artificial nail history

Artificial nails, also known as fake nails, false nails, acrylic nails, gel x nails, nail extensions or nail enhancements, are extensions placed over fingernails as fashion accessories. Many artificial nail designs attempt to mimic the appearance of real fingernails as closely as possible, while others may deliberately stray in favor of an artistic look.

Artificial nails require regular upkeep; it is recommended that they are attended to, on average, every two weeks, however they may last over one month.^[1] Nonetheless, their versatility in terms of shape, size, design and comparatively high durability are some advantages they hold over other types of manicures.

Types

Artificial nails are an extension, not a replacement, of natural nails. There are two main approaches to creating artificial nails—tips and forms:

• Tips are heavyweight "nail"-shaped plastic plates glued on the end of the natural nail, or glued on top of the entire nailbed if it is a full cover tip or "press-on", and can have gel, dip or acrylic added on top;

• Forms are shaped sheets with a sticky edge that is effectively attached to the tip of the finger and wrapped around the entirety of the nail to form an extension, for more creative control over what shape the artificial nail will be

Atop these, either acrylic, hard gel, or any combination of both may be applied. Tips are available in many different designs, ranging from solid colors like gel or regular nail polish to graphic designs such as animal prints and metallic colors. In addition to polishes, other embellishments may be used, like rhinestones, glitter, stickers, fimo charms and striping tape to add more to the artificial nail's design. Artificial nails can be shaped, cut, and filed into a variety of shapes, including square, squared oval/"squoval", rounded, almond, ballerina/coffin, mountain peak, lipstick, and stiletto.