What about those artificial nails?
Mar 19, 2010
DO you want long, beautiful and well-shaped nails that will endure the wear and tear of daily tasks? Then artificial nails are the deal for you.
By Titus Serunjogi
DO you want long, beautiful and well-shaped nails that will endure the wear and tear of daily tasks? Then artificial nails are the deal for you.
Artificial nails are ideal for women who bite their nails or have trouble growing them long. They also offer a variety of colours and the polish on them lasts much longer than on natural nails.
Pauline Nakiboneka of Pauline’s Beauty Parlour on Kampala Road says there are artificial nails that suit every taste and offer a variety of colours and shapes.
The cheapest are the plastic stick-on artificial nails. These are simply glued onto the natural nail plate. However, many women ignore them because one cannot be guaranteed to find a set that fits exactly onto the natural nails. They cost sh15,000.
Acrylic nails, also known as sculpted nails, are the most common artificial nails used in Kampala. They are more durable and beautiful. You can have them in any length and colour. A professional manicurist will charge sh35,000 for them. You will need to fill acrylics as your nails grow.
But if you do manual work with your fingers, you may need to see the manicurist more often.
Wraps are the other kind of artificial nails. These are made from pieces of fiber-glass, cut to desired shapes and glued on to the natural nail with strong resins. After wrapping the nail, artificial nail tips are added to enlarge them. Wrap nails can easily be mistaken for natural nails, unlike acrylic nails. They can cost up to sh50,000.
Gel nails are like a jelly that is applied on your natural nails and thereafter dried under ultraviolet light. Besides appearing thin and natural, gel nails can also be shaped and styled as one desires.
One thing you should remember, however, is that gel nails cannot be removed easily – they must grow out and be filed down for removal. This type of artificial nail may not be ideal for those who work a lot on the computer, as constant contact with a keyboard can break the gel seal.
Every beauty procedure has its own risks. If your nails are healthy and look superb, it is not wise to have artificial ones. People who suffer from allergies are advised to refrain from artificial nails because the glue can irritate the skin. If not applied and removed properly, artificial nails can lead to fungal or bacterial infection. Be sure to do your artificials at a professional beauty parlour.
Tips for the best artificial nails:
Consult a professonal manicurist to find out what type of fake nails are best for you.
If your nails have accidentally been pulled off, do not try to glue them yourself. Visit a professional manicurist.
Apply nail and cuticle oil daily. Do not use acetone polish remover on artificial nails.
Applying fake nails properly takes a lot of practice; if you decide to apply artificial nails at home, follow instructions carefully. If you want to remove the artificial nails at home, you should soak your fingers in a nail soak for approximately 40 minutes.
Disinfect your nail tools and never share them.
Never apply artificial nails on infected or irritated nails.
Never wear artificial nails more than three months as it will damage your natural nails.
DO you want long, beautiful and well-shaped nails that will endure the wear and tear of daily tasks? Then artificial nails are the deal for you.
Artificial nails are ideal for women who bite their nails or have trouble growing them long. They also offer a variety of colours and the polish on them lasts much longer than on natural nails.
Pauline Nakiboneka of Pauline’s Beauty Parlour on Kampala Road says there are artificial nails that suit every taste and offer a variety of colours and shapes.
The cheapest are the plastic stick-on artificial nails. These are simply glued onto the natural nail plate. However, many women ignore them because one cannot be guaranteed to find a set that fits exactly onto the natural nails. They cost sh15,000.
Acrylic nails, also known as sculpted nails, are the most common artificial nails used in Kampala. They are more durable and beautiful. You can have them in any length and colour. A professional manicurist will charge sh35,000 for them. You will need to fill acrylics as your nails grow.
But if you do manual work with your fingers, you may need to see the manicurist more often.
Wraps are the other kind of artificial nails. These are made from pieces of fiber-glass, cut to desired shapes and glued on to the natural nail with strong resins. After wrapping the nail, artificial nail tips are added to enlarge them. Wrap nails can easily be mistaken for natural nails, unlike acrylic nails. They can cost up to sh50,000.
Gel nails are like a jelly that is applied on your natural nails and thereafter dried under ultraviolet light. Besides appearing thin and natural, gel nails can also be shaped and styled as one desires.
One thing you should remember, however, is that gel nails cannot be removed easily – they must grow out and be filed down for removal. This type of artificial nail may not be ideal for those who work a lot on the computer, as constant contact with a keyboard can break the gel seal.
Every beauty procedure has its own risks. If your nails are healthy and look superb, it is not wise to have artificial ones. People who suffer from allergies are advised to refrain from artificial nails because the glue can irritate the skin. If not applied and removed properly, artificial nails can lead to fungal or bacterial infection. Be sure to do your artificials at a professional beauty parlour.
Tips for the best artificial nails:
Consult a professonal manicurist to find out what type of fake nails are best for you.
If your nails have accidentally been pulled off, do not try to glue them yourself. Visit a professional manicurist.
Apply nail and cuticle oil daily. Do not use acetone polish remover on artificial nails.
Applying fake nails properly takes a lot of practice; if you decide to apply artificial nails at home, follow instructions carefully. If you want to remove the artificial nails at home, you should soak your fingers in a nail soak for approximately 40 minutes.
Disinfect your nail tools and never share them.
Never apply artificial nails on infected or irritated nails.
Never wear artificial nails more than three months as it will damage your natural nails.