Acrylic Nails: How To Apply, Maintain & Remove At Home

What do Saweetie, Billie Eilish and Kylie Jenner all have in common? They're outright stans of acrylic nails. Though they're not a new concept, acrylic nails have been gaining popularity in recent years with celebs, Instagram and talented nail-fluencers serving up crazy-bold designs that make a major impact.

They offer longevity and allow your manicure to last weeks on end with no signs of chipping or breaking. Plus they offer extra length and a larger canvas – and when nail art is involved, longevity and length is key.

But what exactly are acrylic nails? Does regular wear damage the nail? How long do they last compared to a regular polish? And how can we remove them without ruining our nails?

We grilled Sherrille Riley, founder of Nails & Brows, to answer our questions about all things acrylics…

Plus, if you're looking for inspiration for your next set, look no further than our list of the best acrylic nail designs.

Where do acrylic nails originate from?

Depending on who you ask, acrylic nails originate from ancient Egypt where women wore extensions made from bone, ivory and gold, or 19th century Greece where women wore pistachios on their nails. Acrylics as we know them today were created accidentally in the 1950s when a dentist broke his nail and used chemicals and dental acrylics to fashion a new one.

What are acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails are artificial nail extensions made of acrylic plastic, placed over your natural nails. This can be done to match the nail shape or to extend the nail length. They are perfect for people who want the look of long nails but have trouble growing out their own nails or have weak nails that break easily.

If you want extra length, the nail technician may glue a "tip" to the end of your nail bed, and apply acrylic gel over the top. Another technique for adding length is to use a "form", which is like a little piece of card that the technician builds the nail tip around, and which is removed after the formula has set.

How do you apply acrylic nails?

A mixture of liquid and powder is used to create a hard protective layer on the natural nails to make them look longer and stronger.

How long do acrylic nails last?

Acrylic can be worn for a long period of time as long as you get infills every 2-3 weeks. “I’d suggest a complete soak-off every three months so that natural nails can breathe,” says Sherrille. "Your natural nails can also be treated to a course of repairing IBX treatments," she adds. The innovative treatment fuses the top layers of the nail bed together for improved strength.

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