Acrylic nails are the perfect long-term solution for ensuring your nails consistently look stunning. You want to avoid any damage to them at all costs, but in this COVID-19 world with strict hygiene at the forefront, frequent hand washing and sanitising can pose risks to your nails’ lifespan.
How Long Do Acrylic Nails Last?
First of all, it’s important to understand how long acrylic nails are meant to last. It is a well-known fact that acrylic nails are durable, but if they are not looked after properly, they can begin to chip and lift sooner than they should. Generally, they last between 2-3 weeks yet, even then, you may only need to visit the salon to fill in the growth and then they can last even longer.
If you managed to get a manicure before lockdown hit again, here’s how to make it last as long as possible!
Tips for Long-Lasting Acrylic Nails
Apply Hand Sanitiser Carefully
Hand sanitiser has become a staple of our handbags in order to keep our hands clean at all times. However, you need to remember that it is designed to break down bacteria and germs. This means that it will break down any coating on your nails if it makes contact, so don’t go overboard with the amount of sanitiser and wipe off any that comes into contact with your nails immediately.
Moisturise After Hand Washing
Obviously, hand washing is also essential to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but this extra moisture can wreak havoc on manicures. Not only making your hands drier but causing your natural nails to become brittle and your acrylics to break down. For optimum results, moisturise your hands with a hand cream, balm or cuticle oil after every hand wash to keep your nails hydrated and your acrylics intact.
Wear Gloves When Cleaning
When undertaking housework (which may happen more often during lockdown as there’s nothing else to do!), always make sure that you wear gloves. There are so many chemicals in cleaning products which are obviously great for making your home sparkle and shine, but your acrylic nails not so much. Also, when you are washing up or cleaning the exterior of your car, wear gloves here too so the hot water doesn’t make your nails lift.
Don’t Bite or Pick Your Nails
Biting or picking your nails may be one of your habits that you’ve had for years or maybe it’s an anxious reaction to the unknown of this pandemic. However, as hard as it is to control, you need to try and gain the willpower to stop so you don’t ruin your manicure. Why not try and fight the urge by replacing it with another action, such as reaching for the hand cream or cuticle oil and massage your hands and nails instead?
Avoid Putting Pressure on Your Nails
We all love the sound of acrylic nails tapping on the keyboard or our phones, but it can actually be doing more harm than you realise. Putting pressure on your nails can cause them to lift quicker than usual, meaning they need replacing more often. So, no matter how much you love that clicking sound, use your fingers instead of your nails to do things – this includes opening your online shopping parcels too!
Top Up Your Top Coat Yourself
As you can’t pop into the salon for a top up, you should do it yourself to make your acrylic nails last longer. If you’ve got your own lamp at home, make sure your nails carry on looking glossy and chip-free during lockdown by investing in a professional top coat from Hollywood Nails.
Acrylic Nail Essentials from Hollywood Nails Supply
The main tip here is to look after your nails and they will continue to look fabulous for longer. Keep your hands and nails healthy during this difficult time and you will reap the benefits, and don’t forget to come to Hollywood Nails Supply for all of your nail essentials.