Beauty

beauty Caring for your acrylic nails

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THANKS to celebrities like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, who always get photographed showing off extra-long acrylic nails, this popular style isn’t going anywhere, at least not any time soon.

Long nails are a highly requested service that local clients request of nail technician and artist Jordan Rolle as well.

And she welcomes the requests, as she enjoys the ability to exercise her artistic talents on her clients.

Jordan has been pursuing her passion for seven years. Over time, she has designed some intriguing and out-there styles.

“What I love most is about being a nail artist is the fact that God blesses me every day to get up and be creative, and the opportunity to meet new people every day, along with the personal satisfaction that comes with making my clients feel happy and confident,” she said.

Day in and day out, women sit in her chair to have their nails designed. They request all sorts of unique styles - stiletto, almondshaped, square and coffin. What she has seen most, however, are the extra-long nails. And while they may look like a hazard to daily living, she said they are definitely not.

“I don’t think wearing long nails can be life-threatening or harmful. But you must pay attention to what you do while they are on. Be very careful with what you touch or try to lift. Visit your nail technician in the time provided for your fillings to alleviate any pressure on your natural nails and reduce the risk of fungal or bacterial infections,” she said.

Many women who wear acrylic nails sometimes do so at the expense of their natural nails, she added; they do not take care of them as they should. Once in her chair, Jordan said she does her best to educate and encourage women to take good care of their natural nails.

This is especially important for women who tend to wear acrylic nails often.

While they can be beautiful, Jordan said some women neglect to take care of them.

“I do feel a lot of women neglect their natural nails. A full set of acrylics can last anywhere from four to six weeks. But you’ll need to visit your nail technician every two to three weeks to fill in growth. It’s important to take a break every three to six months,” she said. Taking a break from wearing acrylics gives nails a chance to strengthen and rejuvenate. “Acrylics can be harmful in quite a few ways. Some persons can be allergic to the chemicals used to apply acrylics, damage to your acrylics can lead bacterial or fungal infections,” warned Jordan.

“Please refrain from banging your acrylics on anything. This can cause you to dislodge your natural nails from the bed, leading to infections such as germs, yeast or fungus.

Acrylics, Jordan explained, can also weaken natural nail beds without proper removal. “The correct way to removing acrylic nails is to soak them off, with the use of 100 percent acetone,” she said. Some signs that something could be wrong with your nails include discolouration (green, yellow, or white or dark streaks), nails that are brittle, thin or parched, changes in shape, dry or irritated skin around the nails.

The best way to prevent these things from happening is to always practice proper hygiene and care.

This means always keeping one’s nails clean, dry, moisturised, trimming them regularly, avoid using harsh polishes and being gentle on natural nails.

For more information on Jordan Rolle, contact 242-468-9013.