Artificial nail/Fake nail/Fashion nail/Nail enhancements/Nail extension/Nail tattoo/Nail art,these are the names commonly said for artificial nails.
One of the first things someone notices about a person is their hands
The wearing of artificial nails has been a fashion trend among women since their origins in the late 20th century. It offer the wearer the option to artificially lengthen her own nails at an affordable cost. Also, the designs and shapes of artificial nails are vast letting a woman who wears them to flaunt her own individual style. It is also very important for the wearer to understand how to care for them.
Let's see what's the difference between acrylic and gel nails
- Acrylic nails are sculpted nails that use a monomer (liquid acrylic) and polymer (powdered acrylic) to give the nails their hard and finished look. Gel nails are created using a gel-form of acrylic.
1.Application
The application process is different between the two types of nails. Acrylic nails are first started off by adding a plastic tip to the real nail plate to give a longer and well-shaped look to the natural nail. After that, a powdered acrylic is mixed with a liquid acrylic and applied to the natural nail using a specialized brush. Acrylic nails must be applied by a trained professional. Gel nails are applied to the natural nail rather than using a fake tip. The acrylic gel is placed over the natural nail and then cured under an ultraviolet light.
2.Maintenance
All fake nails require some form of maintenance. With acrylic nails, women will need to have their nails refilled every two to three weeks or as the natural nail grows out. Gel nails do not require as many fills as acrylic nails due to the fact that the gel coating is not as thick as the acrylic coating and therefore is not as obvious when it grows out.
3.Over all look
Since acrylic nails are applied with a coating of acrylic powder over a fake nail tip, an acrylic coating must be applied thicker than a gel coating. Gel coatings appear more natural while an acrylic coating looks thicker. An acrylic nail, though thick, will provide a better shaped nail than gel nails.
Since acrylic nails are applied with a coating of acrylic powder over a fake nail tip, an acrylic coating must be applied thicker than a gel coating. Gel coatings appear more natural while an acrylic coating looks thicker. An acrylic nail, though thick, will provide a better shaped nail than gel nails.
4.Durability
Durability should be a factor when considering fake nails. Gel nails are not as durable in comparison to acrylic nails. Since acrylic nails have a thicker top coat, they are more durable to breaks and cracks for everyday use.
5.Removal and Damage
The removal process for both types of nails does vary. Acrylic nails are easily removed by soaking the nails in a special solution and simply popping the nails off. Gel nails, on the other hand, must either grow out or be physically filed off of the fingernail and cannot be soaked off. By filing down the nail, a person with gel nails will have thinner nail plates and more breakage after removing a nail than an individual with acrylic nails since the nail plate is left intact.
6.Availability
Acrylic nails have been around for longer than gel nails. Since acrylics have been on the market longer, there are more nail salons and nail professionals that are trained and able to apply acrylic versus gel nails.
Acrylic nails have been around for longer than gel nails. Since acrylics have been on the market longer, there are more nail salons and nail professionals that are trained and able to apply acrylic versus gel nails.
Help for Thin, Brittle Nails After Artificial Nails
Artificial nails can be an easy solution for great-looking nails, but they can also leave your nails wrecked, dry and brittle. Luckily, getting your nails back to being healthy and strong can be done easily, so learn a few steps to give your nails that healthy look back.
Petroleum Jelly
- Petroleum jelly is an important ingredient in attaining healthy nails and keeping them moisturized. Apply petroleum jelly to your nails twice to three times daily and make it part of your regular beauty routine. For extreme moisturizing, apply a liberal amount all over your hands and place hands in gloves, a pair of clean socks, or wrap them in clear plastic wrap. Sleep with this treatment on your hands and wake up and rinse.
Oil Treatment
- You can even treat brittle nails using common ingredients found in the kitchen. A popular method is using olive or vegetable oil. Pour about a cup into a microwave-safe bowl, then heat for about 20 to 30 seconds until warm. Place fingers into the oil and sit for about 15 minutes. Do this treatment once a week to help improve brittleness.
- Avoid applying any chemicals to nails. Chemicals, like nail polish and nail polish remover, can dry out and further damage nails, so if you are striving for healthy-looking nails keep them natural. If you can't resist polishing your nails, use an acetone-free polish remover and give your nails some rest in between polishes by doing a quick overnight petroleum treatment before applying a new color.
Source of information:ehow.com