You Can Shorten Acrylic Nails at Home—Here’s How to Avoid Ruining Them
According to professional nail artists.
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Key Takeaways
-
To safely shorten acrylic nails at home, it’s important to use the correct tools, like a straight nail clipper and nail file with the right grit.
-
Trimming your acrylic nails incorrectly can lead to unbalanced nails, making them more susceptible to chipping or breaking.
-
After shortening, it’s essential to file and buff the nails to ensure smoothness and proper polish adhesion.
If you’ve ever gotten acrylic nail extensions, you’ve probably—at some point—debated whether the length of your tips was too long. While some manicurists will urge you not to touch your acrylics and leave maintenance up to the pros, manicurist Adriana Gutierrez says that there are ways to safely shorten acrylic nails yourself. “The trick to cutting down your nails at home is to have the right tools and a little patience,” she assures us. Ahead, uncover everything you need to know about shortening acrylic nails at home, including which tools to make room for in your DIY kit.
Meet the Experts
- Adriana Gutierrez is Los Angeles-based manicurist. She works at Trendy Talons in LA and is a recent graduate of celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec’s Nail Academy.
- Mazz Hanna is a celebrity nail artist and CEO of Los Angeles-based agency Nailing Hollywood.
What to Do If Your Acrylic Nail Is Too Long
“Depending on the length and thickness of your acrylic nails, you can shorten them at home without ruining them,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO, Mazz Hanna. “Shorter, thinner acrylic sets can be carefully clipped and filed down more easily. However, for longer sets of acrylics, the process becomes trickier because of the apex curve built into the nails. The apex provides balance and strength, so if you cut too much or incorrectly, it can make the nails look unbalanced or too thick.”
If the nails are thick and unbalanced, this can also make them prone to breaking, which can seriously harm your natural nails.
“While [shortening acrylics] can be done at home, it’s much better to see a professional so that you don’t risk damaging your natural nails,” says Hanna. “Keep in mind that after trimming and filing your nails, your free edge will have no nail polish capping the edges of your nails so it’s more likely that your polish will chip or lift early depending on the type of nail polish.”
What you’ll need:
- Cotton balls
- Nail polish remover
- Straight nail clipper
- 100/180 file
- Buffer
- Nail polish
- Top coat
Pick Your Method
You can shorten acrylic nails at home one of two ways: You can remove all your nail polish before the shortening process (which is recommended for structured nails like coffin and stiletto nails—more on that in a bit), or you can leave your polish and go straight into trimming (this is typically reserved for folks wearing gel polish).
Optional: Remove Your Nail Polish
Gutierrez says to remove your nail polish with a cotton ball and acetone if you have ultra-long structured nails. While you might feel reluctant to remove your nail polish—especially if you have nail art—she explains that structured nails can look quite thick when shortened and often need to be top-filed to thin them out. Doing so will, undoubtedly, alter the appearance of your polish, so removing it beforehand is the cleanest and most efficient way to go about the process. But, this will likely only work if you choose regular nail polish.
Determine Your Desired Length and Shape
Once you choose how much you want to shorten your acrylic nails, it’s time to trim—but whatever you do, don’t approach the process like you would a natural nail. “Avoid cutting the nail all in one go, like you would a natural nail,” Gutierrez urges. “Doing this will make the acrylic crack in the middle.”
Instead, she says to line up your straight clipper perpendicular to the free edge. “Clip starting at one side of the nail,” she instructs. “Once you’ve made your initial cut, repeat on the other side. Repeat back and forth until you have met your cuts in the middle and the tip is completely off.”
Hanna agrees and adds: “To make the process easier, I recommend using nail trimmers made for acrylic nails.”
Optional: Debulk Your Nails
Gutierrez says you will likely want to debulk your nails if you’re starting with ultra-long structured acrylics. “Especially at the tips, you might have cut into a thicker part of the nail that was previously meant for structure,” she explains. “Skipping this debulking step may result in a thick free edge, and it might be more difficult to pick up items off the floor, button up a shirt, and put on your favorite earrings.” Not ideal.
To avoid such a situation, she says to lay your file flat along the length of the nail. “Tilt the file slightly down towards the free edge and file up and down using medium to hard pressure,” she instructs. “Pay attention to the thickness of the tip of the nail and make sure it’s even along all sides.”
File Your Nails
After trimming and debulking your acrylics, you’ll want to file them with a coarse nail file, so they’re smooth and free of any potential snags, says Hanna.
“File the edge of the nail into shape with a 180/100 grit file,” Gutierrez says. “Look at your nail from all angles to ensure you get the right shape.”
