How To Clean Underneath Acrylic Nails

It’s always fun to have a fresh new set of acrylic nail extensions applied, having the nails freshly tended to and cleaned before the desired length, shape, and design takes place.

One of the benefits of acrylic nails is their ability to lengthen and strengthen the nails, by providing a strong, durable tip to the natural nail to be shaped and elongated to your ideal goals.

There are many benefits to the elongated nail extensions, however, there is also a major drawback in how quickly and easily the extensions can trap dirt and grime throughout the day. While the appearance of the nails will still look shiny, fresh, and new, the dirt trapped on the underside of your acrylic nail can definitely alter the overall effect.

Throughout the day, with our typical activities, it is easy to forget how much our nails and hands are exposed to, and the longer the nails the easier it is for dirt, grime, and debris to be trapped underneath.

While we might be used to cleaning our natural nails as regularly as we clip them, because acrylic nails are not as easily removed, it can be easy to forget that they need to be frequently cleaned as well.

As longer nails are more likely to trap unwanted substances under our nails, cleaning them properly and often is a must that should be incorporated into our regular beauty and hygiene routine.

How do you clean under acrylic nails? There are a few effective ways to clean underneath your acrylic nails to keep the area sanitary, free from dirt, and the nails intact. The best methods include washing with an anti-bacterial soap, using a soft nail brush, creating a rubbing alcohol soak, or using a cuticle stick to rid the underside of your nails from any dirt or debris.

Below we discuss why it is important to regularly clean underneath your acrylic nails, how to do clean them properly, and the potential side effects if your nails are not properly cared for.

Types Of Acrylic Nails

While acrylic nails have been a popular nail treatment for decades, as nail innovations have developed, there have been branches of different types of acrylics or extensions available to add length and shape to your nails.

Depending on your preference and style, each one of these nail extensions could provide you the results you are looking for in a slightly different way. Although these different types of nail extensions may require different applications, maintaining the cleanliness underneath the nail is equally important.

Acrylic is one of the most common types of nail extensions, and is also the most durable. Acrylics are liquid and powder polymer combination that is applied onto the natural nail using an adhesive that is cured under UV light.

They last for several weeks, and can be made to be any length, shape, or style. They are often thicker than some of the other nail extension options, but are sturdy through daily wear and activities.

Gel X is another type of nail extension treatment that is becoming more popular due to its relatively easy application method. Although it also has to be cured under a UV or LED light like acrylics, the nail extension is a gel tip that is applied over the entire nail.

The gel tip is already pre-shaped in your desired style, and is adhered to the nail with a gel that is then cured under the lamp.

Another nail extension method that is similar to acrylics is using a hard gel, or builder gel. This application technique also uses the natural nail to build the length, and is a thick gel that is applied all over the nail to form the shape.

If you are using hard, builder gel to elongate the nails, nail formers are used to add the desired length if that natural nail is too short.

Hard gel is also cured under the UV or LED lamp, and both hard gel and Gel X can last two to three weeks before needing a touch-up. The length of application time for these different methods vary, but generally take about two hours and should last for a few weeks.

As all of these methods add substantial length to the nails, and cannot be removed and re-applied easily, it is important to regularly clean and disinfect the underside of the extensions for the best wear and appearance.

Should You Clean Underneath Acrylic Nails?

As part of any beauty, skin care, or hygiene routine, yes, it is very important to make sure you are regularly cleaning underneath your acrylics nails.

Especially if you are getting acrylics to extend the length of your nails to be longer, keeping the underside of your acrylics are clean will help prevent any harmful potential side effects from occurring. There are several quick and easy methods you can incorporate into your daily routine that will ensure your nails are kept clean and intact.

Although short nails also hold onto dirt and bacteria, long nails especially harbor any dirt, debris, or grime easily under the nails. Acrylics nails can attract dirt and grime easily throughout the day, through your daily tasks even if it does not seem like it.

The dirt, debris, and grime that is captured on the underneath side of your nails can then harbor bacteria or fungus, that could lead to potentially harmful side effects if not properly cleansed.

It is important to note that the underside of your acrylic nails should be cleaned by your nail technician as part of your maintenance appointment.

Typically, they will use a smaller nail drill to clean under the acrylic extensions, before applying your new acrylic tip. They may also use rubbing alcohol or other disinfectant on a cotton round during the cleaning process.

Although your nail technician will clean under your acrylic nails at your next in-fill appointment, it is also crucial that you are regularly cleaning underneath your nail extensions in between appointments as well.

Side Effects Of Not Cleaning Underneath Acrylic Nails

As acrylic nails are more prone and likely to harbor bacteria or fungus in the grime that gets trapped under the nail, if not properly cleaned it could eventually lead to a type of bacterial or fungal infection.

Due to the way acrylic nails are applied, they are attached to your natural nail through cured gel, and if a bacterial or fungal infection takes hold, it can also affect your natural nails.

During the application process, acrylic nails are attached to your natural nail without an easy removal method. Without being able to take off and reapply the nail extension in such a way, it is important to thoroughly and frequently remove any dirt or grime seen there.

If a bacterial or fungal infection begins to fester, it can then potentially harm your natural nail and effect it’s health and growth.

