Every woman enjoys a good manicure. Not only is it relaxing to pamper yourself once in a while, but it’s great to have beautiful nails on your wedding day too. Like many women, I know a lot of brides that get acrylic nails for their wedding day. Fake nails make your nails look long, healthy, and harder than your actual nails. Plus, brides shake A LOT of hands during their wedding day and the days before the ceremony. Many brides even have pictures taken of their hands with their new wedding ring and engagement ring on too. Why is this subject so important? Because I just found some alarming news about acrylic nails many women might not know about. Just like brides, I enjoy getting my own nails done. I went for a few months to one of those “quick” nail places and had acrylic nails with gel fills. Little did I know the extent of the damage I was doing to my already healthy nails. Here’s what I quickly learned about fake nails:
1. Any nail salon that uses a high powered drill to file your nails is not a good one to go to.
2. The gel and acrylic used at “quick” salons is very hard and takes about 20 minutes of soaking in pure acetone to get it off; not to mention a lot of scrubbing by a GOOD manicurist
3. Some of the products “quick” salons use is actually acid . . . .so if it hurts when you’re getting them done, that’s why!
4. When nails are taken off, the high powered drill previously used can wear down your real nail causing A LOT of pain to your nail bed if filed down too much(believe me, it hurts . . . A LOT!)
5. When gel nails are taken off, your natural nails may have a reddish tint to them (this will go away when your nails grow out, but your nails look gross in the meantime)
6. After having on fake nails that don’t bend and break, it’s difficult to get used to your natural nails that are weakened by being heavily filed and break VERY EASILY.
After this experience, I know who to trust with my nails. I went to
Salon Emage and saw Stacey who helped me get my “quick” fake nails off. She gave me a few more tips to stronger, healthier nails:
1. Always use a base coat (O.P.I or Sally Hansen have good products)
2. Acrylic nails do not have to be so complicated. There are different types manicurists can use so that they do not damage your nails.
3. Go to a manicurist that files your nails manually with a file, not with a drill.
4. If you do get your nails done, go to someone with a good reputation and make sure the salon is clean (the manicurist sterilizes EVERYTHING after each customer)
5. Don’t hesitate to ask questions . . .the health of your nails is important
6. You pay just as much at “quick” salons getting your nails filled and maintaining them as you do with getting an original set put on! Your money is much better spent at a salon that won’t make your nails look hideous!
Hopefully, this experience can help brides getting their nails done for their wedding. Please don’t make the same mistake I did! Your experience getting your nails done should be fun, but healthy for your nails too. Keep these tips in mind from Stacey at
Salon Emage, and you’re on your way to having beautiful wedding day nails!
Written by: Jill Morris-Asst. Manager and Sales Consultant
Thank you Stacey for saving my nails!
