Acrylic nails are popular and offer the opportunity to express yourself through diverse nail arts. However, maintaining them can be difficult and hectic for some. For example, showering with acrylic nails can be problematic, as exposure to water over an extended period of time can ruin them.
For most people, shower time is a must. But could you imagine if all the people who fixed acrylics didn’t shower? So, if you’re wondering whether showering with your acrylic nails is ideal, this article will address your concerns.
Does Water Ruin Acrylic Nails?
Acrylic nails are known to be sturdy and durable. However, excessive exposure to water can decrease your acrylic nails’ lifespan. Acrylic nails are artificial nails glued to your natural nails using nail glue. The problem is when water gets underneath these false nails, making the nail glue loosen and undone.
This increases the likelihood of your nails lifting around the edges and bacteria fungus getting trapped. While acrylic manicures are waterproof, your natural nail can still absorb water and expand underneath. To properly maintain them, ensure they are completely dry after being exposed to water.
Can you Take a Shower after Getting your Nails Done?
Shower time is both cleansing and relaxing. But can just jump in the shower immediately after your nail appointment?
Before showering, wait at least two hours to allow the nail glue, acrylic nails, and nail polish to dry completely.
Exposing your nail polish to the heat and steam of the shower right after fixing and painting them can cause it to smudge, bubble, or chip. Plus, nail polish can get into your skin or in your hair. So it’s best to wait it out.
Alternatively, you can use a fast-drying top coat or nail polish dryer to speed up the drying time. On the other hand, with gel nails, wait at least five hours until they are fully dry.
While showering doesn’t conflict with your fake acrylic nails, avoid letting your nails stay too wet in the water.
Also, you must exercise extra caution by drying your nails afterward to prevent water from seeping underneath. If water penetrates the protective barrier of your nails, it can increase the risk of fungal infections. So use a soft cloth towel to wipe your fingers dry after a bath gently.
How to Shower with Acrylic Nails
You can enjoy long, elegant nails with acrylic, even if your real nails are short. But as realistic as they may look, you must remember that they are ultimately fake nails.
Therefore, exercise extra care while handling your personal hygiene with acrylic, gel nails, or press-on nails.
Below are a few ways to ensure a hassle-free shower with acrylic nails.
- As you shower, try not to expose them to water, as excessive exposure can lead to your nails falling out. Exposure to water is only forgivable if you do it for a short period. So instead of a long soak in the bathtub, opt for a quick shower and keep your nails dry afterward.
- If you must shower, avoid hot water. Mainly acetone is used to remove your fake nails. However, soaking your nails in hot water can do the job too. To avoid unintentional removal, use cold or normal water or reduce your bath time.
- The quality of water coming out of your faucets matters also. For example, the minerals found in hard water can break down your nail beds over time, causing your nails to be brittle and flaky. If your shower doesn’t have a shower filter to reduce the mineral content in the hard water, then avoid long shower times.
- Wear waterproof gloves to shower. Ensure your gloves are loose and thin to prevent putting pressure on the acrylic tips. Using a glove helps to keep your nails healthy and avoid any nail fungus.
- Your shower water should be salt and minerals-free. Saltwater can loosen the acrylic glue between your nail beds and real nails. Therefore to avoid such moments, use a shower filter.
How to Protect Acrylic Nails in the Shower?
Showering with acrylic nails means exposing your nails to an environment where bacteria can grow. This is because your nail bed can absorb more water than the skin, and when water goes in and out of your nails, the small cells that make up your nail expand and contract. This can weaken your acrylic glue bond over time, causing the nails to lift.
When your nails start to lift and break off, it is a breeding ground for nail infections. Additionally, the acrylic nail can lift along with your natural nails, causing injuries or, worse, permanent damage. To protect your acrylic nails in the shower, here are trusted tips to help you.
- Use a hydrating base coat. The base coat is the layer that comes directly in contact with your natural nail bed, so it must be high-performing. When combined with a top coat, you have several layers between your nails and the water, which can help protect water from penetrating to an extent in the shower.
- The importance of wearing gloves must be considered. This will help protect your nails against water damage and keep your skin from drying out.
- Keep your nails short, so there is less surface area to absorb water.
- Moisturize before and after water exposure to restore your nails’ moisture level. Use hand lotions or cuticle oil to keep them flexible and strong.
- If your nails accidentally chip or break while in the shower, do not try to fix them yourself, as it may result in permanent damage. Instead, visit your nail technician to get it fixed.
How to Take Proper Care of Your Nails Post-Shower
You are done taking a shower, so now what, you may ask. Well, keeping your nails long-lasting does not end with wearing waterproof gloves.
