The wearing of acrylic nails has been a fashion trend among women since their origins in the late 20th century. Why? Acrylic nails offer the wearer the option to artificially lengthen her own nails at an affordable cost. Also, the designs and shapes of acrylic nails are vast letting a woman who wears them to flaunt her own individual style. So what’s the catch? The catch is in the home care of acrylic nails. Some women just don’t know what to do after they leave the nail shop.Lifting, splitting and fungi are often repercussions of the poor, home care of acrylic nails. As a result, it’s important for the wearer to understand how to care for them. Here are a few tips.

Keep your acrylic nails dry.Water and acrylic do not mix. The combination not only causes lifting, it also leads to bacteria and fungi. All of these outcomes are undesirable. So how do you combat them? By keeping your acrylic nails dry. You do it by towel drying thoroughly after every hand wash, dip in the pool and soak in the tub. It is the only way to prevent water from seeping underneath the acrylic and onto your nails where it can do the most damage.

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.Bacteria are the demise for many women who wear acrylic nails. Bacterium that attacks the nail bed will discolor and deteriorate it causing longstanding or permanent damage. As a result, performing any act that can prevent its growth is vital. For this reason, it’s best to wash your hands with antibacterial soap. It’s the easiest way to give your self an ounce of (bacterium) prevention several times a day.

Wear rubber gloves while doing household chores.Whether you are washing dishes or mopping the floor, it’s important to wear rubber gloves if you have acrylic nails. Rubber gloves will protect your hands and nails and prevent any painful accidents like snags, chips or splitting. So be sure to wear them every time you do a chore and keep at least two in your household inventory.

Swab your nails with alcohol each day before bedtime.Before you go to bed at night, swab under and around your nails with alcohol. It will help cleanse your nail of any dirt or bacteria. If your nails look a little cloudy afterwards, you can always finish them off again with clear white polish in the morning.

Visit the nail shop for repairs after an accident.If you accidentally chip off part of your acrylic nail or lift the bed, visit the nail shop immediately for a fix. Why? Chips and splits open the door for fungi because water will be able to seep in between your nail and the acrylic more easily. So, it's important to get an immediate repair. Also, a nail technician will be able to positively advise you need completely remove the acrylic nail and/or visit a doctor.