Acrylic nails are stunning and excellent for bolstering the nails. But if you frequently use acrylic nails, it’s very likely that you only felt a little discomfort the day after your nail was applied. You shouldn’t freak out. If your natural nails weren’t damaged during the application, the pain should go away after a day.
In this article, we’ll examine some of the major causes of acrylic nail pain and discuss prevention measures.
Table of Contents
Common Reasons Why Nails Hurt After Getting Acrylics
Filling Down the Natural Nails
A buffer will be used by the nail professional to file down and smooth the natural nails so that acrylic nails will adhere correctly and last a long time. The step with the nail file is essential. It might be uncomfortable and painful for people who aren’t used to having their nails filed down. Once more, the nail technician might need to file the surface of your natural nails to make it a bit rougher for better adhesion with the false nails.
Any painful acrylic pulling is caused by your nails’ lower density. Your skin will feel almost as though it is being pulled. Except in situations where the natural nail sustains temporary or permanent damage, the pain is anticipated to go away as your natural nails regrow their base.
The solution is to treat nail care seriously and to leave it to professionals. When you visit a nail technician with little to no experience with nails, your nails will typically be over-filed. Doing a background check before choosing a nail salon or manicurist is therefore a crucial step.
a Result of the Thickness of the Acrylic
Applying as little acrylic as possible will produce a natural-looking finish. This fact, which is less well-known to novice nail technicians, is already known to many professionals. It is not necessary to over-acrylic your nails. Natural nails only gain unnecessary weight as a result. Because your natural nails are not used to that much weight, the excess material will cause discomfort and a little pain. It takes about a day for your natural nails to adjust to the weight, so the pain will continue until then.
Applying Too Much Pressure When Fixing Acrylic Nails
It is not unusual to encounter a nail technician who is unable to apply gentle pressure to the nails. They don’t put too much pressure on purpose, but they lack skill instead. When repairing acrylic nails, using more pressure than necessary can cause pain and discomfort that could last up to a day. If you start to experience pain, always let your nail technician know so they can lessen the pressure they use on your nails.
A Spontaneous Response of the Body
Since you’ve never had an acrylic nail, fake nails, or any other manicure, it’s possible that the process will cause a reaction in your body if you go to a nail salon for the first time. It typically hurts a little and feels heavy, like your nail beds have been added to a burden. The situation is the same for people who don’t get their nails done very often. People who use acrylic more frequently are more likely not to experience this pain and discomfort.
The body typically adjusts to this kind of pain in a day, whether it initially causes you to feel a little uneasy or pain. If you don’t like the pain, you can try some of the best press-on nails from Clutch Nails, which look exactly like acrylic but are painless, simple to fix, and won’t feel like a dead weight on your nails.
The Nail Technician Pushed Back Your Cuticles
Before attaching the acrylic to your natural nail, many nail technicians will push back the cuticles and trim the extra flesh around the nails with cuticle nippers to allow the acrylic to sit properly and look natural. It might hurt a little when the cuticle is pushed back and the flesh around the nails is cut away. Before pushing back the cuticles, experts typically apply cuticle oil. After they’ve fixed the acrylic, they do the same thing again to lessen the discomfort and speed up healing.
People With Naturally Thin Nails
After getting your acrylic nails done for the first time, you might experience some pain if you have naturally thin nails and are not used to wearing acrylic. As your nail beds adjust to the additional weight, adding a nail extender and acrylic to your thin nails may cause some discomfort or acrylic nail pain, which typically lasts for one day.
The Nail Glue
The use of some glue on nails can be risky. Today, some nail glues are prohibited. Some nail technicians, however, will continue to use them because they are accustomed to them or have access to them. The nail bed may become sore, irritated, and in pain as a result of poor glue. Watch out for allergic reactivity. Some people have reactions to specific chemical ingredients found in some of these glues. This type of pain, unlike allergies, will only last a few hours to a day, and you’ll be fine.
the Nail Drying Process
The gel nail finish must properly cure under UV light for those who enjoy applying it to their acrylic nails. As your nails start to heal the following day, the curing process, which requires time, may be to blame for the discomfort you experience at home.
