10 Things No One Tells You About Having Acrylic Nails | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 Things No One Tells You About Having Acrylic Nails

Sure they're pretty, but we all neglect to tell our girlfriends about what you should expect when you invest in a pair of claws.

6178
10 Things No One Tells You About Having Acrylic Nails
Eco Fashioned

Acrylic nails have been a pinnacle of women's style for years. It seems like we all have one friend we envy because of their perfectly shaped and painted, artificial claws. And while we drool over their pretty hands, they never seem to disclose the dirty details of living with acrylics, because trust me it's not always as picture-perfect as it seems to be. So whether you're solely dedicated to au natural nails or you're considering getting you're on pair of acrylics, I'm here to tell you some things no one tells you about having acrylic nails, that I've learned through having them myself.

1. Tasks You Took For Granted Become Impossible.

Want to clasp your necklace? Not going to happen. Need to open a can of soup with a pop tab? Good luck. Want to pull a flat thumbtack off your bulletin board? Nope. Picking up a lucky penny off the ground? You thought.

Simple tasks such as these become virtually impossible with long acrylics nails, because you no longer have the luxury of using the tips of your fingers to grasp objects.

2. You Have to Re-Learn To Do A Lot.

How you hold a pen or an eyeliner crayon, type, text, putting in contact lens, button your shirt, washing your hair, even wiping your bum (TMI but so true) changes with acrylics. It's not like these things are off-limits, you'll just find them challenging the first week or so of having claws on. After a while you learn to live with them and you adjust, but the learning curve is strong. Speaking of typing...

3. Typing Will Become Exponentially Louder.

If the sound of loud typing gets under your skin you may want to reconsider getting acrylic nails. Your nails will inevitably hit your keys and people will hear you typing from a mile away. However, there are ways around this, such as silicone keyboard covers. Or if you're like me, and enjoy shamelessly drawing attention to yourself, type on girlfriend!

4. Cats and Dogs Become Your Best-Friend.

Something about having fake nails makes you BFFs with any animal that enjoys pets. You can feel the waves of love coming off an animal you start scratch when you have fake nails. Dogs and cats love a person with acrylics nails, and I can attest to this because the neighborhood cat on my campus used to only let me pet him for a few seconds before walking away. Now he actively seeks me out when I walk by his hang out spot. We're BFF Goals now.

5. Your Nails are a Great Excuse to Get Out of Doing Things You Don't Want To.

"I can't because I have acrylic nails," is the best excuse for getting out of unwanted tasks. Whether it's getting out of a rock-climbing date with a creepy OkCupid guy, or taking batteries out of your electronics, you can virtually use this excuse for anything. You're welcome.

6. Upkeep is a Commitment.

Having acrylics means you have to go to your nail salon every 2-3 weeks to get a fill so they stay in top condition. Not getting fills can make them weak and easily break, which is probably the worst thing to ever experience next to a spinal tap. Keeping up with your nails means you have to have the funds and time to get them done. However, I find this trip to the salon very relaxing. It's an opportunity for me to think about nothing but myself for an hour.

7. Your Collection of Nail Polish Becomes Useless To You.

Whenever you get a fill the nail technician will also change your nail polish color. Nail polish last an insanely long time on acrylic nails compared to it on natural nails. This means typically your nails will look great from the time you get a fresh coat to the next time you need a fill. You probably won't find yourself painting your own nails often, which means all that nail polish you've accumulated is rendered useless to you.

8. You'll Feel 100 Times More Sexy Running Your Nails On the Skin of Your Partner.

This is about as close as you'll ever be to feeling like a million dollar porn star. If you try to tell me you've never dreamed of giving someone chills by running perfectly shaped nails over their skin, you're a liar. Acrylic nails on bare skin make people go wild.

9. People Will Always Comment On Them.

When people see well-kept nails, they know you're invested in them. Like any visible investment, people feel the need to validate it to you. I've been in the middle of completely unrelated conversations and had people stop me to tell me my nails are pretty. It honestly never gets old (As stated in point 3, I'm an attention addict). But if you don't like drawing attention to yourself, maybe you shouldn't get acrylics. Or, on the flip side, maybe you should because it might help you become comfortable with getting compliments!

10. There's Always Something Stuck Under Them.

It's really gross, I know, but stuff gets under them so much more than natural nails. Makeup, food, dirt, paints, you name it, and it’ll get under there. But as long as you wash your hands, you'll be fine. I suggest investing in a nailbrush and keeping it with you. It helps make you feel like a hygienic human being, and when you pull out a nailbrush in a public restroom, people look at you like "damn that girl really has her life together." You're welcome to flip your hair after you leave said public restroom too because of this.

Overall acrylic nails are an investment and a decision only you can make for yourself. They come with some great advantages but also some annoyances. If you really want them, and end up falling in love with the look of them, the negatives of them become much more bearable.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

18961
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Students walking on a sunny college campus with trees and buildings.

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

8048
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

5878
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Signs You Live At The Library As Told by 'Parks And Recreation'

A few signs that you may live in the library whether you'd like to admit it or not.

5090
brown wooden book shelves with books

Finals week is upon us. It is a magical time of year during which college students everywhere flock to the library in attempt to learn a semester's worth of knowledge in only a week. For some students, it's their first time in the library all semester, maybe ever. Others have slaved away many nights under the fluorescent lights, and are slightly annoyed to find their study space being invaded by amateurs. While these newbies wander aimlessly around the first floor, hopelessly trying to find a table, the OGs of the library are already on the third floor long tables deep into their studies. Here is a few signs that you may live in the library, whether you'd like to admit it or not.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments