To clean under acrylic nails, you can follow these steps:
- Wear gloves while you clean or bathe to prevent dirt from getting under your nails. Latex or rubber gloves work best.
- Dip a soft-bristled nail brush into a cup of warm, soapy water. Tap out any excess water.
- Move the brush back and forth under the nail to remove dirt. Be gentle, however, so that you do not weaken the glue. Do not press hard against the underside of the nail. Instead, just sweep the brush back and forth. A soft toothbrush may also work.
- Soak the sponge in warm water, and gently scrub around the nail to remove any remaining glue.
- Polish the top of the nail with a nail brush if the glue is still visible.
It is also important to keep your acrylic nails clean and well-maintained to prevent infections. Here are some additional tips:
- Visit the nail salon to touch up the nails every 2 to 3 weeks. Gaps that appear between the acrylic and natural nail can cause infections. Your salon can prevent this by filling in the gaps or reattaching loose nails.
- Replace nails after 3 months. Acrylic nails can attract more dirt and grime the longer that you wear them. To prevent fungal infections and dirty nails, get rid of the nails after 3 months. Let your natural nails rest for a month before applying new acrylic nails to them. This will keep them clean and prevent damage that can cause infections.
It is also important to keep your nail brushes clean to prevent the spread of bacteria and infections. Here are some tips for cleaning acrylic and gel nail brushes:
- After every use, wipe your nail brushes with a lint-free cloth and some monomer. Monomer, or acrylic nail liquid, is often preferred over brush cleaners because it is much gentler on the bristles.
- If you have more stubborn product build-up, fill a shallow dish with some monomer nail liquid and soak the brush for a few minutes. Then, gently wipe the brush with a lint-free cloth.
- If you have invested in natural hair acrylic nail brushes, do not use acetone to clean them. Acetone is too harsh for them and will dehydrate the strands. Instead, use monomer to clean natural brushes.
Finally, it is important to maintain good nail hygiene to prevent the spread of infections. Here are some tips from the CDC:
- Keep nails short and trim them often.
- Scrub the underside of nails with soap and water (or a nail brush) every time you wash your hands.
- Clean any nail grooming tools before use.
- Avoid biting or chewing nails.
- Avoid cutting cuticles, as they act as barriers to prevent infection.
- Never rip or bite a hangnail. Instead, clip it with a clean, sanitized nail trimmer.