The Tightening Sensation as a result of the Acrylic Drying Up
It may take some time to get used to the sensation acrylic nails cause as they start to dry out and firmly adhere to the nail bed. Your nail beds may experience some pain and discomfort as a result of that tightening feeling. Anyone receiving acrylic treatment for the first time or someone who doesn’t frequently receive acrylic treatment should expect to feel this way. Unless your natural nail is damaged or injured, the pain should naturally subside within 24 hours. It’s advisable to go see the nail tech and have the acrylic removed if the pain continues after 24 hours.
Damage to the Nail Bed
The nail bed may sustain damage while being prepared for acrylic without the nail technician realizing it. The majority of people who visit a nail technician to have their natural nails covered with artificial ones do so because they already have many of them damaged. However, the pressure of the acrylic on the broken nail will keep you in pain. If your pain lasts longer than 24 hours, it is always best to see a qualified nail technician and complain.
How to Prevent Or Stop Acrylic Nails from Hurting?
Do Not Do Your Own Acrylic Nails at Home If You’re Not Skilled at It
The temptation to DIY can be difficult to resist with so many fake nail kits available online for extremely low prices. Don’t risk it, though, if you’ve only recently started watching a few YouTube videos and are untrained to do it. If you don’t, you might end up like these people. Or, if you’re particularly unlucky, you might require medical attention right away.
Choose Your Nail Technician Carefully
We must stress this repeatedly. As was already mentioned, getting acrylic nails can be painful if the nail technician is inexperienced. Don’t just pick a nail tech because they can help you save a little money. Quality service is typically not inexpensive. Pick someone with a track record of success. Check reviews online or with people in your neighborhood. You’ll have a better idea of who to trust with your nails after talking to them.
Choose a Less Pointy Nail Shape
As we’ve already mentioned, if you’re not yet accustomed to having pointy nails, accidents can happen more frequently. Choose a less pointed nail shape if this is your first time doing it.
Do a Patch Test on the Glue First
When the glue has been on their skin for a few hours, many people discover that they are allergic to it. It may take another couple of hours to remove the glue by then because it has dried and become more rigid. To be on the safe side, request a patch test of the glue from your nail tech.
Put Your Finger in Ice Cold Water
The first aid would be to soak your fingers in ice-cold water if you are experiencing more discomfort than usual or if it turns into a burning sensation. Consult your doctor or your nail technician for advice if the pain doesn’t go away.
Take Pain Medications If Necessary
You might need to take painkillers if soaking in ice-cold water is ineffective. But you should only do this as a last resort and generally in extreme circumstances.
Take Off Your Acrylic Nails
It is better to remove your acrylic nails if the pain is severe and no amount of medication or first aid relief is provided. To have it removed for you, ask your nail technician. However, you can also remove your acrylic nails by yourself if your nail technician is not immediately accessible.
With or without acetone, there are two methods for trimming your nails at home. Simply gently buff your artificial nail until the shine is gone to remove it with acetone. Then soak it in pure acetone until the adhesives are loosened and the acrylic nails are simpler to push off of your nail bed.
You can also remove your fake nails without using acetone if you don’t like having damaged nails. Consider soaking it in less caustic substances such as isopropyl alcohol or ethyl acetate. Warm water or cuticle oil will work too if your experience with acrylic nails has completely converted you away from chemicals.
Consider Other Nail Manicure Options
When your acrylic nails are being applied, pain is typically unavoidable. My point is that the nail tech will need to file your nails and trim your cuticles. That will be uncomfortable enough on its own. Think about other options for getting your nails done if you decide this isn’t really for you. Try using dip gel, paraffin, shellac, or powder. There are many different nail polish options available; one of them may be more appropriate for you.
How Long Will the Pain Last?
On the first day after getting acrylic nails, pain is usually felt, but it usually subsides the following day. However, you should call your nail technician or see a doctor if it’s not getting better and you’re still in pain and discomfort after a few days.
Conclusion
Acrylic nails have established themselves as one of the most popular nails among women when it comes to fashion trends. Only nail technician’s talent can prevent their designs from being exceptionally beautiful. Understanding how acrylic nails are made is not enough to convince you to get one, though. You should also be aware of how you will feel the following treatment.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that if the pain is excruciating or lasts significantly longer than usual, you should get it checked because it could be a sign of something more serious, like an allergic reaction or an infection. Just make sure you are aware of what is happening because this is a unique situation and you shouldn’t put off getting them done.
You could try press-on nails if you find the pain of acrylics intolerable or wish there were other options. The pain-free, simple alternative of press-on nails still gives you a fashionable manicure.