Buff The Surface
If you remove your nail polish, you’ll want to buff your entire nail, and you’d want to buff the new free edge if you didn’t. Doing so will ensure the polish you apply has the best chance of adhering.
After buffing, Gutierrez says to wash your hands to remove acrylic dust from the shortening process.
Paint Your Nails
Now that your acrylics have been shortened, it’s time to repaint or touch them up if you opted not to remove your original polish or nail art. Whichever method you choose, seal the look—especially the free edge—with a top coat to enhance shine and help prolong the life of your mani.
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You Can Shorten Acrylic Nails at Home—Here’s How to Avoid Ruining Them
According to professional nail artists.
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Key Takeaways
-
To safely shorten acrylic nails at home, it’s important to use the correct tools, like a straight nail clipper and nail file with the right grit.
-
Trimming your acrylic nails incorrectly can lead to unbalanced nails, making them more susceptible to chipping or breaking.
-
After shortening, it’s essential to file and buff the nails to ensure smoothness and proper polish adhesion.
If you’ve ever gotten acrylic nail extensions, you’ve probably—at some point—debated whether the length of your tips was too long. While some manicurists will urge you not to touch your acrylics and leave maintenance up to the pros, manicurist Adriana Gutierrez says that there are ways to safely shorten acrylic nails yourself. “The trick to cutting down your nails at home is to have the right tools and a little patience,” she assures us. Ahead, uncover everything you need to know about shortening acrylic nails at home, including which tools to make room for in your DIY kit.
Meet the Experts
- Adriana Gutierrez is Los Angeles-based manicurist. She works at Trendy Talons in LA and is a recent graduate of celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec’s Nail Academy.
- Mazz Hanna is a celebrity nail artist and CEO of Los Angeles-based agency Nailing Hollywood.
What to Do If Your Acrylic Nail Is Too Long
“Depending on the length and thickness of your acrylic nails, you can shorten them at home without ruining them,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO, Mazz Hanna. “Shorter, thinner acrylic sets can be carefully clipped and filed down more easily. However, for longer sets of acrylics, the process becomes trickier because of the apex curve built into the nails. The apex provides balance and strength, so if you cut too much or incorrectly, it can make the nails look unbalanced or too thick.”
If the nails are thick and unbalanced, this can also make them prone to breaking, which can seriously harm your natural nails.
“While [shortening acrylics] can be done at home, it’s much better to see a professional so that you don’t risk damaging your natural nails,” says Hanna. “Keep in mind that after trimming and filing your nails, your free edge will have no nail polish capping the edges of your nails so it’s more likely that your polish will chip or lift early depending on the type of nail polish.”
What you’ll need:
- Cotton balls
- Nail polish remover
- Straight nail clipper
- 100/180 file
- Buffer
- Nail polish
- Top coat
Pick Your Method
You can shorten acrylic nails at home one of two ways: You can remove all your nail polish before the shortening process (which is recommended for structured nails like coffin and stiletto nails—more on that in a bit), or you can leave your polish and go straight into trimming (this is typically reserved for folks wearing gel polish).
Optional: Remove Your Nail Polish
Gutierrez says to remove your nail polish with a cotton ball and acetone if you have ultra-long structured nails. While you might feel reluctant to remove your nail polish—especially if you have nail art—she explains that structured nails can look quite thick when shortened and often need to be top-filed to thin them out. Doing so will, undoubtedly, alter the appearance of your polish, so removing it beforehand is the cleanest and most efficient way to go about the process. But, this will likely only work if you choose regular nail polish.
Determine Your Desired Length and Shape
Once you choose how much you want to shorten your acrylic nails, it’s time to trim—but whatever you do, don’t approach the process like you would a natural nail. “Avoid cutting the nail all in one go, like you would a natural nail,” Gutierrez urges. “Doing this will make the acrylic crack in the middle.”
Instead, she says to line up your straight clipper perpendicular to the free edge. “Clip starting at one side of the nail,” she instructs. “Once you’ve made your initial cut, repeat on the other side. Repeat back and forth until you have met your cuts in the middle and the tip is completely off.”
Hanna agrees and adds: “To make the process easier, I recommend using nail trimmers made for acrylic nails.”
Optional: Debulk Your Nails
Gutierrez says you will likely want to debulk your nails if you’re starting with ultra-long structured acrylics. “Especially at the tips, you might have cut into a thicker part of the nail that was previously meant for structure,” she explains. “Skipping this debulking step may result in a thick free edge, and it might be more difficult to pick up items off the floor, button up a shirt, and put on your favorite earrings.” Not ideal.
