What is the proper way to trim down acrylic nails?

Question

I have had acrylic nails for several years and I routinely visit the nail salon every three weeks. The problem is that I am taking the CA Bar Exam next week and my nails are feeling a little to long to allow me to type as fast as possible during the exam. I have an appointment at the salon the day after the exam, but I need to trim them down a bit for the exam itself, and I wont have time to get into the salon.

It really doesn't matter if they are pretty, but I would prefer it if they didn't crack or snag on things. Would normal clippers and a file work? Or, I was also noticing that my clippers for my dog's nails are similar to the clippers the salon uses, would those work just to trim them down a bit?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

Thanks for the tips all, the problem with going is my salon is a 45 minute drive each way to get to, and really I don't have the 2-2.5 hours to spare in the next week.

I am concerned about going somewhere new and risking having something go wrong (fungus, or other issue), with the test I really can't risk anything happening.

Answer 1

I'm assuming you aren't going to grt them filled before the exam.Whatever you do don't use nailclippers. It will crack the acrylic.All you need to do is get a file and buffer and just file the acrylic down then make sure you buff the ends

Answer 2

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Hi there, Firstly I would suggest that you go and get some proper training as applying acrylics isn't as easy as it looks due to the chemicals used. If not applied properly, you may end up with a severe allergic reaction which means that you won't even be able to touch the stuff, let alone do your own. That said, it is my mission to enable people such as yourself, to be able to apply acrylic in a safe manner, so...... How to do your own acrylic nails at home...... You will need: Monomer (liquid) from £10 Polymer (powder) from £10 Cuticle eraser/remover from £6 A precision pushie knife from £8 or an orange stick covered with a lint free wipe A good acrylic brush from £15 Nail primer from £10 Nail dehydrator from £8 Lint free wipes from £2.50 A dappen dish from £2 (I use a glass tealight holder) A pipette dropper from £1 A 180 grit file from £1 A 240 grit file from £1 A 3 way buffer (or hard top coat) £ Tips (taylor to your nail shape) £30 Adhesive from £5 Tip cutters from £6 Nail oil from £3 Nail scissors or clippers if you need to trim your nails You need to remove the cuticle from the nail first with the cuticle remover and the pushie. Then gently remove the shine from the nail using the 240 grit abrasive, remembering to get down the side walls as well, and file the free edge to make it smooth. Then remove the cuticle remover with the nail dehydrator. After this, don't touch the nail plate with anything otherwise you will contaminate them, especially with oils from your fingers. You then need to customize the tips to fit your nails and remove the well. Adhere the tips to the nails and cut to length with the tip cutters. Using the 240 grit abrasive again, you need to blend in the line of the tip against your nail plate, be gentle, you don't want to thin the nail plate or it will become thin and damaged. Use a big brush to remove the dust caused and dehydrate the nail plate again. If you are using white acrylic for the tips to create a french look then you will need to get the smile line nice and crisp (which isn't easy!). Try to use your brush at an angle that is pointing slightly upward so you don't get a 'brick' on the ends of your fingers! This is called Zone 1. Do all 10 white tips first, then change your monomer as it's likely (because you are new) it will be contaminated by the white. N.B It is easier for a newbie to use white tips at first. Apply the clear acrylic to 'Zone 2', the Apex - the middle section, trying to achieve a natural curve and not letting the acrylic mix touch the sidewalls on your skin. Butt this clear up to the white. Zone 3 is the cuticle area. You need to be thin here as you don't want a ridge at the bottom of your nail. Again, don't let the product touch the skin, try to leave a 1/2 to 1mm gap. Now, using the 180 grit abrasive, smooth any lumps and bumps you have then refine the surface and the free edge with the 240 abrasive. Apply nail oil all over the nail and then wipe off. You can then either use the buffer to create a glossy shine, or a couple of coats of hard wearing topcoat. Finish with nail oil around the cuticles and keep using the nail oil at least twice per day. Hope this is understandable! P.S Please, please, please never use super glue on your nails. The nail glue that you can buy is hospital grade and is the same as the hospitals use to glue people back together. Super Glue is INDUSTRIAL GRADE ADHESIVE and not meant for use on the human body. it is METHYL cynoacrylate and is carcinogenic as well as water soluble ... turns yellow ,,, breaks down very quickly. In the nail industry we use pharmaceutical quality ETHYL cynoacrylate which is formulated for use on the body, is not carcinogenic and ages far less quickly because it is superior quality and a different formulation. You can also apply tips with a small bead of L&P ... you will have to hold each tip in place and still for at least 45 seconds before letting go.

Answer 3

what i always do is just get a good file and cozy on the couch with your favorite show and file away, dont clip them with the wrong clippers bc it will crack the acrylic all the way down and you will be left with a horrible looking nail! but i think the dog clippers might work but just be SUPER CAUTIOUS! please, i hate it when ppl have raggidy looking nails. lol good luck

Answer 4

DO NOT try to file them yourself. You can damage them or even damage your nail.
go back to the nail salon and have them trim it down for you. That is the best and pretty much only way

Answer 5

Yes, use your dog's, that one is similar and the nails won't crack like using the normal clipper. Then, file them, after that buff them and shine. Wear a light color enamel.

Answer 6

Use a fingernail file, that's what I always use, regular clippers may crack them and I don't know if I'd use the dog clippers.

Answer 7

Please do yourself a favor! I took the bar exam myself; you will be stressed out enough!! Take 30 minutes, walk into a nail salon , have them cut and filed!!! You don't know me, but you will thank me!

Answer 8

ACRYLIC NAILS CANNOT B TRIMMED TRUST ME DONT TRY IT! U HAVE TO GO TO THE PLACE WHERE U NORMALLY GET THEM DONE AND HAVE THEM TRIM OR REMOVE IT FOR U

Answer 9

Short are more organic and unique, now days everybody would like longer and shorter nails are method easier to have

Answer 10

short neat nails are nice and neat. I dont like long nails because dirt can get under them and it look nasty
its digusting and gross when somebodys nails tend to be all chewed up to the end.