How Long Does It Take For Nails To Heal After Being Damaged By Acrylics?

There is nothing more relaxing than a spa day — a facial, perhaps a blowout, and you can't forget the nails. But as of late, people have been finding alternatives to the once ubiquitous acrylic nail. Whether they use press-on nails that look like the real thing or forgo a manicure altogether, the main reason is the fear of damaging their real nail underneath. Glam spoke exclusively to Suzie Moskal, founder of Nail Career Education and a master nail technician and educator with 40 years of industry experience under her belt, to discuss how long it takes for your nails to heal and, more importantly, what causes damage in the first place. 

According to Moskal, the healing process is really about waiting for the damaged area to grow out, and Moskal tells us the timeframe is unique to each circumstance. "Fingernails grow about 2 to 3 millimeters a month, so depending on where the damage is, it usually takes about three to six months for a completely new nail to grow in," she says.

For anyone whose nails are already in bad shape, Moskal recommends taking a break from acrylics until the damaged portion is fully grown out. Take that time to give your natural nails some TLC with our top tips on how to get stronger and healthier nails, which include trimming your nails short, avoiding harsh chemicals, and filing them regularly. As for Moskal's tips? "I always recommend using a good cuticle oil to keep the surrounding skin moisturized," she tells us. "Try not to use your nails as tools (although let's be honest ... we all do it sometimes!), and whatever you do, don't pick or peel your acrylics off yourself."

If your nails have already been damaged from acrylic, you may see and feel a range of issues. Surface-level damage can leave your nails thin, brittle, and flaking, though there is the chance for deeper-level issues, like infections or onycholysis, where the nail separates from the nail bed. This is why choosing an exceptional nail technician is crucial to your nails' health — and it's all about technique. "The biggest thing is finding an experienced nail technician who puts the health of your natural nails first," Suzie Moskal says. "Proper preparation, correct application, regular maintenance, and gentle removal are what really keep nails healthy."

Now, you may be wondering how acrylics damage your nails in the first place. Moskal tells us that the acrylic itself doesn't harm your nails (unless you happen to be allergic to acrylic nails, which is possible); it's the application and removal that are the real culprits. "[Damage is] usually caused by improper application, over-filing the natural nail, or removing the product incorrectly," she explains, adding that it's the nail technician, not the acrylics, who has the biggest impact on the health of your nails. "When damage happens, it's almost always because of how the product was applied, maintained, or removed — not because acrylic is inherently damaging," she says.

Moskal assures us that with proper application, you can safely wear acrylics for years — even decades. "Acrylic is an incredible product," she says. "It's the strongest, the most versatile, and it gives technicians the greatest amount of control. But it's also one of the most technically demanding systems to master." So the next time you sit down in the manicure chair, hesitant about damage, just remember it's not the acrylic, it's the application.