Acrylic Nails - Are they Safe?

If you love going to the nail salon to get your nails done, you are not alone. Millions of women go out daily and weekly for a manicure and pedicure as a way to pamper and beautify their hands and feet. 

I like to get my nails done with acrylic or gel, especially in the summer time. I can't speak for everyone else out there but I have noticed that doing my nails too often severely damages my real nails underneath which causes me to wonder just how healthy the process really is.

One time I ended up with yellowing on my nail beds that turned into an infection. I didn't know this until I went to go in for my fill and when the nail tech started to file my nails I screamed. They felt like they were on fire!
 

I literally had to go home and come back two weeks later when they were healed. When I came back the tech explained that I should wear gloves when I wash the dishes at home because the water seeps under the fake nail and germs and fungus can develop!

That made me really think about this process. I don't even know what the side effects are from these chemicals and whether or not it was leaking into my blood stream.  I freaked out and took a break for a few months and started to let my own nails grow.

Growing my own nails was never the problem. I am a born nail biter and doing the acrylic kept my fingers out of my mouth. I could not stand looking at my chewed up finger nails, so short and boring and eventually gave in.

For most of us, beauty always wins. I gave in and started doing my nails again.I have to admit that I truly believe there is nothing nicer than a pair of nicely manicured nails with bright tips or polish. It's a girly thing and it makes me feel like a princess.

I learned painfully from my nail infection and it gave me the rude awakening that I truly needed. As the saying goes..."Too much of anything is never good for you" This is so true. I was going to get my nails filled for so long I forgot what my own nails looked like!

If you are on  ladies who are addicted to the nails, try giving it a break for a month or so in between fills and let your nails heal and grow naturally free from the acrylic and the gel products.

I have been doing that lately and have managed to let my own nails grow out. They look healthy and my hands still look great to. My general rule of thumb now is to do them every once in awhile and take a break. I have even started paying the extra money and rather than going for just a fill, I have them take the entire tips off and start from scratch. That way I am sure they can grind off any fungi that could be hiding under there and put on a fresh set. It's much safer that way. Unless you have a microscope, you don't have a clue what can be going on under there so it's best to play it safe.

You can be beautiful but beautiful and healthy is better. If you absolutely can not imagine life without a set of manicured nails, then I urge you try learning how to do your nails yourself at home. This way you can monitor each finger and fix it as needed to prevent infection.

Acrylic isn't always the way to go. There are gel nails that are supposed to be safer and there are also at home kits with just regular  nail polish where you can add designs to make your nails look like a professional did them at a salon.

You can purchase many of these "at home nail kits" online to do your own nails at your leisure. You can choose from traditional colored nail sets or do it yourself french manicure sets that look like you stepped out of a nail salon!

Play it smart and tone down on the nails in the fall and winter months and then head back to the salon for spring and summer. In the long run, it gives your hands a break, helps you save money and most important of all, it's the healthier way to go!