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Original poster

Acrylic Nails

17 replies

sephrenia · 18/02/2011 13:14

For years I was a nailbiter and, after seeing a horrid picture a month ago on google of somenoe's nails, I stopped then and there.

Yesterday, after growing them a bit, I went to a nail salon and got acrylics for the first time ever. Before I stopped biting, there wasn't enough nail to attach anything to!

What I'd like to know is, how strong are the nails? I mean, can I do everyday tasks with them? What should I be doing to take care of them?

I deliberately got them short, just over the edge of my fingertips because I knew I wouldn't be used to them and they look great but I find that I'm having to use my hands in a different way to how I normally would, is that normal or should I just try and do things the way I always would?

All advice is greatly appreciated Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
sephrenia · 18/02/2011 13:14
  • Someone's

Gah, typing with nails is weird!

OP posts:
bristolcities · 18/02/2011 13:31

Far stronger than normal nails, mine usually last 3 weeksish and im not careful with them at all. In fact they normally stay put untill i prise them off, which by the way is a terrible idea. Leaves nails scaly and thin.

lucysmam · 18/02/2011 14:52

You'll get used to them& find you can do everything with them. You might struggle to pick up anything smaller than a £1 coin for a while though, I used to. & I found that I had to use the pads of my fingers for more things than tips of them if you get what I mean

& don't prise them off if you can avoid it, soak them off in acetone!!!! It takes a while but will leave your nails in one piece underneath

MoonGirl1981 · 18/02/2011 15:05

Be a bit more careful with them. My friend ripped one off when opening a cupboard in a hurry and she was not amused by the pain.

I found that I couldn't take labels off but otherwise there's no real difference.

On the plus side nail polish lasts absolutely ages on them but you MUST use two coats of basecoat because the polish stains the acrylic.

Also DO NOT prise them off when you're bored with them. It HURTS and RUINS your nails!

xxxx

Original poster
sephrenia · 18/02/2011 17:50

Thankyou for your replies Smile

Can I ask, is it normal for them to feel itchy and slightly stinging underneath? They were fine yesterday but today the urge to just rip them off to stop it irritating me is ridiculous!

It only started itching though after I had a bath this morning. I only used a Radox bubble bath and Dove body wash so I'm not sure if that would account for it or not.

OP posts:
MoonGirl1981 · 18/02/2011 17:56

Mine itched and tingled.

You get used to it.

Original poster
sephrenia · 18/02/2011 18:30

Thanks, I thought something had gone wrong with them! I'm glad to know they're okay :)

OP posts:
lucysmam · 18/02/2011 19:55

If you went to one of the walk in ones on the high street, sometimes they use electric files and they tend to be more abrasive iirc from my training

Original poster
sephrenia · 18/02/2011 20:42

I just used the local salon. She used a chisel type thing on my nails and glued on the tips before applying the acrylic. Even though some of the nails were only half the size of normal ones, she said it should be okay with the glue and acrylic and that I should expect it to last as long as other people's extensions do.

OP posts:
Original poster
sephrenia · 18/02/2011 20:42

Shouldn't expect them to*

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 18/02/2011 21:02

Haha the chisel is a pushy, that's to prep the nail bed/cuticle area. That all sounds fine, often the tip is narrower than your nail bed a bit because if you use them as wide they can have a very clunky look.

Enjoy them! I had my first set at 19 and didn't not have them then until I was about 30, so I had them continuously for 10 years, I couldn't be without.

Bit more relaxed now. I actually use the stick on ones from boots, which are surprisingly nice when you first do them, and last about a week, £6, and I enjoy the total freedom of being able to do them when it suits me and not have to go to a salon. But I've got very young children, when they are older I'll probably go back to having salon nails - but in the meantime, these look surprisingly well and people dont realise they are stick ons and are always surprised when I tell them. Who knew!

izzybiz · 19/02/2011 08:34

I always had a gel overlay put on top of my acrylics, gives them a lovely shine and makes them a bit more waterproof.

I needed infills done every 2 weeks as my nails grow so fast, and the biggest thing is do not take them off yourself!

When you have them removed in the salon your natural nails will be no where near as damaged as when you take them off yourself, the acetone you buy in the shops is not as strong as the one they use and you end up pulling at your own nail.

whoneedssleepanyway · 19/02/2011 09:01

i found taking contact lenses out was quite a challenge.....

TattyDevine · 19/02/2011 12:44

Izzybiz, Acetone is Acetone. 100% Acetone is just that - the strength cannot vary.

Unless you use a mix of something, but if you use Acetone, then it doesn't matter where its from! (CH3)2CO is (CH3)2CO!

Original poster
sephrenia · 19/02/2011 12:45

Thankyou for the replies!

I've mostly got the hang of buttons and handles, it's just typing I have to master. I'm so used to typing with my fingertips that it's strange to have to change the way that I type.

Still, they seem to have eased off with the aching and itching which is good, it was driving me bonkers! I won't take them off myself though, I'm not crazy enough to try that when I know it could rip layers off my nails.

I'm booked in for infills in three weeks so hopefully I'll have gotten used to them by then :)

OP posts:
izzybiz · 19/02/2011 17:03

Fair enough, always seems to me I can never get them off as well as they do in the salon, seems to take 4 times as long!

izzybiz · 19/02/2011 17:05

Have just looked, the stuff I have is supposedly for removing acrylics but is acetone mixed with other stuff, probably why then! Smile

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