There can be many indicators that a fungal infection has started to fester under your acrylic nails, which include a pungent smell emanating from the infected nails, pain or soreness, or yellow/green discoloration of the nail.

While most fungal infections can clear up either on their own or through at-home treatments, depending on how severe the infection has become, there also may be the need for an antifungal medication prescribed by a doctor.

One of the first actions you should take if you are noticing a fungal infection is to remove the acrylic nail, and to keep the nail free of any extensions until the infection has been cleared.

How To Clean Underneath Acrylic Nails

The best way to ensure you are regularly cleaning underneath your acrylic nails is to find the method that works best for you and can be seamlessly added into your daily hygiene routine.

Antibacterial Soap Method

There are a few methods to clean the underside of acrylic nails effectively, that can easily be done with items most likely already in your home. The easiest method is to wash your hands and nails with an anti-bacterial soap, making sure to not only thoroughly scrub the nails, but to completely dry them as well.

Using an anti-bacterial soap will help rid your hands and nails of any bacteria that trapped underneath the nails, along with any other germs or grime.

When washing the hands, work the soap into a full lather in order to ensure a proper cleanse. With your nails, your can “scratch” the nails against the soap to make sure the soap is working on the underside of the nails.

It can also help to swirl your nails on the palm of your opposite hand, in the lather created by the soap. It is important to make sure the underside of the acrylics are being cleaned and not just your hands.

Once you have cleaned and rinsed the hands and nails, make sure to completely dry the nails with a towel to complete the process.

Ensuring the nails are completely dry is a crucial step in maintaining healthy nails, because bacteria and fungus thrive and develop in moist, dark, contained areas, and if any remaining moisture is trapped under the nail from the cleaning, it could lead to a potential infection if any fungus begins to fester.

Nail Brush Method

Another method to thoroughly cleaning underneath your acrylic nails is to use a soft-bristled nail brush (like these affordable ones on Amazon). Being able to scrub completely under the nail with a brush will easily remove any dirt buildup by breaking it down and ridding it from the underside of the acrylic nail.

Using a nail brush is a great method if you are having a tough time removing stubborn dirt or stains from underneath the nail.

If you are going to try the nail brush method, you can use it on its own, soaked in warm water along with some anti-bacterial soap, or a combination of both!

Rubbing Alcohol Method

Incorporating a rubbing alcohol soak for your nails will ensure they are completely free of any dirt or grime. The rubbing alcohol will kill any potential bacteria or fungus, while also sanitizing the nail and removing any dirt or grime.

If you are looking to do the rubbing alcohol soak as more of a hygienic treatment, you can soak the nails in a bowl of the solution for about five to ten minutes, and after the allotted time, rinse the nails and pat completely dry.

However, if you do not want to soak your nails in rubbing alcohol, but still want the disinfecting benefits, you can also take a cotton swab or cotton round soaked in the solution and run that along with underside of the acrylic nails.

Whether using a cotton round or swab, the rubbing alcohol will still rid the nails of any potential bacteria, however the cotton swab may be able to fit under the nail more precisely.

Cuticle Stick Method

For a quick, in-between clean, you can always use a cuticle stick to rid the nails of any dirt buildup. The cuticle stick can seamlessly fit under the nail to rid the underside of any accumulated dirt, and can be done quickly throughout the day.

This is an ideal method to maintain your nails cleanliness throughout your daily activities, while doing a more thorough cleaning at the end of the day.

No matter what method you decide works best for you, it is important to make sure the nails are totally dry after each wash.

Not only can bacteria and fungus fester if moisture gets trapped underneath the nail, but the trapped moisture could also potentially loosen the adhesive of the nail. In order to make sure your acrylics last for as long as possible, keeping them dry and clean is a must.

FInal Thoughts

Getting your nails done is a special treat that can boost your mood and overall appearance, especially when you are getting a fun shape and design to elongate your natural nails with a treatment like acrylic tips.

Maintaining their appearance by scheduling fill-in appointments every few weeks is part of the important upkeep in keeping your manicure intact and looking fresh.

Along with the required in-fill appointments, making sure to keep the underside of your acrylic nail extensions clean is just as important as going in for a touch-up.

The longer the nails, the more likely they are able to trap dirt underneath as they are exposed to our every day activities. While trapped dirt and grime may be noticeable when collected under natural nails and easily removed, with longer nail extensions it is easy to overlook.

However, by not cleaning the underside of the acrylic nail extensions frequently, you are exposing yourself and your natural nail beds to potential bacterial or fungal infections.

Even though the process for applying acrylic nails can take anywhere from one and a half to two hours, cleaning underneath the extensions once their applied takes as little as several minutes.

Depending on how you choose to disinfect the underside of your nails, whether it be through an anti-bacterial soap wash, using a soft-bristle nail brush, a soak in rubbing alcohol, or a quick clean with a cuticle stick, the results will be clean, fresh nails that are strong and healthy.

As a bonus, most of the items needed to properly clean the underside of your acrylic nails are likely already within your possession, making the addition to your routine even easier.

Cleaning underneath your acrylic nails is a quick adjustment that can be seamlessly added into your daily hygiene routine in just a few simple steps.

For more advice on maintaining your nail extensions, take a look at this tutorial from Foxy – Makeup Tips and Tutorials on YouTube.