You love acrylic nails because they are long-lasting, durable, and you can add amazing length to your natural nail with them. But there are also a few downsides to having acrylics, such as the fact that they make it very difficult to type.
This is problematic for most people because whether you work or are a student, you probably use a computer in some capacity on an almost daily basis. The worst part about typing with acrylics is that many people will have to type more slowly, which can affect your words per minute count. If you are in an office-based job that relies heavily on typing, this might be a problem.
The truth is, you pretty much have to re-learn how to type when you get acrylic nails. It’s not hard to do, but it does take some getting used to and a bit of practice. Once you’ve had acrylics for a while, you will become a pro, and you will be able to type with ease. At first, it will probably take a few tries to get the hang of things. The reason for this is that you have to type in a different way than you would without acrylics, which we will discuss in more detail later.
In this article, we will give you a step-by-step guide to typing with acrylic nails. We will also include some tips and tricks to make things easier for you (or tips to pass along to your clients). V Beauty Pure has got all the acrylic powder and tools you need to create gorgeous, long-lasting acrylic nail designs. Keep reading to learn how to become an amazing typer and still look cute with your acrylic nails.
First Thing’s First: What Are Acrylic Nails?
As you may or may not know, acrylic nails are a type of artificial nail that helps to add length to your nails. They are a great option for those who have naturally short nails or those who just can’t grow their nails out without breaking one (or all) of them. They are more expensive than gel polish or regular polish, and this is because of how long the application process takes. It’s imperative that you learn how to properly apply acrylics because if they are done incorrectly, they can cause a lot of damage to the nails. They also require regular maintenance, even though they do last for a long time.
Acrylic nails are made from a powder and liquid monomer. These two elements are combined to make a dough-like polymer that is applied to your nails with a brush. Unlike gel polish, it does not need a lamp to set/cure. Instead, you let it air dry. People love acrylics because they can dramatically change the shape of your nail while also adding a substantial amount of length, which is great for those with short or long nails.
Acrylics are perfectly safe to get frequently, but the risk factor comes into play if the nail technician is not properly trained in the application technique. As we mentioned, improper application leads to damage such as cracked, broken, and weak nails. Nail techs will add tips to your nails and adjust the length as needed/desired. It is helpful to use nail forms if you are trying to achieve a look that is more natural. It also just makes the whole application process easier and ensures all the nails are exactly the same in shape. Forms are a more advanced process, so nail technicians that use forms typically have more advanced skills than technicians who don’t offer them.
Besides the application process, they are really the same as gel or regular polish. You must soak them in acetone to dissolve them off. You can also apply gel or regular polish to them, which is an added bonus. Depending on the quality of the acrylic and how well it holds up, you can go anywhere from 3-8 weeks before needing a new set of acrylics applied.
Guide to Typing With Acrylic Nails
So, you now know exactly what acrylic is and how it works. Now, let’s get back to the topic at hand, which is typing with acrylics. Here’s the best tip, trick, or secret anyone can give you when it comes to typing with acrylic nails: you have to learn to type with your fingers and not your nails. This can be difficult for some people because when we learn to type, we arch our fingers and use the tips of our nails to type. After a while, this becomes a muscle memory reaction that can be hard to unlearn.
First things first, consider how long you really want your acrylics to be. There’s really no need to have them absurdly long unless you have an event that you need long nails to go with your outfit. Super long nails can make more things difficult than just typing, such as eating, going to the bathroom, and texting. Plus, have you ever tried to open a package with crazy long nails? It’s impossible!
The other thing to consider, which not many people do, is the shape of your nail. The shape actually does have an effect on how easily you can type and might be more important than the length. There are a couple of shapes that are easier to type with than others. These include oval and flat-shaped nails, such as a square shape. The nail shapes that are the hardest to type with are sharp-edged shapes and pointy shapes, such as the almond or cat nail shape.
After you make sure your nails are a reasonable length and the proper shape, you can re-learn how to type while using acrylics. The first step is to practice typing with your fingers and not your nails, which is a bit harder than it sounds. When you type with acrylics and need to use the tips of your fingers, you have to straighten out your fingers to type. You will likely not have a problem using your thumbs and pinky fingers in this way because they stay straight most of the time anyway.
The hard part is straightening out your three inner fingers, which have the natural tendency to bend when you are typing. One tip for making this easier is to adjust your posture (sit up straight) and have your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. Remember, typing with your nails is not only uncomfortable, but it can also damage and break acrylic nails after a short period of time.
Practice Makes Perfect
Here’s another tip for you: practice makes perfect when you are doing anything new, and the same applies to typing with acrylics. Start by doing simpler tasks such as responding to a few emails or writing something for your social media. Do this a few times until you start to get the hang of typing with your fingers. Then, you can move on to trying something a bit more challenging, such as typing up a work or homework assignment. Take a break when you need to, then refocus and just keep typing.
The last piece of advice we can give you is to slow down, especially when you are starting out. This is what the biggest issue is for people with acrylic nails. They have to type at a slower speed than they are normally used to, which may not be ideal for those who have a heavy workload on the computer. This is why we recommend you start slow and try typing in your free time before you get back to work.
Conclusion
While it might be difficult at first, you should be able to get the hang of typing with acrylic nails in no time. It really does take just a bit of practice and readjusting before you’re able to type at your normal speed. It’s important to type using your fingers instead of your nails because typing with your nails can cause damage to the acrylics.
Acrylics are strong and durable, which is why many people choose them. They last longer than gel polish, and they help to give you long and beautiful nails. Just make sure you know how to properly apply them, or they can cause damage, which is never good. Make sure you check out all of our acrylic options at V Beauty Pure when you are ready to try out acrylics!
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