Is It Safe To Keep My Acrylic Nails On For Long Periods Of Time? Ie: A Year Or More...

I am shocked at all of the above comments.  The only person who replied to this girls question who actually knew what they were talking about was the nail technician.  You DO NOT need to have new nails put on every 2, 4, 6, or even 8 weeks.  The general recommendation is 90 days.  Also, whether you get a bacteria or fungus is NOT based on whether the shop you went to was bad or dirty (however, a bad or dirty shop MAY raise the odds of you getting one).  IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOU TO KEEP YOUR NAILS CLEAN AND DRY.  It is not the nail tech's responsibility to babysit you to make sure you wash your hands, keep your nails dry, etc...  As always, you should check for any discoloration, sensitivity, or peeling edges.  I've been getting my nails done for 20 years now and have been doing nails for 17 years.  I have NEVER ran into a problem myself or with any of my clients.  As per keeping the same set on for one year, it is NOT favorable.  I'd never tell anyone to keep them on for more then 3 months without a new set.  However, if you have kept good care of them and have had no problems, I'd say ok.  Just be cautious.  Also, as stated above, don't be scared to ask your nail tech questions.  They should be highly knowledgeable about what they are doing, and willing to answer your questions without a problem.  Hope this helps, and just be cautious and aware of the normals and abnormals.

OK - Nail Tech here.  After reading some of the comments I feel I needed to step up.  First of all - do you have tips with an acrylic overlay or a set of sculptured nail?   Did you go to a licensed salon?  Was it clean and did your tech use properly sanitized implements?  Any Professional should be more than willing to answer your questions without taking offence.  As far as fungus - it is often mistaken for a greenish-brown spot that is on the nail under the acrylic covering the natural nail.  This is a bacterial infection called the "greenies". Artificial nail should be removed and treated.  The spot will have to grow off but it is not contagious and no harm will come from it.  Fungus is another mater all together.  It is very contagious and hard to kill.  I will not treat a fungus in the salon.  I do have a product that works and sell to a client to take home and treat for a 2 week period then re-evaluate.  If it has not cleared then I will refer them to a dermatologist.  Fungus is a Fungus - it is not a bacteria, it is not a virus.  It is a fungus - mold is a fungus.  As far as removing a sculptured nail they should only need to be removed once every 3 or 4 months but can be reapplied immediately.  You should check out the following website www.tammytaylornails.com

I've been wearing acrylic nails for the past three years.  I've had never had a problem with them.  I get a a fill every two weeks, a new set about about every six weeks and I take them off for about three months during the year, usually during the summer when they are exposed to water a lot more. I do everything around my house and even do some gardening and have never had a problem with them. I also make sure I keep a little nail brush to scrub the back of the nail every time I wash my hands. I hope this helps someone.

NO! Fungus can and will set up if you leave them on that long..the normal time for getting complete new sets is every 3 months...it's safe to do up to 3 fill ins.

Just read some answers and some were absolutely hilarious!! Chemicals eating your finger tips. It's nail glue, with close similarities to skin glue, not super glue!! The acrylic should never touch the cuticle, so growth damage shouldn't occur! As for drill buffing, well its a light scraping on the top of the nail to help with keeping the nail adhered for longer, they should not be dig into the nail, looking for treasure as it were.

Keeping sculpered nails on for long periods of time is totally fine as long as up keep is adhered to, the drying of nails, infilling of nails etc its not rocket science really you can you tube lots of info out there, just look for the experienced and reputable nail technicians,

Yes and No. It really depends on the person. Every one is different. For some, the chemicals used to apply the nails burn them, some it does not. I used to wear acrylic nails back in the last 80's for years, until the late 90's When the nail tech did the filing by hand and not a drill. Then they really became a fad and the care and detail that the nail techs were giving started to decline. You should be fine as long as when they drill around your cuticle they don't ding into the nail bed. I used to soak them off and get a new set every 6-9 months. You may have ridges for them drilling every time you get a fill-in .

Make sure when you get a fill-in they use clippers to remove the lift age, on the side and around the cuticle, if you have any from waiting to long to get a fill-in. This will reduce the chances of you getting a fungus due to water being trapped under the new application they've applied. I hope this helps. BLK LADY J...

Well it leaves your natrual nails very flimsy and weak, if you leave them on for ages, so its best not to keep them on for ages.

Everyone here is assuming ask the nail tech a professional person who sees your nails and knows the condition of them would be best right

No, not at all. ESPECIALLY NOT FOR A YEAR OR MORE. You can have fake nails for a year, but you should get them re-filled every month or so. The glue can eat away at your nail and skin.

I have had my nails on for a year, ive been getting my nails done since I was 12 I'm 25 now, ive never had fungus. If you go to a clean salon you will be fine. But if you feel better then take them off every 6 weeks.

Actually you really need to take them off like every two weeks, let your nails breath than get them done again..if you keep fake nails on tho long it WILL eat at your anil and make your nail weak and soft, also it hurts when you touch it. Those people above me are stupid!!! Grant it is cost money to get your ranils done, thats why a lot of girls leave them on forever..but in the long run your natuarl nail is always better.

Hey hay hay, I just want to know who really knows what they are talking about.  You are leaving me and many others confused.  I will have to go with the professional on this one.

I would think that your finger tips would have a chemical reaction to long periods of contact with the glue, and it might eat the tips of your fingers...just an assumption towards the dangers of chemicals

Really you will have to take them off every 6 weeks that is the best way if you leave them on for a year your will damage your nails

I have had mt nails on for 4 months get filled every 2 weeks though I have no fungus ...ewwww I think that has to do with the Salon you go to anyway hope this helps