Important Information To Keep In Mind About Wearing Fake Nails
July 17, 2019
source: Twitter/@amelia_perrin
There’s something so luxurious about having long, perfectly sculpted fingernails. It’s for this reason exactly that acrylic nails are part of many women’s beauty routines. Although fake nails can look lovely and rarely chip, there are a few important things to know about this beauty fad.
Perhaps you’ve heard about what happened to UK-based blogger/influencer, Amelia Perrin. Amelia had worn acrylic nails for about six years straight, with only a few weeks break in all of that time. She got infills every two weeks, and a new set put on once a month. Amelia chose to remove her acrylic nails herself and ended up with what she described as “paper thin” and “painful” nails.
Although you should never try to remove fake nails yourself and always leave it up to the professionals, Amelia’s case does make one wonder about the effects of consistently wearing fake nails. It’s no secret that acrylic nails are packed full of harsh chemicals. Although the FDA has banned the chemical methyl methacrylate, many nail salons get away with still using it. This particular chemical (among others that are still legal) have been linked to respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, and even neurological issues.
Additionally, there have been countless cases of nail salons being busted for unsatisfactory health and safety standards. If the nail tools being used are not properly sterilized before the next person comes in contact with them, they can easily cause nail and skin infections, and in some cases, even blood-borne infections like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
The purpose of this article isn’t to make you deathly afraid of nail salons. However, it is important to acknowledge and understand the potential risks involved with getting fake nails. If regular trips to the nail salon just aren’t something you’re willing to give up, that’s totally fine and totally your choice. However, it’s important to only visit reputable nail salons, and to ensure that the tools being used on you are sterile.
Fake nails can look quite pretty, but not so much if you contract an infection because of them. If you want to keep up with your acrylic nails, just be sure to do your research and stay alert.