Acrylic Nails at Home

Acrylic nails, also known as artificial nails, are ideal for those longing to have long gorgeous nails but do not have them due to poor nail growth and other reasons. Acrylic nails beautify your natural nails and also look real up to a certain extent. Doing nail art on acrylic nails is easier than doing it on your natural nails and there are a variety of acrylic nail designs that you can choose from. Until recently, you would have to go to a beauty salon or a nail care spa to apply and remove acrylic nails. Now, with the easy availability of acrylic nail kits and various other products that are required to apply and remove acrylic nails, having them done at home is easy, inexpensive and hassle free. By following some basic instructions on applying, removing and caring for acrylic nails at home, you can easily put on and remove acrylic nails whenever you wish to.

Applying Acrylic Nails at Home
You will need to practice a couple of times before you master the art of applying nails at home, so do not worry if you don't get it right the first time. Make sure you gather all the essential supplies before you sit to apply acrylic nails at home. Follow the procedure mentioned below to do acrylic nails at home.

Nail Supplies
Acrylic nails or nail tips
Paper towels
Acrylic powder
Acetone or fingernail polish remover
Nail oil
Acrylic nail glue
Nail applicator brush
Manicure stick

Method
Begin by cleaning your nails, drying them and removing any previously applied nail polish. Make sure that your natural nails are thoroughly clean and dry. Push your cuticles back, trim your nails to the skin, moisturize them with nail oil and buff the nails if required. Then, pour some nail glue into a bowl and apply some on the artificial nails and on the edge of your natural nails where the artificial ones are going to be applied. Now, quickly place the nail tips to your nail edge and secure it firmly by holding it in place for about 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure with all the other nails and wait until the nails are firmly secured and the glue has dried thoroughly. Once they are in place, trim the acrylic nails to the length and shape you desire, file and buff them if required. The last step would be to apply the acrylic to the artificial nails. For this, pour some liquid acrylic into a bowl and dip the nail applicator brush into it. Next dip the brush in the acrylic powder and apply it to the artificial nails. Make sure you spread the liquid acrylic and powder uniformly on the artificial nails. If the mixture is applied to the cuticles accidentally, use a manicure stick immediately to remove the excess mixture. Apply another coat of the acrylic only if required. Wait till the acrylic nails have dried and hardened and then apply nail polish to them. Read more on acrylic nail tips.

How to Remove Acrylic Nails at Home
Removing acrylic nails after a week or two or when they start lifting above the nail edge, becomes essential to prevent nail fungus infections from developing. Follow the procedure mentioned below to remove acrylic nails at home.

Nail Supplies
Acetone nail polish remover
Nail clippers
Nail buffer
Petroleum jelly or nail oil

Method
Seat yourself in a comfortable position and spread out your nails on a newspaper. Gather all the supplies and place them where you are seated. Now, trim the acrylic nails as short as possible using the nail clippers. Once you are done with the clipping, apply some nail oil or petroleum jelly only on the skin surrounding the nails. Then, pour some acetone into a glass bowl and soak your nails in it for around 15 minutes. This is required to weaken and dissolve the nail glue that was used for the application of the acrylic nails. Remove a finger from the soak and try peeling off the nail gently. If it comes off, try peeling off the other nails in the same manner, otherwise soak your fingers in the acetone for another 10 minutes and then try peeling off the nails. After the acrylic nails are off, wash your hands and fingers thoroughly and buff off any remaining nail glue. Apply a moisturizer or hand cream to the nails and massage well into the nails. Read more on acrylic nail removal and how to remove acrylic nails.

Caring for Acrylic Nails at Home
Now that you know how to apply and remove acrylic nails at home, you should also know how to care for them so that they last for at least two weeks. Remember not to expose acrylic nails to water, solvents or chemicals when you have them on. Wear protective hand gloves while working to protect the acrylic nail from any kind of damage. Apply a nail oil to the artificial nails to keep them from chipping off or cracking. Use an antibacterial soap or solution to keep the nails clean and free of germs. Remove any applied nail polish after a week and leave your artificial nails free for a while. Read more on acrylic nail care and acrylic nail care products.

For more ideas and information, you can refer to:

• Acrylic Nail Designs
• Acrylic and Japanese Nail Art Designs

So now that you have all the required information on acrylic nails at home, do not hesitate to experiment and practice their application and removal at home. Following a nail care routine is essential for natural as well as artificial nails, so make sure you care for them appropriately.