Total Elegance - Nail and Hand Care - Artificial nail application

Nail Care

UNDERSTANDING ARTIFICIAL NAIL APPLICATIONS

WHAT ARE ARTIFICIAL NAIL APPLICATIONS?

An artificial nail application is a product that is applied to extend a natural nails length or to strengthen a natural nail.

There are many professional products used by nail technicians to achieve this. The correct product is chosen to suit the client’s lifestyle and needs. Artificial nails can be made to look very natural, and don’t necessarily need to be polished.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL NAIL APPLICATIONS?

For people who have a tendency to bite or pick at their nails, there is a 90% success rate of stopping with artificial nail applications. Nail biters are generally inspired by having beautiful hands for the first time in their lives.

For people who have nails with ridges, artificial nails help smooth the nail surface, achieving longer lasting nail lacquer.

Many people cannot grow their nails to the desired length, as nails can be weak and brittle. Artificial nail applications help strengthen and protect the natural nail, allowing it to grow.

Artificial nail applications can be applied to achieve any desired length.

WILL THE ARTIFICIAL NAIL APPLICATIONS HARM MY NATURAL NAILS?

If the nail service is being carried out by a trained professional nail technician, then there is no permanent damage that can be done. However, filing the natural nail too aggressively could damage the natural nail. No harm should come to your nails by using any professional nail product. It is a myth that the natural nails need to breathe, so no harm will come to the nail plate, even if your nails remain coated for many years without removal of the artificial nail product.

WILL MY NATURAL NAILS CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE ARTIFICIAL NAILS?

Yes, your natural nails will continue to grow as usual, and in time the artificial nail application will grow out if regular maintenance is not carried out.

Artificial nails can actually improve the health of your natural nails by protecting them from biting, picking, excess moisture and other elements that can weaken or damage them.

HOW ARE ARTIFICIAL NAIL APPLICATIONS MAINTAINED?

Once the full set of artificial nails has been applied, regular maintenance must be carried out.

Because your nails grow approximately ½ cm a month, the artificial application will grow out with the natural nail. A slight ridge will eventually show around the cuticle area where the application has been applied. As the nail grows out, this must be softly buffed down to eliminate the ridge, and blend the application back into the natural nail. As the nail grows further, the area where the product has not been applied will increase. This must be refilled by the artificial nail product between where the natural nail has grown and the cuticle area. This ‘fill’ includes resanitizing and reapplying the product where it has grown out. The nails are also reshaped and the length reassessed to suit the clients needs.

IF I CHOOSE TO REMOVE MY ARTIFICIAL NAILS, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY NAILS TO RETURN TO NORMAL?

If your natural nails were filed properly in the beginning, your nails will be in good condition after the artificial nail application has been removed. It is advisable to use a nail hardener to strengthen and protect your natural nails.

IS IT TRUE THAT NAILS ARE WEAKER AFTER REMOVAL OF ARTIFICIAL NAILS?

Your nails are not necessarily weaker after removal of artificial nail applications.

Nails that have some form of artificial application are very durable, thicker and stronger, and are less likely to bend and break. When an artificial nail application is removed, the protective layer is gone, returning the natural nail to it’s original state or condition where it is thinner and more likely to bend and break.

WHAT ARE SCULPTURED NAILS?

Sculptured nails are artificial nails that have been ‘sculpted’ by using an artificial nail product. They are generally applied to clients who have very little length to their own natural nail. Most sculptured nails are sculpted over an adhesive-backed form, which provides a foundation to sculpt on. Once the product has been applied, the form is removed and the artificial nail is buffed and shaped. Sculptured nails need to be maintained. If they are not, they will eventually wear out, or they can be professionally removed.

WHAT IS AN OVERLAY?

Overlays are for clients who wish to strengthen and protect their own natural nails. An artificial nail product is applied over the natural nail to add a slight thickness and strength, to stop the nail from bending and breaking. It is totally invisible. Overlays need to be maintained. If they are not, they will eventually wear out, or they can be professionally removed.

WHAT ARE TEMPORARY TIPS?

Temporary tips (or party tips) are high-grade plastic nail tips that are applied and buffed down into the natural nail to look like longer natural nails. They are applied to add instant length for a special occasion such as a birthday or wedding. Because they have no protective layer to keep them on, they are very temporary, lasting anywhere between one day to two weeks depending on the wearers lifestyle. They will eventually come off, or they can be professionally removed.

WHAT IS A BACKFILL?

A backfill is the maintenance of the artificial nail application. The artificial nail product is reapplied to the area of the natural nail that has grown. The regularity of the backfill depends on the client, although most clients last four weeks before a backfill is needed.

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