Last Updated on September 21, 2022 by SulaBeauty Staff
If you’re like many women, you love acrylic nails because they look beautiful and make your hands look more polished. But sometimes, the very first day after getting acrylic nails applied, they can feel sore or even hurt.
So what’s going on? Why do our acrylic nails sometimes hurt? And is there anything we can do about it?
The prep of your natural nails followed by the application of acrylic nails is arguably the primary reason for these sore nails. To ensure that the nail bed is totally prepared to apply the acrylic nail and minimize the discomfort after the manicure, the nail technician should smooth up the nail and prepare cuticles too.
Another reason for this sensation is that it requires a while for the acrylic nail to bind and form a shield over the natural nail after it is placed.
The annoying soreness will go away once the acrylic nails have had time to sit down. There are many more reasons why the nails are sore the first day you apply acrylics.
If you’ve ever felt this kind of discomfort, keep reading to see what’s causing it.
What Causes Nails to Feel Sore After Getting Acrylics?
It’s important to remember that even if you have had your acrylic nails done by professional nail technicians, soreness is common just after they’re applied. Luckily, the soreness will be gone in a few hours or so.
Acrylic nails feel sore on the first day for several reasons. Here we will discuss some of the important reasons for acrylic nail pain.
Filed Down Natural Nails
To ensure that acrylic nails remain for a longer period of time, the nail technician should polish and shape the natural nails with a nail file. The manicurist will need to file the base of the natural nails to leave it a little coarser for good bonding with the acrylics.
You may experience some soreness and extreme sensitivity if you are not used to getting your nails shaped to such depth. Apart from sometimes when there is a short or long-term injury to the natural nail, the pain should fade away as your natural nails start growing their base.
It’s possible for nail technicians to go too far while filing. This is frequently the outcome of having a procedure performed by an untrained technician.
Thick Acrylic Nail
A small amount of the product is only necessary when your nail technician puts acrylic on natural nails and the base of the fingernail. It is not required to use too much acrylic on the nails. The extra acrylic just lends bulk to the natural nails that aren’t necessary.
Since your natural nails aren’t used to so much thickness, the additional substance will lead to irritation and minor soreness. Getting thicker fake nails can cause you to experience some soreness the first day and fades away as you become accustomed to getting them joined to your real nails.
Applying Too Much Pressure While Fixing Acrylic Nails
It’s not uncommon to find a nail technician who is unable to prepare or fix the nails for a manicure. When a nail technician is heavy-handed, they may exert far too much pressure on your fingertips.
The added pressure isn’t anything they do on purpose, but it can cause you to feel uneasy after you’ve done your acrylic nails. When it comes to acrylic nails, using greater pressure than is needed might cause sore nails which can last down to a whole day.
If you experience quite so much pressure while having your nails done, please certainly tell your nail technician and let them know before they proceed further.
First Time Applying Fake Nails
For people who do not get their manicures done very regularly, their nail bed will obviously not be comfortable with having acrylics on it. It feels heavy and induces minor soreness, comparable to having pressure put on the nail beds.
The same can be said for those who only get their nails done once in a while. The irritation is usually not felt by those who apply acrylics on a daily basis. Whether you are uncomfortable or in pain, the body adapts to this level of pain in less than a day.
Recently Pushed Back Cuticles
Several nail technicians will use cuticle pliers to push back the cuticles and remove the excess skin surrounding the nails to provide space for the acrylic to fit securely and look natural prior to gluing the acrylics to the nails.
For some hours, when the cuticles are pushed back and the excess skin on the sides of the fingernails is peeled away, you may experience some irritation.
Before stroking back the cuticles, manicurists tend to apply cuticle oil. They do the same thing after they’ve fixed the acrylic to assist relieve soreness and speed up recovery.
Naturally Thin Nails
Naturally thin nails are pretty common. If you realize your natural nails are really thin, it’s likely that it might not be comfortable to get acrylics.
The additional pressure of a manicure tip and acrylic on top of the normal nail bed may make you feel slightly uneasy for a day.
Nail Glue
Some types of adhesive are not suitable to be used on the fingernails. When putting the tip of the manicure on the nail plate, the nail tech must use the correct sort of nail glue.
Poor glue can irritate the nail bed, causing discomfort, soreness, and itching. You should be fine if you’re not allergic to the glue being used by manicurists. If not an allergy, this acute pain will only last a few hours to a day, and you will be alright.
Also read: How to Get Nail Glue Off Your Nails
How to Stop Acrylic Nails From Hurting
While there’s not really much you can do to stop the acrylic nails hurt, there are some steps you should do to assure the pain doesn’t stay more than it should.
1. Hydrating your hands and nails can help to reduce the pain. Apply aloe vera gel or cuticle oil on the skin around the nails to soften them and hurt less. It will heal faster from the filing and pressure of acrylic nails if you do this.
2. To relieve pain from the sore nails, you can dip your fingertips in cold water for 5 mins. Coldwater will not loosen your acrylic nails or lift them, but it will relax the skin around and ease the pain.
3. If you feel like the nail technician has been harsh on the natural nails and the procedure was not appropriately done, surely let the technician know. You should get rid of the acrylic nails if the soreness and pain persist for more than a day. A skilled technician must know How long does it take to get acrylic nails put on?
How Long Should You Wear Acrylic Nails?
Acrylic nails can only be worn for six to eight weeks at a time, including infills per 2 – 3 weeks.
A decent set of acrylics that are kept up to date with the proper quantity of infills can last up to two months, or even more. It’s important, though, to let your natural nails take a break from a manicure.
Because acrylic nails damage your nails, taking a break allows them to regenerate and rebuild strength. While acrylic nails can last much more than this span of time, it is not recommended to go beyond six to eight weeks of time.
How Long Does It Take to Get Used to Acrylics?
It can take a little time to adjust to artificial nails if you’ve never had them. This could need you two to three days to just get on with artificial nails and adjust to daily life with them.
To get accustomed to acrylic nails, starting with a shorter yet functional size and thickness is a good idea. This is a way to learn if you really like the way they look at you while still being able to perform regular chores.
After you are comfortable wearing acrylic nails, you can try longer shapes and different styles.
How Long Will My Nails Hurt After Getting Acrylics?
It should only hurt for around 24 hours after getting acrylic nails done. The soreness should subside once your nails have had time to sit back and heal from the harsh filling.
But, if this is your first time getting your nails done and your nails have never been exposed to such a procedure, the discomfort may last a bit longer.
If the pain persists after a few days and does not improve, it is recommended that you visit a doctor, as there may be a more serious problem with your natural nail.
Is There a Similar, Yet Less Painful Alternative to Acrylics?
If the discomfort bothers you, you can still have beautiful nails by choosing alternatives to acrylic nails.
Gel nail extensions are comparable to acrylics but are less painful. You can choose from a number of shapes and styles in gel form.
Fiberglass nails and dip powder nails are two further alternatives to acrylic nails.
The most cost-effective and pain-free way to create gorgeous artificial nails is to use press-on nails.
Summary
Acrylic nails are a great way to freshen up your look. It’s fine to be uneasy once they’ve been applied for the first time.
But there are a variety of other reasons as to why you can feel soreness, and it’s important to figure out what’s causing it, so it doesn’t become a long-term issue.
It may be the salon’s fault or the fact that you are a newbie to false nails. You should have no problems as long as you talk with your manicurist about what feels normal and what feels excessive.