#HipHop4Her: The Real on Fake Nails

Ladies, I have a confession. Bold fake nails, at times heavy on the design, is one of my guilty pleasures. I mean, the upkeep is continuous, costing me a few hundred every year, putting on jewelry is a pain, and sometimes they can bring a few ignorant judgements from onlookers, but long story short, I don’t care, it’s worth it to me. 

One thing that does concern me though, is my health, and with all the speculation regarding the toxins associated with gel nails, I was a little weary about acrylics. I decided to do some research. 

Most of my research was done online, using nail specialist, as well as certified M.D’s, (Mayo Clinic) both who repeatedly said the same thing. Acrylics, when done by a professional in a clean environment with clean tools, and maintained efficiently, are safe. 

There are some vulnerabilities though, one, the liquid being used in conjunction with the acrylic powder should always be EMA (ethyl methacrylate) as opposed to MMA (methylmethacrylate) Fortunately though, the FDA has banned the use of this ingredient in salons since the 1970’s. (NSI Nails) It doesn’t hurt to double check though ladies, ask your technician what they’re using, and hold them accountable for practicing safe treatments. 

Another vulnerability is not maintaining your acrylics. The longer you wait in between fills, the nails weaken and can begin to lose grip. This increases the possibility of infection between your nail and the acrylic. This space is warm and fungus can prosper here if the opportunity arises because an individual is not addressing their nails properly. 

Other issues arise in initial application. A lot of technicians grind down your natural nail with drills to aid in adhesion between your nail and the acrylic. This is the cause of weak nails when acrylics are removed. There are techniques to applying nails that don’t necessarily cause intense damage to your natural nail, and will allow them to maintain under acrylics as well as when the acrylics come off. 

Overall the best approach you can take to ensure premium techniques and ingredients are used is to research your technician. Ask questions, and be informed, because nobody will look out for your body and health the way you can yourself. Be proactive, and wear them nails girl. I know I will. 

Ashley Avery| IG: @Averyashlay | Twitter: @Averyashlay