Acrylic nails are a game-changer for anyone looking to achieve long, stylish, and durable nails. But without proper care, they can quickly become weak, brittle, or even lead to infections. Whether you’ve just got a fresh set or have been wearing acrylics for weeks, knowing how to maintain them properly is essential to avoid costly salon visits and nail damage.
As America Fashion Designer Prabal Gurung, says, “Nails are the period at the end of the sentence. They complete the look”
Neglecting acrylic nail care, such as using them as tools or picking up heavy objects, can lead to severe damage, brittleness, and even infections. That’s why proper maintenance of acrylic nails is essential to keep them strong, healthy, and long-lasting and to take Care of your acrylic nails ensure:
- Proper Sizing
- Water Protection
- Regular Moisturizing
- Nail Cleanliness
- Immediate Repairs
- Routine Touch-ups
- Safe Removal
- Nutrient Boost
- Pressure Avoidance
- Typing Techniques
- Cuticle Care
- Polish Protection
- No Picking
- Acetone Avoidance
- Daily Washing
With years of expertise in beauty care and nail health, I’ve helped countless individuals maintain their acrylic nails without damage. From avoiding harsh chemicals to adopting simple hygiene habits, I’ll guide you through the best practices to keep your nails strong, clean, and beautiful.
By the end of this article, you’ll discover 15+ expert-approved tips to keep your acrylic nails in perfect condition, including how to prevent lifting, maintain hydration, avoid breakage, and extend their lifespan. Ready to protect your investment and enjoy long-lasting acrylic nails? Let’s dive in!
What Are Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are artificial nail enhancements designed to add length, strength, and durability to natural nails. Made from a blend of liquid and powder, they form a hard, protective layer over the natural nail.
Their popularity comes from their ability to be customized in shape, length, and design, making them a great choice for people who want stylish and long-lasting nails.
According to Glitterbels, acrylic nails first became popular in the 1950s when dentists discovered that the same material used for dental work could also be used for nail enhancements. Since then, they have become a common beauty treatment in salons worldwide.
Choose the Right Size
Selecting the right acrylic nail tip size is crucial for maintaining your acrylic nails with ease, as it helps prevent breakage, discomfort, and premature lifting. Choosing a length and width that aligns with your lifestyle ensures that your nails stay intact without interfering with daily tasks. Long nails may look glamorous, but if they are too long for your routine, they are more likely to chip, break, or become difficult to manage.
Nails that extend 1.3 cm past your natural nails are prone to chipping and breakage and should be avoided if your daily chores are demanding.
According to study, To ensure a proper fit, measuring the width of each nail at its widest point using tape and a ruler is a precise method recommended by industry sizing guides. Standard sizes typically range from 0 (largest) to 9 (smallest), with preset sets such as Petite (2, 6, 5, 6, 9), Medium (1, 5, 4, 5, 8), and Wide (0, 4, 3, 4, 7). If standard sizes do not match, custom sizing based on millimeter measurements is an option. Opting for a slightly larger tip and filing it down ensures a snug fit, preventing gaps where moisture and bacteria could accumulate, reducing the risk of infections.
By selecting a suitable length and well-fitted tips, you can maintain acrylic nails with minimal effort. Proper sizing not only enhances durability and adhesion but also ensures comfort, allowing you to go about your daily routine without worrying about nail damage.
Fix Broken Acrylic Nails
To take care of acrylic nails, it is important to repair them on time to keep them durable, aesthetically pleasing, and free from complications. Neglecting damage can make their upkeep difficult and shorten their lifespan. A broken acrylic nail should be repaired immediately to prevent further damage and infection.
Damaged nail enhancements create an entry point for microbial growth, which can lead to conditions like onycholysis, where the nail separates from the nail bed. Attempting to fix it yourself can worsen the damage, making the nail more vulnerable to breakage and bacterial infections. Seeking professional repair ensures proper cleaning, reshaping, and sealing, restoring both strength and appearance.
Check for a professional nail salon in your area, and if you’re in Dubai, look for a nail salon that provides home acrylic nail service in Dubai for easier access to repairs.
Wear Waterproof Gloves While Working
Water weakens the glue that holds acrylic nails, leading to lifting and making maintenance difficult. Prolonged exposure, especially to hot water, increases moisture absorption, softens the acrylic, and weakens its adhesion to the natural nail.
Research shows that hot water can reduce acrylic hardness by 12.9% and cause structural disruptions, leading to whitening and brittleness. Similarly, excessive moisture weakens natural nails, making them more prone to breakage.
