QuestionI recently got acrylics put on but really didn't know what was going on. They didn't last for very long. I had the lady remove them and she tore my nails apart. Now they are extremely sore, thin, and brittle. How do I begin repairing them and get them out of pain? Also what is your advice for the next time I ever decide to have this done, what is the best way to have fake nails and keep them up?
AnswerOh Emily. Bad Job, no kidding. First of all never, ever let a technician remove your nails that way. It can cause permanent damage to your nail bed. Meaning permanent deformities. I'm sure your fine! That is worst case scenario. Don't want to scare you. Your acrylic nails should never be ripped off, they should be soaked off with pure acetone.
They will be sore for awhile, so I suggest you keep them well filed, so you don't catch them on anything to cause more pain. Depending on the amount of damage you may have pain up to two weeks.
For them being brittle, use cuticle oil twice daily for moisture, it keeps them from chipping. They will stay thin until they grow out.
I have some sites for you to visit Emily, they will help in the future:
http://www.nailsbydesign.homestead.com/MMA.html
Be aware of a product called Methyl-Methacrylate(MMA). It has been deemed hazardous by the FDA, and is no longer allowed in acrylics, although some Non Standard Salon(NSS) still do because its cheaper. Learn the signs of MMA use in NSS. Protect the public and yourself and report them to your State Board of Cosmetologists.
http://www.nailsbydesign.homestead.com/ArticleFeb2001.html
http://www.creatingperfectnails.com/choose-nail-salon.shtml
http://www.nailsmag.com/pdfs/handouts/NAChooseSalon.pdf
Best advice I can give, is shop around. Look at other people's nails, if you like them, ask who did them. Honestly every technician, in order to graduate from nail school has to know how to properly remove nails. But some don't follow this because they are lazy and think that you wouldn't know any better. Its sad.. So read up on these articles, so you can see if they are up to par. If they're not, I would flat out tell them, and move on.
There are three things you need to know about keeping up with your nails.
1) Use Cuticle Oil twice daily! This helps prevent your acrylic from breaking or chipping. It also helps moisten your cuticles to prevent lifting.
2) Have your nails filled every 2 to 3 weeks depending on your growth rate. Believe it or not, this saves you money! If you wait too long to get your nails filled, you risk breaks. If you have breaks, most technicians only guarantee their work for 3 weeks after service. If you go over that time, you may have to pay up to five dollars per repair.
3) Wear gloves while doing household chores like doing dishes or using cleaning chemicals.
Hope I could help Emily! Good luck in the future. If you need anything else, be sure to ask!
Thanks!
Jeannie
