False nails, also known as artificial nails, nail enhancements, nail extensions or fashion nails are a substitute for real nails to either mimic the look of perfectly manicured real fingernails, painted fingernails or as fashion accessories showing elaborate designs and lengths.
False nails can be used to mask damaged, short, broken or bad nails. They can also break the habit in people who bite their nails. They can be used to give lovely nails to people whose own nails are too weak or prone to breaking to grow lovely long nails of their own.
There are several different methods that can be used to produce artificial nails-
Acrylic nails – Acrylic nails are produced by mixing polymer powder and liquid monomer. A tip is glued to the end of the real nail and then the mixture is applied over the nail and the tip. This hardens within a minute and can then be filed to the desired shape and painted if desired.
UV Top Coat – This is applied in the same way as above but is cured under an ultraviolet light.
Fibreglass or Silk Wraps – These are produced by cutting pieces of fibreglass or silk fabric to a suitable size which is then laid on to the nail and tip and sealed with glue or resin.
There are also false nails which can be applied at home and can be glued on.
There can be some risk of damage to the nail when having false nails applied often in the form of nails peeling or ridges forming on the nail. The nail can separate from the nail bed, and if there is damage to the nail root, the replacement nail that grows can be permanently deformed. Fungus may also form if the false nails are not properly cared for.
Also, in some cases there may be a reaction to the resins or glues used and this can lead to redness, swelling, pain and, in some rare cases, severe allergic reaction.
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