Wearing waterproof gloves during household chores or chemical exposure helps prevent water from seeping under the acrylic, reducing the risk of lifting, breakage, and infection.
Always dry your nails immediately after getting them wet to maintain their strength and longevity.
Keep Acrylic Nails Clean
Proper hygiene is essential for maintaining the longevity and health of acrylic nails. Dirt, bacteria, and product buildup can accumulate around and beneath the nails, increasing the risk of infections, discoloration, and lifting.
Research shows that artificial nails harbor significantly more pathogens than natural nails, with one study finding that 87% of artificial nail wearers had a pathogen present, compared to 43% of those with natural nails. Microbial colonization also increases over time, emphasizing the need for consistent cleaning and hygiene practices.
Neglecting the hygiene can make the maintenance and acrylic nails difficult, and one would not be able to take care of their acrylic nails effectively.
To keep acrylic nails clean, wash your hands frequently using antibacterial soap and warm water, making sure to clean under the nails with a soft brush. Avoid prolonged exposure to moisture, as damp environments promote microbial buildup. Using a gentle disinfectant or alcohol-based wipes can further reduce bacteria and keep nails fresh.
By prioritizing nail hygiene, you minimize health risks, maintain the appearance of your acrylic nails, and ensure they remain strong, durable, and hygienic.
Moisturize Acrylic Nails Regularly
Acrylic nails require regular oiling to maintain their flexibility and prevent breakage. Without proper hydration, they become dry, rigid, and more prone to damage, making acrylic nails maintenance difficult. The skin around the nails and the nail bed can also dry out, leading to brittleness and potential lifting of the acrylic.
Applying penetrating oils, such as rapeseed or jojoba oil, twice or thrice a day helps restore moisture and improve nail flexibility.
Regular oiling not only keeps acrylic nails strong and durable but also prevents premature damage and extends their lifespan.
Get A Retouch
To take care of acrylic nails, it is important to get timely retouches to maintain their look and durability. As natural nails grow, a visible gap appears between the cuticle and the acrylic, making the nails prone to lifting and breakage.
A retouch, also known as a fill-in, blends the acrylic with the new nail growth, reinforcing the structure and preventing damage. It is generally recommended to get a retouch every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on nail growth and daily activities.
Delaying a fill-in can cause excessive lifting, which may trap moisture and lead to bacterial infections. Timely retouches are a crucial part of acrylic nail care, as they prevent damage, extend the lifespan of the nails, and keep them looking flawless and well-maintained.
Avoid Putting Pressure on Acrylic
To take care of acrylic nails, it is essential to minimize undue pressure to maintain their durability and prevent damage. Excessive force can cause breakage, lifting, or even injury to the acrylic nails & tot the natural nail bed.
To prevent weakening of acrylic nails, it’s important to avoid activities that put excessive strain on acrylic nails, such as using them as tools to open packages or applying pressure on hard surfaces.
By being mindful of daily activities and minimizing unnecessary stress on acrylic nails, individuals can extend their lifespan, reduce the risk of lifting, and maintain healthier natural nails underneath. Proper care and caution help ensure that acrylic nails remain intact, strong, and visually appealing for longer.
Don’t Type With Acrylic Nails
To take care of acrylic nails, it’s important to minimize unnecessary stress, especially while typing. Constant impact on hard surfaces like keyboards can weaken the bond between the acrylic and the natural nail, increasing the risk of lifting, breakage, and long-term damage.
According to study, repetitive trauma from everyday activities, such as typing, can make nails more susceptible to onycholysis—a condition where the nail separates from the nail bed—and infections. To prevent this, use the pads of your fingers instead of your nails while typing.
This simple adjustment helps maintain the durability of acrylic nails while protecting the health of your natural nails.
Don’t Use Acrylic Nail For Picking Objects
To take care of acrylic nails, avoid using them as tools to pick or pry objects, as this can compromise their structure and lead to deformities. Research highlights that engaging in such habits may cause elevation of the nail at the distal part, breaching the protection offered by the hyponychium—the area under the free edge of the nail.
This disruption not only affects the appearance of acrylic nails but also increases susceptibility to infections due to the compromised barrier. By refraining from using acrylic nails for tasks like picking or prying, you help maintain their integrity, prevent damage, and reduce the risk of related health issues.
