Types of False Nails – Advantages and Disadvantages

As we mentioned earlier, there are many types of false nails currently. One of them is acrylic nails, the creation of which meant a new era in artificial nails. At present, other techniques have been created to make them, among the most popular we can find:

• Acrylic nails
• Gel nails
• Acrigel or PolyGel nails
• Wrap Nails
• Porcelain nails
• Sculpted nails
• Solar nails

Some of these types of nails differ in the technique used to place them, but the most commonly used materials to make them are acrylic, gel and fiberglass. Acrylic nails are the most common for their durability, but below we will see in more detail the advantages and disadvantages of the types of false nails with their names.

Also, if you want to apply false nails at home, we will tell you how to do it in our article How to apply false nails. Keep in mind that the best way to make them last is by giving them proper care, so also take the opportunity to visit our article How to care for false nails.

To know what types of false nails are betterIt is essential to know everything about one of the most popular types of nails: acrylic nails. They are made with acrylic powders (polymers) and a liquid that activates them (monomer). Once mixed and spread on each nail, they need to be worked on quickly because acrylic dries at room temperature. Unlike acrigel or gel nails, you do not need lamps to solidify.

This type of acrylic nail can be applied following two different techniques:

• Sculpting the nail: acrylic is shaped on the nail thanks to molds that are placed on the fingers.
• Fixing the nail tips– They have less durability, but are easier to remove and less affect the nail bed.

In any case, it is best to have it removed by someone with training and experience. Nails are delicate and can be abused if false nails are not applied and removed correctly.

Advantage

• It is one of the most durable false nails, with minimal care they can last up to 4 weeks. If kept and refilled, they can last up to 6 months.
• Its cost is not that high.
• They do not damage the nails if they are removed properly.
• You can get them anywhere.

Disadvantages

• It takes experience and practice to make them look natural.
• If the person in charge of placing them files your nails too much, it will affect them a lot.
• Volatile chemicals are used. This means that the smell is quite strong and can be unpleasant.
• Improper placement, as well as lack of maintenance, can cause the appearance of fungi that are difficult to combat.
• Strong solvents are required to remove them.

Acrylic nails have a very natural pink color and similar to that of human nails. For this reason it is also one of the most popular types of false nails in beauty centers.

To do them at home, just visit our article How to make my acrylic nails.

Between the types of acrylic nails, porcelain nails are among the most named. We say that it is a type of acrylic nail because it is done with acrylics, but the material is a little different. Unlike acrylic nails, porcelain nails are more brittle, thinner, and difficult to maintain. They last approximately 15 days.

Some manicurists refer to porcelain nails as those made from fiberglass and attached to the nail using acrylic materials. In either case, they are less resistant than acrylic nails.

Advantage

• They are cheaper than acrylic nails.
• They have a flesh color that resembles the human nail, although it is less natural than that of acrylic nails.
• The material is easy to find.

Disadvantages

• They must be cared for and maintained with greater effort.
• They last less time than acrylic nails.

Image: Youtube.com/secretosderaquel

Gels today have the consistency of enamel, that is, they are less thick. Like acrylics, they are placed on the entire nail or on the tips, and they also serve to fix tips. Typically a base coat, a colored coat and a top coat are applied.

In any case, an ultraviolet (UV) lamp should be used to completely dry and harden them. Although with the new formulas, there are gels that have an activator that hardens them without a lamp. Normally, gel nails are more expensive than acrylic.

Advantage

• Fewer volatile chemicals are used.
• The finish is lighter, fresher and more beautiful.
• The effect is a more natural nail than acrylic.

Disadvantages

• They last less than acrylic nails, that is, about two weeks.
• Exposure to UV rays can be harmful to health.
• It must be applied by someone expert or you run the risk of them coming off.
• Acetone is used to remove them, which is potentially harmful.

Although they last less than acrylics, if you take proper care of them you can get the most out of this type of nails. Discover How to care for gel nails by clicking on the link.

It is one of the newest techniques, because it combines the hardness and durability of acrylic nails with the naturalness of gel nails. Are used acrylic powders in a gel base.

Advantage

• They are hardened by LED light, harmless compared to UV light.
• They are lighter and more comfortable to use.
• They are also strong and flexible.

Disadvantages

• One of their main disadvantages is that they are the most expensive of the three.
• They are not that popular, so it can be difficult to find a place to apply them.

Originally, this technique was used to repair broken nails. To this end, they used a small strip of fiberglass, fabric, linen, silk, or even tea bags. It was placed over the break with a glue and thus prevented it from breaking.

However, today there are those who use these materials to make nails or to strengthen the tips. That is why they are called wrap, that is, “wrappers” in English. To apply them they use nail glue and an activator that hardens the tissues. At least 4 layers of the fabric are needed to make nails more or less strong.

There is a type of false nail that is sculpted with a different fiberglass than the one used for Wrap Nails. The kit consists of a group of long strands that are placed close together on top of the natural nail. Some people report acute irritation and a very bothersome itch on the skin when cutting the strands, as well as filing already sculpted nails. These reactions are common among those who work with industrial fiberglass without protection such as gloves, glasses, etc.

Advantage

• They are the cheapest on the market. You can get fiberglass or silk sets of different sizes, to adapt them to your nails.
• Damage to natural nails is minimal.
• They don’t need a lot of maintenance.
• They are useful in the waiting time to reapply some of the previous false nails.

Disadvantages

• Durability is minimal and is greatly reduced if they get wet.
• They can look thick and unnatural.

Image: Nailsmag

In the beauty industry you may find some confusing names for some types of false nails. One of them is solar nails, let’s see what they are and clarify what they consist of.

The solar nails They are acrylic nails manufactured by the Creative Nail Design company. The only difference from the “normal” acrylics is that the base material of these comes in two colors: white and pink for sculpting nails with French manicure.

In everything else they are just one type of acrylic nails. For example, they do not need UV lamps and must be refilled every two weeks for natural nail growth. As they are sculpted, tips are not used.

You may have also heard of sculpted nails and think they are made from a different material. However, it is not really a different type of nail from the others that we already mentioned. As we noted earlier, they are nails that do not use tips, molds or extensions.

Whether acrylic, gel or PolyGel is used, these nails are built or fully sculpted from the area closest to the …