Are My Nails too Short for Acrylics? Overlay on Short Bitten Nails

My nails are not naturally short but I have a nasty habit of biting them. Now Pinterest is making me crazy with those stunning acrylic nails and I want them badly. So, I visited a professional nail salon with one desperate question, ‘are my nails too short for acrylics?’

The good news is that even short nails can enjoy the benefits of acrylics. With the right manicurist, you can dress up your short nails with some stunning acrylic overlays. Here, I will discuss, all that you have to know about acrylics on short/bitten nails to make sure you get your nails done according to your style and choice. 

Can you get acrylics with short nails?

Yes, you can get acrylics with short nails. Acrylic manicure is the best option for those who have small nail beds or a nasty habit of biting nails.

Short Bitten Nails Can Enjoy Acrylic Because…

The acrylic overlay is done on natural nails having a healthy nail bed, sidewalls, and cuticle area hence it does not matter how short or long your nails are. As long as your nail bed is not affected by the bitting, brittleness, or any other health issues, your short nails can enjoy acrylic.

Here is an example of short nails with a healthy nail bed.

Usually bitters bit the freed edge and the smile line of the nails; the nail bed, sidewalls, and cuticle remain safe.

It is also the case for brittle, fragile nails as shown in the above image. But some brittle nails have peeled nail beds that need care and time to grow back and then you can enjoy acrylic overlay on your short nails.

Read: Best Acrylic Nail Kits At-home for Beginners

Can they put acrylics on Short & Bitten nails?

If you have really short nails genetically or you have an unhealthy habit of biting nails, you still can have an acrylic manicure.

Here is an example of bitten and fragile nails. The smile line and free edge are gone because of biting. But the short nails still have a healthy cuticle, nail bed, and sidewalls. So, these nails can get acrylic manicures easily. If your nails have all of them, you can get acrylics too.

But acrylic overlay would be the best option for small bitten nails like these if you want a long-lasting manicure. As for acrylic or any other fake tips you need a wider nail bed like this one. For small nail beds, the problem is that the tip may peel off soon as usually, the nail bed becomes unable to hold the weight of the fake tips.

How short or long can your nails be to get acrylics?

When you have naturally short nails but want to experience the magic of nail manicures, you may often wonder if your nails are too short for sporting acrylics.

So, how short or long do your nails need to be to get acrylics?

In the case of an acrylic overlay, there is no minimum length of the natural nail required to get the manicure. Since the application does not involve the attachment of any artificial tip on the natural nails, even shorter nails can flaunt acrylics. You just need to ensure that the acrylic is applied to your nails properly to avoid peeling off.

Applying Nail Tips to Short Nails

Can you put tips on bitten nails? This is the biggest question for nail biters.

Yes, you can apply nail tips on short-bitten nails but it is not recommended. Rather go for acrylic overlay. Acrylic or any other tip application requires your nails to have a wide healthy nail bed, cuticle area, and sidewalls. Small nail beds cannot bear the weight of fake tips for long as a result even if you get tips on extremely short bitten nails, it will not last long. Moreover, it will be bad for your natural nails. Overlay on the other hand is the process of gradually building layers of acrylic and finally achieving a long and beautiful nail. Clearly, it is a much more healthy, safe, and practical choice for nail biters than tips.

Read: Best Nail Extensions for Short Bitten Nails

Acrylic Overlay for Short Nails…

The application of acrylic involves combining powder and liquid. Your manicurist will apply the mixture to the entire nail bed and also file your nails to smoothen out any rough edges. Moreover, you can opt for nail art to decorate the acrylic and make it look even more stunning. 

Acrylics have the power to transform your boring nails instantly. They also make your nails look healthier, longer, and thicker. It is safe to say that with the numerous design options available, almost everyone can try out acrylics.

Most people who have a habit of biting their nails or cannot grow their nails naturally are afraid of trying out acrylics. If you are a beginner, getting acrylics can be extremely overwhelming. So let’s look at some of the common concerns regarding acrylics and short nails.

Also, if you don’t want to pay the hefty salon fees for doing and maintaining acrylic nails, you can check out this article on beginner-friendly at-home acrylic kits. To beautify short bitten nails an acrylic kit is a must-have.

How Acrylic Overlay is done on Short Bitten Nails?

Acrylic Overlay on short nails is an easy process but a little time-consuming. On your nails, the technician will add an acrylic bead to achieve your desired length as nail extensions are not useful for short nails.

Some nail technicians can also use a pinching tool to give your nails the perfect C-curve. This can make even bitten nails appear slimmer and more shapely. Pinching also enhances the durability of your acrylic overlay.