Avoid Acetone
To take care of acrylic nails, it is important to minimize exposure to acetone, as it can weaken both acrylic and natural nails. While acetone is highly effective in dissolving nail products, frequent use can lead to dryness and brittleness of the nail plate, as well as irritation of the surrounding skin.
Studies indicate that prolonged contact with acetone can cause the cuticles and skin around the nails to become red, dry, and flaky. To maintain the health and integrity of acrylic nails, it’s best to limit the use of acetone-based products and opt for gentler, non-acetone alternatives whenever possible.
Maintain Healthy Skin Around your Nails
To take care of acrylic nails, maintaining healthy skin around them is essential for preventing infections and ensuring overall nail health.
The skin surrounding the nails acts as a protective barrier, shielding against irritation and damage from external factors. When this barrier is compromised due to dryness, cuts, or excessive cuticle trimming, it can lead to inflammation or conditions like paronychia, an infection of the nail folds.
Research indicates that proper hydration and emollients strengthen the skin barrier, reducing dryness and irritation. A study found that a single application of a ceramide-based moisturizer significantly increased skin hydration and decreased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), helping to protect against infections around the nails.
Regularly applying cuticle oil and moisturizing creams preserves this protective layer, keeping the skin nourished and acrylic nails in optimal condition.
Apply Clear Nail Polish
To take care of acrylic nails, applying clear nail polish enhances both their appearance and durability. It provides a glossy finish that highlights the beauty of the nails while acting as a protective barrier against chipping and peeling.
For a natural yet polished look, clear nail polish can be worn alone, while adding a top coat further strengthens the nails by preventing cracks and extending the life of the manicure. Orlybeauty suggests that using a high-quality top coat over clear polish helps seal the surface, making acrylic nails more resistant to damage.
Regularly reapplying clear polish and a top coat keeps acrylic nails shiny, strong, and long-lasting, ensuring they remain well-maintained over time.
Wash Regularly
To take care of acrylic nails, washing them regularly is essential to prevent bacteria buildup and infections. Throughout the day, dirt and moisture can accumulate under and around the nails, creating a breeding ground for harmful microbes.
To keep acrylic nails clean, wash them with mild antibacterial soap and a soft nail brush, ensuring both the surface and underneath the nails are thoroughly cleansed.
After washing, dry your hands and nails completely, as trapped moisture can weaken the acrylic bond and promote fungal growth. Incorporating regular washing into your nail care routine not only extends the lifespan of acrylic nails but also keeps your natural nails healthy and free from infections.
Remove On Time
Timely and proper removal of acrylic nails is essential, as wearing them for too long can make them more prone to breakage and chipping. Keeping them on for too long can lead to lifting, bacterial infections, or nail weakening. Most nail experts recommend removing acrylic nails after 6 to 8 weeks, as the natural nail growth can cause imbalance and increase the risk of breakage.
Attempting to peel or forcefully remove them can strip layers from your natural nails, leading to thinning and brittleness. The safest removal method involves soaking the nails in 100% acetone for about 15–20 minutes and gently pushing off the softened acrylic. In addition to this, there are many other methods that can help you remove acrylic nails at home with ease.
Visiting a professional for removal ensures that the process is done correctly, minimizing damage and keeping your nails in their best condition. Proper removal is a key part of acrylic nail care, as it helps preserve the health and longevity of your natural nails.
Take Nail Boosting Supplements
Maintaining strong and healthy natural nails is essential for supporting acrylic nails and ensuring their longevity. Weak, brittle nails can lead to lifting, breakage, and poor adhesion of acrylics. Incorporating nail-boosting supplements into your routine can enhance nail strength and resilience, helping acrylic nails stay secure and intact.
Biotin, a B-complex vitamin, has been extensively studied for its positive effects on brittle nails. Research indicates that a daily intake of 2.5 mg of biotin over several months resulted in firmer and harder fingernails in a significant majority of participants.
Additionally, ensuring adequate intake of vitamins A, E, D, iron, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein is crucial for overall nail health, which in turn improves the foundation for acrylic nails.
While supplementation can be beneficial, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen to ensure it aligns with individual health needs and conditions. By strengthening your natural nails, you provide a better base for acrylics, reducing the risk of lifting, cracking, and premature damage.
Are Acrylic Nails Fake Nails?
Yes, acrylic nails are a type of fake nails, but they differ from press-on nails. They are created by mixing a liquid monomer with a powder polymer to form a durable, sculpted extension over natural nails. Unlike temporary fake nails, acrylics are long-lasting, customizable, and require professional application and removal.
