Can I File Acrylic Nails

Download Article

Acrylic nails tin can be a great way to add length and shape to your manicure, but tin can become frustrating if they're as well long. To save some time and money, you can cut your acrylic nails at home in between salon visits. Only be sure to follow a few easy guidelines to avoid damaging or shattering the acrylic.

one
Determine how long you lot'd similar your nails to exist. Earlier you start cutting, think nearly how much you lot want to take off. If you don't want to reduce the length very much, you can skip using a boom clipper and just file it down instead.^[1]
- Not sure exactly how short you want to go? Start with a modest cut. You can always cut or file your nails shorter afterwards on.^[ii]
- If you'd rather only use a file, start filing from the sides of the nail towards the centre. Acrylics are fairly tough, and so use a coarse (around 100 grit) or medium (180-220 grit) file and opt for emery board or metal file to shorten your nails more apace.^[3]
ii
Position the clippers on the exterior of the nail and cut towards the middle. Use the edge of the clipper on the edge of your nail to make a small cutting towards the centre. Effort to bending the clippers diagonally upward towards the heart of the nail, so there is a small point at the center.^[4]
- Don't employ pair of scissors, which tin use uneven pressure to different parts of your nail, causing the acrylic to fissure.^[five]
- If your regular nail clipper isn't strong enough to cut through the thicker acrylic nails, try using toenail clippers, which are generally larger and provide more leverage.^[6]
Advertisement
three
Cut towards the middle of the acrylic on the other side. Use the clippers to mirror the cut on the other side of the nail, coming together at a point the eye of the boom. This ii-pace process will assist to keep your acrylic nails from breaking or shattering.^[7]
- The center of the acrylic nail is a stress betoken that, if cut directly, could cause the whole piece to split. By budgeted it from both sides, you minimize the gamble of ruining the nail.
iv
Remove the cutting tip by pulling with your fingers. The cut acrylic tip likely won't fall off on its own, despite existence detached. Endeavor gently pulling or bending the cut portion back to remove it, but end and go to a nail technician if yous feel the nail starting to crevice vertically.^[viii]
- You may demand to apply the boom clippers to re-cut portions of the acrylic if you find information technology's still attached in some places.
Advertisement

ane
Thin out your nails using a smash file or motorized nail grinder. After y'all cut your acrylic nails, they will likely be thicker than you want. You can sparse them out using a motorized nail grinder if you take ane, or simply use a regular nail file for like results.^[9]
- Sparse with the grinder or file on height of the acrylic blast rather than underneath it.
2
Use a nail file to smooth out jagged edges. As you did with the blast clippers, commencement filing from the sides of the blast towards the eye. Acrylics are fairly tough so feel free to move quickly at first. You'll demand to slow downwardly when you focus on shaping.^[10]
- Acrylic nails are much thicker than real nails, so filing them down will take longer. Be patient and don't blitz, otherwise y'all'll risk uneven or too-brusque results.^[11]
- Opt for an emery board or metal file rather than glass options. Their rougher textures will make working on acrylics much faster.^[12]
- Employ a fibroid file (around 100 grit) to reduce the length of acrylic nails quickly or endeavour a medium file (180-220 dust) board for more command.^[13]
three
File the tips of your acrylic nails into your desired shape. Switch to a medium (180-220 dust) or fine (400-600 grit) file to shape the tips of your nails into the desired look.^[14] Three of the almost common nail shapes include foursquare, oval, and squoval (a mix between oval and square), but you can also endeavor a classic round, trendy stiletto, or interesting almond shape.^[15]
- To effigy out what nail shape will look all-time on yous, try looking at the shape of your cuticles. If they are rounded or curved, a round nail is a good bet. If they're more angled, a square shape would probably look nice.^[sixteen]
Advertisement

1
Rinse and dry out your hands to remove acrylic grit. Filing downward acrylic can exit a fine grit on your fingers. Use warm water to rinse information technology off before painting your nails so y'all don't finish up with a bumpy manicure.
- Make certain your nails are fully dry in order to prevent moisture from getting trapped under the smooth and causing information technology to elevator or chip.^[17]
ii
Paint 1 coat of nail polish in a color that matches your acrylics. Utilize 1 even coat across the nail and along the outer border to seal and add together strength to your nails. This will too help comprehend upwardly small imperfections caused by trimming or shaping.^[eighteen]
- If you don't have a color that matches your acrylics, try a clear top coat for a similarly finished result.
- To make your nails look longer, extend the nail polish all the way to the cuticle. Employ a cotton wool swab to clean up whatsoever smoothen that gets on your pare.^[19]
3
Let the polish dry out fully to avoid smudges and dents. Give your nails twenty minutes to an hour to dry completely and avert ruining your freshly painted manicure. Smooth more vi months old can take even longer to fully dry out, then endeavour to use newer bottles for quicker dry times.^[20]
- In a hurry? To dry painted nails faster, endeavor dipping them in a bath of ice water, diggings them with a hair dryer on the cool setting, or using a store-bought drying liquid.
Advertizement

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your electronic mail accost to go a message when this question is answered.

Submit

If yous have a gel manicure on your acrylics, avoid shortening them yourself. Cut into gel shine removes the seal and allows water to get betwixt the polish and your smash. This tin cause the gel to elevator off and ruin your entire manicure. Instead, caput back to the nail salon where they can safely remove the polish and trim your nails. ^[21]
Rub cuticle oil into the skin effectually your nails when you lot're finished to keep your cuticles hydrated and good for you-looking.^[22]

Advertising

If, while cutting your acrylic nails, you feel them offset to split vertically, stop and visit a boom technician for a repair. Otherwise, you gamble ruining your manicure and potentially damaging your natural nail.^[23]
Avoid putting unnecessary stress on your acrylic nails so they don't break.^[24]