To avoid such a situation, she says to lay your file flat along the length of the nail. “Tilt the file slightly down towards the free edge and file up and down using medium to hard pressure,” she instructs. “Pay attention to the thickness of the tip of the nail and make sure it’s even along all sides.”
File Your Nails
After trimming and debulking your acrylics, you’ll want to file them with a coarse nail file, so they’re smooth and free of any potential snags, says Hanna.
“File the edge of the nail into shape with a 180/100 grit file,” Gutierrez says. “Look at your nail from all angles to ensure you get the right shape.”
Buff The Surface
If you remove your nail polish, you’ll want to buff your entire nail, and you’d want to buff the new free edge if you didn’t. Doing so will ensure the polish you apply has the best chance of adhering.
After buffing, Gutierrez says to wash your hands to remove acrylic dust from the shortening process.
Paint Your Nails
Now that your acrylics have been shortened, it’s time to repaint or touch them up if you opted not to remove your original polish or nail art. Whichever method you choose, seal the look—especially the free edge—with a top coat to enhance shine and help prolong the life of your mani.
@melanated.mani / Instagram
Key Takeaways
-
To safely shorten acrylic nails at home, it’s important to use the correct tools, like a straight nail clipper and nail file with the right grit.
-
Trimming your acrylic nails incorrectly can lead to unbalanced nails, making them more susceptible to chipping or breaking.
-
After shortening, it’s essential to file and buff the nails to ensure smoothness and proper polish adhesion.
If you’ve ever gotten acrylic nail extensions, you’ve probably—at some point—debated whether the length of your tips was too long. While some manicurists will urge you not to touch your acrylics and leave maintenance up to the pros, manicurist Adriana Gutierrez says that there are ways to safely shorten acrylic nails yourself. “The trick to cutting down your nails at home is to have the right tools and a little patience,” she assures us. Ahead, uncover everything you need to know about shortening acrylic nails at home, including which tools to make room for in your DIY kit.
Meet the Experts
- Adriana Gutierrez is Los Angeles-based manicurist. She works at Trendy Talons in LA and is a recent graduate of celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec’s Nail Academy.
- Mazz Hanna is a celebrity nail artist and CEO of Los Angeles-based agency Nailing Hollywood.
What to Do If Your Acrylic Nail Is Too Long
“Depending on the length and thickness of your acrylic nails, you can shorten them at home without ruining them,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO, Mazz Hanna. “Shorter, thinner acrylic sets can be carefully clipped and filed down more easily. However, for longer sets of acrylics, the process becomes trickier because of the apex curve built into the nails. The apex provides balance and strength, so if you cut too much or incorrectly, it can make the nails look unbalanced or too thick.”
If the nails are thick and unbalanced, this can also make them prone to breaking, which can seriously harm your natural nails.
“While [shortening acrylics] can be done at home, it’s much better to see a professional so that you don’t risk damaging your natural nails,” says Hanna. “Keep in mind that after trimming and filing your nails, your free edge will have no nail polish capping the edges of your nails so it’s more likely that your polish will chip or lift early depending on the type of nail polish.”
What you’ll need:
- Cotton balls
- Nail polish remover
- Straight nail clipper
- 100/180 file
- Buffer
- Nail polish
- Top coat
Pick Your Method
You can shorten acrylic nails at home one of two ways: You can remove all your nail polish before the shortening process (which is recommended for structured nails like coffin and stiletto nails—more on that in a bit), or you can leave your polish and go straight into trimming (this is typically reserved for folks wearing gel polish).
Optional: Remove Your Nail Polish
Gutierrez says to remove your nail polish with a cotton ball and acetone if you have ultra-long structured nails. While you might feel reluctant to remove your nail polish—especially if you have nail art—she explains that structured nails can look quite thick when shortened and often need to be top-filed to thin them out. Doing so will, undoubtedly, alter the appearance of your polish, so removing it beforehand is the cleanest and most efficient way to go about the process. But, this will likely only work if you choose regular nail polish.
Determine Your Desired Length and Shape
Once you choose how much you want to shorten your acrylic nails, it’s time to trim—but whatever you do, don’t approach the process like you would a natural nail. “Avoid cutting the nail all in one go, like you would a natural nail,” Gutierrez urges. “Doing this will make the acrylic crack in the middle.”
Instead, she says to line up your straight clipper perpendicular to the free edge. “Clip starting at one side of the nail,” she instructs. “Once you’ve made your initial cut, repeat on the other side. Repeat back and forth until you have met your cuts in the middle and the tip is completely off.”
