Nail Tips Vs Acrylic Nails – Which Do You Want?

When it comes to having a manicure, we always want ours to last for a long time. Sure, there’s regular nail laquer, but there’s a whole other world of nails out there, including fiberglass, gels, acrylics, etc.

You can choose acrylic nails, gel nails, or even fiberglass. When you have shorter nails, it is even possible to lengthen them through various products like nail tips or acrylics. 

And now, the battle of nail tips vs acrylic nails. Which is the right choice for you? Different people have different opinions when it comes to choosing which is works for them, and way. Let’s learn more about these two so we can help you figure out which should go on your fingers. 

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Nail Tips Vs Acrylic Nails: Let’s Define Them

In order for us to compare them, we must first define them and take a look at what they really are. In that way, we’ll know their differences and we’ll also get to understand why some people prefer one over the other. 

Nail Tips

Nali tips  are what you would use if you want to extend the length of the nails. These are already precut and they come in various sizes and nail shapes. 

These can either be clear or white in color. Usually, the nail tips are attached to the free edge of the natural nail to add length to the nails.

The nail tips can be filed to the desired size and shape. Regular lacquer, gel, or acrylic finishes can also be applied on top and you can create any sort of nail art you want. 

Nail tips are usually attached to the natural nails by making use of nail glue. Many people use nail tips because it is very easy to use even if you are a beginner. 

Many people use nail tips because they are very easy to use — even if you are a beginner. 

Nail tips are easy to attach to the nails. You can cover them up with regular lacquer or gel to make them blend with your natural nails. 

Many also prefer this method because only a small part of the natural nail, specifically the free edge, is affected by the nail glue. 

However, nail tips are less durable because they are made of thin plastic to mimic the natural nails. That’s also the reason why most apply something over them to make them more durable. 

Acrylic Nails

Acrylic nails are another nail product that can be used to extend the length of the nails. Acrylic nails are the resulting product when the liquid and powder monomer are mixed. They harden to form the acrylic nail. This is one of the most common processes done at nail salons and can be done DIY as well.

Acrylic nails  can be applied to the top of the natural nail to create the design that you want. If you already have long nails, the acrylic can be applied to your entire nail to create the design you want. 

Furthermore, it can also be used to lengthen the nails. Due to the durability of the cured acrylic nails, they can be used to add length to your natural nail. 

When used to lengthen the natural nails, you could use nail tips underneath to provide support and help with the shape of the nails. Alternatively, there are also products called nail forms  that you can use with acrylic nails. 

Nail forms help provide support for the acrylic nails especially when they are still wet and are still soft. The forms will act as a guide and will help you know how long you want your acrylic nails to be

Once the acrylic nails have cured and are hard enough, the nail forms underneath are removed. At this time, the acrylic nails are hard enough to hold the shape that you created them. 

The acrylic nails could be filed to create the shape that you want or to achieve the length that you’d like to have. Filing them also helps remove the rough edges and makes your acrylic nails smooth and snag-free.

One reason why many people choose acrylic nails over nail tips is because of their durability. Acrylic nails could typically last for up to a month. 

However, one drawback to acrylic nails is the potential damage that they could bring to the natural nails. Acrylic nails may not be as flexible as natural nails or gel nails so some may be uncomfortable with them. 

Their toughness also makes them difficult to remove. When done incorrectly, they could really damage the natural nails.

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Combining Nail Tips And Acrylics

Some people may opt for using nail tips alone and some might also like to use acrylics alone but did you know that you could actually combine them?

Acrylics are usually applied to the entire nail to help give it strength and to create various designs. It could also be applied over the nail tips if you would like to have them. 

The function of nail tips is to extend the length of your nail. However, they may not be as durable and could easily be broken or removed (along with the natural nail!) if you are not careful. 

What’s great is that you could actually use acrylics over the nail tips. In fact, many people choose this option. 

The nail tips will help lengthen the nails. And the acrylic will help make sure that the bond between your natural nails and nail tip is strong. It can cover both the natural nail and nail tip so that the attachment blends seamlessly (but you’ll still need to fill them from time to time)

This can help make your nail look like it is long but the extension is not obvious. The nail tip will also help provide support for the acrylic nail. 

Although the result you get when you use both the nail tip and acrylic is thicker than what you would get when you use nail forms, some people still prefer to have it for durability.