If you are keen on adding length to your short bitten nails, opting for forms is a good idea. The forms are usually composed of thin metal and disposable paper. Most salons prefer using universal nail forms instead of square or oval forms.

It is possible to cut and shape universal nail forms to a square or an oval shape as per your liking. The form fits perfectly under the natural nail. The acrylic mixture rests on top of the form.

READ: How to extend nails without acrylics?

You can remove the form once the acrylic overlay hardens. You can also get the nails filed and buffed to achieve the desired length or shape of the nails. The acrylics provide an extremely natural look to your nails.

If you engage in a lot of manual labor, it is best to avoid excessively long acrylics. Let your manicurist help you decide the length that looks good but is also easy to maintain. Remember that acrylics on short bitten nails may require frequent refills or repairs.

Acrylics On Bitten Nails – Are they Good for Biters?  

✔️Acrylics are good for bitters because first, it is not cheap

Even a mid-range salon can set you back by USD 50 on average. After that comes the maintenance cost. Also sitting in a nail salon for long hours to get beautiful acrylic for flaunting is an effortful job. You certainly don’t want to bite that off.

✔️Secondly, acrylic nails are tough and awful to taste

The shape and taste of acrylics can be an effective deterrent for the biters. They are quite thick and strong compared to natural nails. So biters may find it difficult to bite acrylic nails easily. 

The overlays also taste extremely bitter. You should always remember that acrylic overlay is a chemical product. You may end up ingesting harmful chemicals like formaldehyde if you chew on your acrylic nails. 

✔️Precaution:

However, never settle for a cheap acrylic treatment in an effort to save money. You may end up with skin infections as most discount salons do not maintain high hygiene standards. Some of these salons also use methyl methacrylate (known as MMA) as a bonding agent for acrylics that can result in irritation in your nose, throat, and respiratory tract.

Read: 10 Tips Before Paying For Acrylic Nails

✔️In a nutshell,

Whenever you have a strong urge to bite your acrylics, think about the damage you will cause to the appearance of your nails, how terrible will it taste inside your mouth, and the potential health risks, and financial burden. This should do the trick and help you break the habit.

Is it Better to Have Long or Short Nails for Acrylics?

Since acrylics do not involve the application of separate tips, the natural length of your nail does not matter. Those with extremely short nails can still get acrylic overlays. In fact, if you have a shorter nail bed, it is easier to fix a form and overlay to give you the desired length. 

But if you are asking what length is preferable for acrylic? Short or long? The answer would be a nail with a healthy nail bed, sidewalls, and cuticle area. The free edge or smile line is not an essential part of getting an acrylic overlay.

For acrylic extension, a little bit of free edge is crucial to make the acrylic extension durable. In the case of an acrylic overlay, long natural nails are helpful for the acrylic manicure to be long-lasting. But keep in mind if you have long natural nails but they are not healthy then the length will not suffice for acrylic application.

It is important to remember that acrylic is merely a chemical compound applied to natural nails to add length and make them stronger. Many shy away from acrylics thinking that they don’t have the ideal nail length for the application. However, acrylics work regardless of the size or sharpness of your natural nail.

Having said that, you should have some natural nails available so that the nail technician can apply the acrylic mixture. That’s why it is vital to pick the right manicurist who has experience in adding acrylics to shorter nails. You don’t want to end up with a damaged nail bed or a nasty nail infection.

Most experts advise against extremely long acrylic overlays, especially if you are new to the world of nail extensions. Longer nails require more maintenance. They are also more prone to cracks.

Always start with shorter acrylics. In case you are opting for nail art, shorter acrylics can also ensure that they last longer. Once you get used to acrylics on your nails, you can opt for refills as they start growing. And eventually have long acrylic nails.

Just like your natural nail, the acrylic will also grow. You may even notice nail growth around your acrylic. You can get rid of natural nail growth at home or make sure to visit a salon as soon as you can and get your acrylics trimmed.

Summary: Are my Nails too Short for Acrylics?

The acrylic overlay can be done on short, bitten, fragile nails, given you have a healthy nail bed, sidewalls, and cuticle area. Acrylic is also good for nail bitters as they are strong, bitter to taste, and not cheap. Additionally, for fragile nail owners, an acrylic overlay can give them stunning transformations.

As you cannot add false nails on short nails, the overlay needs to be done with extreme precision otherwise the overlay may not be durable for a long period. That is why I will suggest you always do your acrylic from a well-known and expert manicurist. This is how you ensure value for the money you are investing and stunning nails for weeks.

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