Kayla Young
Acrylic nails are super pretty and versatile. They can come in various lengths, shapes, and designs. The creativity of nail art enthusiasts is astounding!
Acrylic nails are known to be durable so they last quite long. Sometimes, you don’t need to have the full set of acrylic nails replaced but just a fill-in. So how often should you get a new set of acrylic nails?
On average, you should get a full set of acrylic nails every 3-6 months. Yet, that will still depend on the current condition of your acrylic nails. If you take care of them, you may not need a full set often, but you will need fill-ins as the nails grow.
Do remember that some instances could shorten the time of needing a full set. It is important for nail technicians to assess your acrylic nails and to see whether you need a full set or not.
Let’s talk more about that below.
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Full Set Of Acrylic Nails Vs A Fill-In
If it is your first time having acrylic nails, the nail technicians will give you a full set of acrylic nails. They will first clean your nails and then apply the acrylic nails. This will be according to the length, shape, and design that you want.
That is known as getting a full set of acrylic nails. Sometimes, for a period of a few days after getting acrylic nails, you can feel some pain or discomfort.
An acrylic fill, on the other hand, is what you get when you’ve already got acrylic nails from a previous manicure session.
As we all know, our nails continuously grow. That’s why the acrylic nails placed over them might have already been showing growth.
Fills are used to cover the new growth of the nails and blend it with the existing acrylic nails on top. With a fill, only a small amount of acrylic would be needed and placed over the regrowth area of the natural nails.
Fills are used to cover the new growth of the nails and blend it with the existing acrylic nails on top. With a fill, only a small amount of acrylic would be needed and placed over the regrowth area of the natural nails.
That way, your nails will still look great and refreshed. As long as the previous acrylic nails are still in good condition and are still properly attached to your natural nails, you can simply get a fill rather than a full set.
Full sets are significantly more expensive than having a fill, and they take more time to do than a typical acrylic fill in. More product is going to be used for a full set, and more work is needed to be done.
You can get a fill for your acrylic nails every two weeks but some might go longer. When there is already an obvious gap due to the regrowth of your nail, you can go for a fill-in session to make your acrylic nails look flawless again.
Although you can have fill-ins as many times as you want, it would be best to still have a full set from time to time. Acrylic nails may be durable but they don’t last forever.
It is best to have them checked if you need a full set or just a fill.
Although you can have fill-ins as many times as you want, it would be best to still have a full set from time to time.
Usually, most people will have fill-ins 3 to 4 times before they get another set. In that way, they could change the color, design, and look of their acrylic nails.
How Often Should You Get A New Set Of Acrylic Nails?
As we’ve mentioned earlier, people usually need to get a new set of acrylic nails every 3-6 months. However, that length of time will greatly vary depending on the current condition of your acrylic nails.
However, that length of time will greatly vary depending on the current condition of your acrylic nails.
Some people could wait even longer than 6 months to get a new set because their acrylic nails are still intact and are still in good condition.
However, some might need a new set rather than just a fill even if their acrylic nails haven’t lasted for 3 months. That would depend on whether the acrylic nails are still properly attached to the natural nails or if the acrylic nails are still in good condition.
Although you could just take care of your acrylic nails and have them filled for longer than 6 months, it would still be best to take them off at about 3-6 months. That helps make sure that your nail technician can get a good view of your natural nails.
Acrylic nails are durable and can last long but they cover your natural nails so their condition isn’t seen. Nail technicians should still check the health of your natural nails and that could be done if you remove the acrylic nails first.
If nail technicians find any abnormalities in your nails, they could give you advice on what to do or they can assess if the natural nails are good enough to use acrylics on. If water gets underneath the acrylic, it becomes a breeding ground for fungus and future nail trouble.
If you do DIY acrylic nails, good on you! But in this case, it’s your job to make sure your nails are healthy.
If you do DIY acrylic nails, good on you! But in this case, it’s your job to make sure your nails are healthy.
Removing the acrylic nails gives better access to your natural nails. The nail technician can shorten them before applying the acrylic nails to prevent them from breaking accidentally.
Note that you should occasionally take breaks from acrylics to give your nails a rest!
When To Get A New Set Of Acrylic Nails
Aside from considering the time frame of your acrylic nails, the best way to tell when you need to get a new set is to look at the condition of your acrylic nails. If you don’t know how to assess this on your own, have a nail technician check for you.
See our article How Often Should You Get Your Nails Done? for more details.
There are some instances when you will need to start over, even if your acrylic nails haven’t been on for long. Here are some of those:
1. Acrylic Nails Are Lifted
When the acrylic nails are already lifted, especially along the cuticle line, then it would be time to get a new set instead of a fill-in. If you previously had a fill-in, this could mean that the last one wasn’t a good job. That’s why it didn’t stick well to your nails.
Nevertheless, you should get a full set because lifting acrylic nails could allow moisture to get trapped between the acrylic nails and your natural nails.
That could cause fungal growth or fungal infection.
If only one finger is affected, you can just have the acrylic nail on the single finger replaced and keep the others. However, if several have lifted, it would be best to get a full set and have your acrylic nails replaced.
2. Acrylic Nails Fall Off
If multiple acrylic nails fall off within a week, you’ll need to start over. It is possible that the nail preparation isn’t correctly done that is why the acrylic nails are popping off and not adhering properly to your natural nails.
Usually, if you find two or more loose acrylic nails within a week, the others will also fall off soon.
It would be best to just get a new set rather than wait for the others to fall off because they could also hurt and break off unexpectedly.
3. Signs Of Fungus Growth
One sign to watch out for is the discoloration of the nails. If the acrylic nails look darker, then there may be fungus growth. Sometimes, the color change starts with a lighter one and then darkens to a dark brown, dark green, or black color.
These could be signs that fungus is growing because there is moisture between the natural nail and the acrylic nails.
It is possible for the discoloration to stain the natural nails and all you can do is to grow them out after having the acrylics removed.
How To Make Acrylic Nails Last Longer
Getting fill-ins instead of getting a full set every time you visit your nail technician will certainly save you money while maintaining the good appearance of your nails. Yes, you can do acrylic fill-ins at home. But most go to a salon.
To help with that, here are a few tips to make your acrylic nails last longer.
1. Go To A Reputable Nail Technician
One way to make sure that your acrylic nails last is to make sure that they are done by a reputable nail technician. This ensures that proper nail preparation is done so that the acrylic sticks to your natural nails, and sanitation is high.
Going to someone with experience also helps make sure that the acrylic nails are properly applied.
2. Avoid Exposure To Chemicals Or Moisture
Although acrylic nails are durable, they are not indestructible. Whenever you use your hands for cleaning, make sure you don’t expose your nails to harsh chemicals.
Additionally, soaking them in soapy water for prolonged periods could cause the adhesion to be compromised. Wear gloves while doing your household chores to protect them.
3. Don’t Use Your Nails As Tools
Do you use your acrylic nails to open that can of soda water? Do you tend to tap your acrylic nails? The unnecessary pressure that you put your acrylic nails through could lead to premature damage. Avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your nails.
