If you are reading this article, you are probably wondering about getting acrylic nails done for the first time. Well, you are in the right place. We have the answers to your questions all acrylic-related. What is the average time? How long do acrylic nails take to get done?
A trip to the nail salon is a great way to treat yourself. But you want to know how long will it take. How much time should you free on your schedule?
Well, generally speaking, the amount of time it takes to complete a set of acrylic nails is between 30 and 60 minutes. But many factors play a role.
We will try to give you an idea so that you can schedule some “me time”. It is important for self-care and reducing stress. Let’s go.
Why Do Acrylic Nails Take Time To Apply?
In the past several years, acrylic nails have become one of the most popular artificial nail enhancement products. They are durable, sturdy, resistant to breakage, and versatile. But there is one downside. It takes time to apply them.
Every time you get a new set of artificial nails, a nail technician has to start from scratch. The process includes sanitizing hands and fingernail surfaces, trimming the free edge of the nails, attaching the nail tips on the edge of the nails using nail glue, cutting the nail tips to get the desired length and shape, shaping the nails, preparing the natural nail surface, applying acrylic nail primer, applying acrylics on each nail, and more.
When you take a look at all these steps, it is normal and logical to expect the process to take time. Out of all the steps, the process of shaping the nail tips, final shaping, and applying acrylics on each nail takes the most time.
How Long Do Acrylic Nails Take To Get Done?
So, how long does it take to get your long acrylic nails done? Most salons will allot between 45 minutes and 60 minutes for acrylics.
So, expect to spend at least 45 minutes at the nail salon when you schedule some me-time and arrange an appointment. Now, it all depends on what you want.
As we said before, if you are content with some simple shape, it will take less time. But if you want to do something special, well, that takes time.
Can You Shorten The Time Needed?
Yes, you can make acrylic nails faster if you get them done by a good nail tech. As you can assume, you are paying more for a professional. A good nail technician possesses good nail skills and one of them is to file and shape the nails quickly.
Another important skill is their ability to apply acrylics in a way that will require a minimal effort of filling and shaping.
One way to find out whether a nail technician is good or not is by going through their past work. Almost any good nail tech has some social media account. Usually, that is Instagram, where they post pictures of happy clients.
Go through the pictures, comments, and customer reviews, and see whether that nail technician is the right for you.
Custom-shaped Nails Take More Time
And if applying long acrylic nails was not long enough, in the past few years, women have started looking for custom-shaped nails. Because of the superior strength of acrylics, women worldwide have long nails and different nail shapes.
The most popular nail shapes include coffin nails, almond nails, and stiletto nails. But while these look amazing and elegant, they take much more time. These shapes look best when done on longer nails.
And here is the logical argument. The longer the nails, the more acrylics you need to apply to strengthen them, and the more time to file and shape all 10 nails. Sometimes, even a good nail technician can spend up to 2 minutes filing a single nail and bringing it to the final shape. Now multiple that by 10.
Several years ago, women were happy with just shorter and simpler acrylic nail shapes. Nowadays, things have changed.
How Much Does It Cost?
Now that we talked about how much time you will spend at the nail salon, let’s talk about how much you can expect to pay. How much does it cost to get acrylic nails?
Well, generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $35 and $45 for a new full set of acrylic nail extensions. That includes regular nail polish.
Now, if you want to add gel polish to your nails, add some $20 to the bill. Most salons will list nail designs at $5+. And the price will depend on the design’s complexity and whether you want to add decorations, for example, gems.
And if you have the habit of leaving tips (some nail salons make it mandatory), that is another 10% of the bill.
How Long Do Acrylics Last?
This is probably the main question for many women. Is it worth getting them? How long do they last? Are they worth the amount of time and money you spend at the salon?
Well, when applied by a professional nail technician, an acrylic manicure can last up to two months. But you should not wait for that much. It is good to head back for a fill-in session every two to three weeks.
As your nail grows, you will notice a gap between the base of the nail and the acrylic. You have to go to the salon to fill in that growth gap so that your nails look professional, elegant, and beautiful.
Now, the good news is that it is cheaper to get a fill-in than a full set.
You need to replace your acrylics once they start to become brittle or loose.
Can You Get Them On Short Nails?
Yes, even if you have trouble growing your nails, you can get acrylics. In fact, that is one of the reasons why many people get acrylics in the first place. They are not content with the length of their natural nails.
The best part about acrylics is that they add length to your nails. Now, as long as there is enough real nail to apply the product, you can get acrylic manicure.
Should You Take A Break?
Acrylic nails look great, they are elegant and sturdy. And most importantly, they make you feel beautiful. But they can also damage your natural nails.
This is why it is advisable that you take a break from acrylic nails every three to six months. Take a break after prolonged use to allow your natural nails to strengthen and grow.
And if you notice any problems with your acrylic nails while wearing them, remove them. If the nails change color or start to peel, take a break from acrylics until your natural nails are completely healed. Nails turning green is another sign of a problem, mainly a sign of infection or fungus. Treat the problem before applying a new set of acrylics.
Now, because acrylics boost your confidence, we understand it is hard to take a break from it. But remember, the benefits to your natural nails far outweigh the beauty of your acrylic nails.
Also checkout:
- Acrylic VS Dip Nails – What Is Your Choice?
- How To Remove Acrylic Nails With Hot Water – Is it Possible?
- Coffin VS Ballerina Nails – Are They The Same?
