Nail salons, you will see them in US streets very often. Americans are fond of going to nail salons at least once a month. These are like big salons full of employees with desks full of nail paints, nail drying machines and other equipment etc.These salons do normal manicure also but the popular services they offer are acrylic or gel nail extensions.
You will find women with long nails typing on the keyboard in an unusual way while roaming around. They are artificial or in another word fake. I tried these as I was curious about them.Let me tell you my experience.
Difference between Acrylic Nails and Gel Nail Extensions
I researched a lot before trying these services because the first thing they would ask you, the type of nail extensions required. In both, they will apply some sticky translucent material to your nails.But if they are air-dried then they are Acrylic and if they are treated under a UV light or LED, then they are gel. Sometimes salons cheat by charging you for gel ones and doing acrylic. So if they are applying that material to your nails with a brush by first dipping it into a liquid and then into a powder, then they are Acrylic.
Finding which one type of Nail Extension is better,Gel or Acrylic
In both the cases, there is a glue type material that stick to your nails and you will feel like you are pulling something heavy with them. Gel nails have an ease of application and removal than acrylic ones. They do have a shine due to gel polish being used. Also gel ones retain longer, mine lasted 3 weeks. They did not make my nails brittle.
Due to the chemicals (formaldehyde)used in Acrylic nails, they are less preferred. But Acrylic ones are cheaper than the Gel Nails. They started pulling off after 1 week.They are comparatively hard.But as most salons use acrylic nails ,you can find a lot of nail designs or nail art options to choose from.
Health & Safety issues of Nail Extensions
There are multiple opinions about their effect on natural nails. It depends on the technician how safely he/she file your nails, if it is done with a drill then it is bad for the nails.
Gel Nails are treated with UV light which can be cancerous while it is still not proved yet. Instead if the technician is using a LED then it is safer to use. Cheaper salons often use acrylic solution containing methyl methacrylate (or MMA),which is considered not a good chemical and is illegal . You can check the label of the solution to verify.
Also, the removal process should not be harsh. It can be very damaging for the nails. It is better that you go to a salon for their removal and make sure they remove them gently. I found it costly to make another visit, so I removed them by soaking them in acetone for at least 20 mins. You can ask the nail technician also about the removal process.
Conclusion
These nail extensions are of no comparison if you can maintain your natural nails. I felt difficulty in my routine tasks. My nails felt heavy all the time. They can’t breathe properly.
Also, their removal is a difficult process. You will have to soak your nails in acetone for a long time that can make your nails weak and dry . These things cause harm if used frequently plus it is costlier than your hair styling.
But they can be tried once a while. If you do not explore, you will not appreciate your own nails. That is the beauty of exploring.
Also read:-
Complete guide to buy indian ethnic wear:-
https://www.theexplorerdiary.com/complete-guide-to-buy-indian-ethnic-wear/