You must take proper care of your nails post-shower, as damage can be painful and lead to infection.
To care for your acrylic nails after a shower, here are easy solutions you can take.
Keep your Nails Clean and Dry
After contact with water post-shower, pat your hands dry because moisture in the acrylic nails can make them prone to bacteria. Next, use a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol under the nails or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria and fungi.
Apply Oil for Strength
After showering, treat your nails to jojoba oil, vitamin E, and cuticle oil to keep them healthy and increase their longevity. This will help keep your nails flexible and prevent cracks from forming.
Use Moisturizer
It’s normal for your skin to cry out from losing natural body oil during a bath session. To this end, when doing your skincare routine after a shower with acrylic nails, rub a hand lotion into your fingernails and cuticle to keep them fresh and moisturized.
Don’t File
Avoid using a nail file and a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles. This can break off the seal of your nail polish and lead to chipping.
Avoid Warm Air Dryers
Avoid warm air dryers for the same reason you would avoid warm water. Use a paper or cloth towel to dry your nails.
Can I Use My Acrylic Nails to do Household Chores?
Yes, you can, as long as you can perform with them. Of course, everyday household chores can unexpectedly ruin your manicure. However, wearing false nails shouldn’t be an excuse to leave your chores unattended.
Handling food items, frequently washing dishes, gardening, or cleaning with harsh chemicals can make your nails stay wet.
However, ensure to dry your hands with a paper towel or clean cloth towel after your chores. Also, wash your hands regularly with antibacterial soap to prevent bacteria growth.
Ultimately, to prevent contact with water, it’s best to wear gloves that protect your skin and fingernails from undue stress.
Usually, we advise you to go for shorter nails if you perform a lot of household chores. This is because, with long nails, it’s easy to chip and break.
Also, it can easily absorb water and filth, increasing the risk of bacterial infection. Depending on your lifestyle, choose a nail length that will not interfere with your daily chores.
How Do I Protect My Nails from the Dishes?
Washing your dishes can rob your nails of shine and longevity. The highly concentrated dish detergents are designed to penetrate through the worse grease or grime.
When these cleaning agents contact your nails, they can strip off oil and moisture from your fingernails. This can result in dry and brittle nails.
However, washing dishes is a task that is hard to ignore, but you must protect your nails while at it. So let’s explore a few ways to protect your manicure while doing the dishes.
- Avoid washing dishes two to three hours after newly fixing your set, as they may ripple or become soiled.
- Put on a pair of vinyl gloves to wash your dishes or clean your kitchen sink. This will prevent chipping or drying out your cuticles.
- Ensure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly after washing the dishes to prevent the spread of bacteria. You may also want to swipe each of your nails with an alcohol swab to ensure they are clean.
- Apply lotion on your hands afterward to create a protective barrier over your skin and cuticles.
- Reapply a fresh coat of top coat polish regularly, at least once every three days, for a regular manicure and once a week, for a gel manicure.
How to Take Care of Acrylic Nails
With so many lengths, shapes, and dreamy designs, acrylic nails can never go out of style. While they are strong and long-lasting, they are a lot of work to maintain.
However, acrylic nails can easily last three to eight weeks when properly cared for; that way, your time and money investment is worth it.
How do you care for your acrylic nails? Let’s highlight some helpful tips.
- Treat your nails gently and avoid putting pressure on them. Don’t use them as a tool to open cans or containers. Wear gloves if you need to lift heavy items or dig in the dirt.
- Schedule regular refills with your nail technician every two to three weeks as your natural nails grow. This will help close any gaps created by the nail growth and keep your nails looking their best.
- Keep your nails dry. Excessive exposure to water ruin acrylic nails. So wear rubber gloves where necessary.
- Avoid acetone removal at all costs. If you need a polish change, head to the nail salon.
- Pick the right length and shape compatible with your lifestyle. Consider a more conservative look if you do tons of household chores.
- Always moisturize with cuticle oil or lotions to prevent cracks and breaks in your acrylics.
- If you can, reserve your false nails for only special occasions.
Conclusion
Acrylic nails can elevate your beauty and appearance when done correctly. However, regardless of how beautiful a fake nail is, they are still prone to damage like real nails. Now that you’ve learned how to shower with acrylic nails, you must still take further steps to care for them.
We have provided easy and effective solutions to guide you through your acrylic nail journey. We assure you that by following these steps, you can flaunt your acrylic nails more confidently. Plus, you can ensure they last an extended period of time while maintaining their best form.