.

Even with 'tips' - they cover the entire nail in acrylic...still forcing you to go back in 2-3 weeks time for a 'fill'...you will have to 'fill' not matter which method you choose...both tend to be a pain in the butt after a while.

poohandwendy is a wealth of info...PM her if she doesn't find this thread

 

[Evil Princess]

If you have a nail salon near you and are that set on fake nails I would STRONGLY recommend silk wraps over acrylic anything. I had acrylics on my nails for prom one year and they DESTROYED my nails and cracked. They felt so un-natural, I really didn't like them, not to mention the fact that most people can tell the difference between acrylic nails and real nails.

When I got the acrylics off (OUCH, very painful) I still wanted my nails to be long (I bite them). I decided to get them silk wrapped. They take real pieces of silk over your nails and adhere them with some powder and liquid stuff. They looked SO natural and felt really great on my nails. They weren't heavy and the upkeep was so much easier. To take them off you go to the salon and just soak them in nailpolish remover, so much easier than the acrylics (they had to pry mine off with a metal instrument and crack them).

Silk wraps are generally better for your nails than acrylic.

 

[Jeafl]

I had acrylics for a couple years and I loved them.

However, if at any time they start feeling "loose" like they are separating from your nailbed, get them off IMMEDIATELY! I waited a few days and found that I had a fungal infection that was separating my real nails from the nail bed. I ended up losing almost all of my real nails, and it took about 5 months before I had nails again. To make matters worse, I ended up with a secondary infection in my thumb that was extremely serious and I had to have surgery to drain it. It was very painful, and I never want to go through that again.

My best advice is to not go to one of those "nails only" salons that are on every corner. They do use inferior chemicals that ruin your real nails. Go to a very reputable full service salon. It will cost you more, but in the long run you won't be sorry.

 

[MickeysMommy]

I had tips on and off for about 10 years. I was one of the lucky ones that never had a bad reaction to the acrylic. I loved the way my nails looked - I alway got the french manicure too - and I kept them short, just past the tips of my fingers. I did take them off a couple of years ago just because it was getting to be a pain to keep going for a fill plus it can get expensive. But, now when a nail breaks, I keep saying I wish I had my nails back.

 

[DMickey28]

I am one of the those that have had them off and on for years. My regular nails are very brittle anyway and I can't stop bitting them. They rarely get past having any white on the tips. I always get a french manicure and have gone between pink and white acrylic and gels...

I took them off last week and am letting my nails grow and heal a little before getting them back in September for my wedding...

If you have really nice nails already I would recommend just getting a manicure but if your nails are shot already just make sure you go to a reputable place...

 

[mickeyfan1]

I have had both, the non tips never worked, I always broke then, I had the tips on for 10 years, as my nails grew out, the tips would be filed down. Sometimes it was my nail only supporting the acrylic, sometimes I got new tips. I never had a problem with fungus, but once in a while I would get green mold on tip of my natural nail. Rubbing alcohol or that really srong bleach for mildew would take care of that. I havent had them on for 6 months now, my nails were weak until they grew out all the way, now they are back to their normal won't grow long with out breaking self. Sigh, I wish my natural nails were stronger.

 

[stinkerbelle]

psst...just as an FYI - short nails are very 'in' right now. I'm talking not even passed the tip of your finger.

and a french manicure always makes your nails look longer then they actually are.

I know we all like pretty, long nails...but they can be such a PITA at times!

 

[BuzzMe]

I've had silk wraps for about 3 years-never any problems. I started with extensions over my short nails(cost about $50 for full set) and now go for fill-in every other week($25). I keep mine short (about 1/4"). I love how they look!