Hanna agrees and adds: “To make the process easier, I recommend using nail trimmers made for acrylic nails.”
Optional: Debulk Your Nails
Gutierrez says you will likely want to debulk your nails if you’re starting with ultra-long structured acrylics. “Especially at the tips, you might have cut into a thicker part of the nail that was previously meant for structure,” she explains. “Skipping this debulking step may result in a thick free edge, and it might be more difficult to pick up items off the floor, button up a shirt, and put on your favorite earrings.” Not ideal.
To avoid such a situation, she says to lay your file flat along the length of the nail. “Tilt the file slightly down towards the free edge and file up and down using medium to hard pressure,” she instructs. “Pay attention to the thickness of the tip of the nail and make sure it’s even along all sides.”
File Your Nails
After trimming and debulking your acrylics, you’ll want to file them with a coarse nail file, so they’re smooth and free of any potential snags, says Hanna.
“File the edge of the nail into shape with a 180/100 grit file,” Gutierrez says. “Look at your nail from all angles to ensure you get the right shape.”
Buff The Surface
If you remove your nail polish, you’ll want to buff your entire nail, and you’d want to buff the new free edge if you didn’t. Doing so will ensure the polish you apply has the best chance of adhering.
After buffing, Gutierrez says to wash your hands to remove acrylic dust from the shortening process.
Paint Your Nails
Now that your acrylics have been shortened, it’s time to repaint or touch them up if you opted not to remove your original polish or nail art. Whichever method you choose, seal the look—especially the free edge—with a top coat to enhance shine and help prolong the life of your mani.
Pick Your Method
You can shorten acrylic nails at home one of two ways: You can remove all your nail polish before the shortening process (which is recommended for structured nails like coffin and stiletto nails—more on that in a bit), or you can leave your polish and go straight into trimming (this is typically reserved for folks wearing gel polish).
Optional: Remove Your Nail Polish
Gutierrez says to remove your nail polish with a cotton ball and acetone if you have ultra-long structured nails. While you might feel reluctant to remove your nail polish—especially if you have nail art—she explains that structured nails can look quite thick when shortened and often need to be top-filed to thin them out. Doing so will, undoubtedly, alter the appearance of your polish, so removing it beforehand is the cleanest and most efficient way to go about the process. But, this will likely only work if you choose regular nail polish.
Determine Your Desired Length and Shape
Once you choose how much you want to shorten your acrylic nails, it’s time to trim—but whatever you do, don’t approach the process like you would a natural nail. “Avoid cutting the nail all in one go, like you would a natural nail,” Gutierrez urges. “Doing this will make the acrylic crack in the middle.”
Instead, she says to line up your straight clipper perpendicular to the free edge. “Clip starting at one side of the nail,” she instructs. “Once you’ve made your initial cut, repeat on the other side. Repeat back and forth until you have met your cuts in the middle and the tip is completely off.”
Hanna agrees and adds: “To make the process easier, I recommend using nail trimmers made for acrylic nails.”
Optional: Debulk Your Nails
Gutierrez says you will likely want to debulk your nails if you’re starting with ultra-long structured acrylics. “Especially at the tips, you might have cut into a thicker part of the nail that was previously meant for structure,” she explains. “Skipping this debulking step may result in a thick free edge, and it might be more difficult to pick up items off the floor, button up a shirt, and put on your favorite earrings.” Not ideal.
To avoid such a situation, she says to lay your file flat along the length of the nail. “Tilt the file slightly down towards the free edge and file up and down using medium to hard pressure,” she instructs. “Pay attention to the thickness of the tip of the nail and make sure it’s even along all sides.”
File Your Nails
After trimming and debulking your acrylics, you’ll want to file them with a coarse nail file, so they’re smooth and free of any potential snags, says Hanna.
“File the edge of the nail into shape with a 180/100 grit file,” Gutierrez says. “Look at your nail from all angles to ensure you get the right shape.”
Buff The Surface
If you remove your nail polish, you’ll want to buff your entire nail, and you’d want to buff the new free edge if you didn’t. Doing so will ensure the polish you apply has the best chance of adhering.
After buffing, Gutierrez says to wash your hands to remove acrylic dust from the shortening process.
Paint Your Nails
Now that your acrylics have been shortened, it’s time to repaint or touch them up if you opted not to remove your original polish or nail art. Whichever method you choose, seal the look—especially the free edge—with a top coat to enhance shine and help prolong the life of your mani.
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-shorten-acrylic-nails-at-home-11884247