Manicure is a routine that all women enjoy. Getting your nails done, painting your nails, and pampering yourself is one of the best experiences of a woman’s life. It enhances your looks. Acrylic nails add more beauty to an already good look.
What are acrylic nails? The artificial nail extensions which are attached to the original nails are called acrylic nails. They look very beautiful when attached to your nail bed.
Acrylic nails make women feel more feminine. They look gorgeous when they are in your favorite colors. They look even more gorgeous when you get artwork done on them.
But do you have to be of a certain age to get acrylic nails?
Let’s get to know
How old do you have to be to get acrylic nails?
As I have pointed out earlier, you don’t have to be of a certain age to get acrylic nails. There is no legal precision that you or the nail salons need to follow.
But most of the nail professionals advise getting acrylics once the girl turns 16. Some salons put an over 16 policy in their rule book to get acrylics. Some salons turn the customer down if they are under 16.
So, it’s subjective. It depends on the salon policy and the nail professional you are visiting.
But if the girl is under 16, she has to have written permission from her mother, father, or guardian. Also, they have to be present at the salon while the treatment is happening on her nails.
Why is there an age limit to get acrylic nails?
Let us know why most of the salons have adopted the policy of over 16. When you get a close look at why they have done so, you will appreciate their move.
When you have long artificial nails, they look good. But they also add to your responsibilities.
You have to take care of them yourself without any external help. Most of the children can take care of themselves once they turn 16. Hence, salons recommend this age to get acrylic nails.
When children are at a growing age, their nails grow quickly.
At the same time, these nails are very weak and are prone to damage and breakage easily. The skin and nails of a young child are also sensitive. The acrylic nails can prove to be a health hazard to a toddler who doesn’t have fully grown nails.
Your toddler’s nails are very sensitive. They can get damaged by infections, such as fungal infections and bacterial infections.
These infections happen due to the gel that is in use for the manicure process. When this gel gets stuck and comes in contact with air and water, it causes an infection.
The above infections can cause damage to the nail bed of the child. These infections can cause cracking of the nails. Hence, the nails can alter permanently.
Generally, children are very careless. They can move when the nail technician is applying the gel polish. The gel polish gets directly in contact with their skin. It leads to adverse effects on the child’s skin.
The products used in the process can leave a residue on a child’s hand if not cleaned properly. If the child ingests it, the child can get poisoned.
Children don’t pay attention to little details and can damage themselves more easily. The long acrylic nails can break easily by getting stuck into something and can break off.
When it does, the nail bed also gets damaged. The child has to go under surgery to fix their nail bed.
According to a news report by SyrreyLiv news, Dr. Nora Nugent, consultant plastic surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, says, “Repairing a damaged nail bed when the nail has a trauma requires a surgical procedure.
Once the nail bed has been repaired and any nail remnants removed, the patient has to have a dressing in place for two weeks to help maximize the chances of a new nail growing successfully, but there are no guarantees.”
The acrylic nails can make day-to-day activities more difficult for the children. If you have acrylic nails, holding a pen for a long time gets tough. Typing on a computer also looks like a tedious job with acrylic nails.
These two are the most basic and important things that your toddlers have to do when they are in school and high school.
Having acrylic nails can cause disruptions in your sports activities. They can prove very dangerous to you if you are into sports and have acrylic nails. If you are into team sports like basketball or football, you can’t have nail extensions.
Gymnastics and cheerleading are the most preferred sports games for young girls. Having acrylic nails makes them more difficult. Hence, it is advised not to have any nail extensions in any sports, not even short ones.
The acrylic nails can make day-to-day activities more difficult for the children. If you have acrylic nails, holding a pen for a long time gets tough. Typing on a computer also looks like a tedious job with acrylic nails.
These two are the most basic and important things that your toddlers have to do when they are in school and high school.
Having acrylic nails can also cause disruptions in your sports activities.
They can prove to be hazardous to you if you are into sports and also have acrylic nails. If you are into team sports like basketball or football, you can’t have nail extensions.
Gymnastics and cheerleading are the most preferred sports games for young girls.
Having acrylic nails makes them more difficult. Hence, it is advised not to have nail extensions if you are in any sports, not even short ones.
At this age, your nails are like the nails of an adult person. So, they aren’t prone to cause damage to themselves like before. The chances of side effects also go down once you turn 16.
Also, when you turn 16, you are mature and responsible enough to look after yourself; it takes care of yourself. If you get acrylic nails at this age, you know that you will take care of them.
As it turns out, acrylic nails can be a perfect and thoughtful gift for your daughter for her sweet sixteen.
Sometimes, this age limit can be made more flexible, but only for girls up to 13 years of age. You can allow the age relaxation to your girl if there is a big special occasion coming and your girl has to get ready for it.
If you are going to opt for acrylic nails for such occasions, keep in mind not going for long nails. Keep the acrylic nails short. Don’t get your girl under 16 acrylic nails too often.
If you are thinking of getting acrylic nails for someone under 16, the best option is to try looking for an alternative option. You can go for a simple manicure or gel polish if your toddler insists on getting a manicure.
Some other alternatives for acrylic nails are nail kits that you can order online. They don’t require as much care as an acrylic nail. They also look elegant, classy, and beautiful.
Dr. Nora Nugent says, “We would advise children to use nail varnish in place of artificial nails – it is much safer, can be just as fun and colorful, and save them from potentially having an operation.”
These alternatives for acrylic nails are also not a hundred percent safe choice for your child. But they are still better and safer than getting acrylic nails. So, consult your nail technician before making any decision.
Yes! It’s not illegal for an 11-year-old to get acrylic nails.
But it is not advised to get acrylic nails for an 11-year-old. They need to write permission from their father, mother, or a guardian. Their mother, father, or guardian has to be present when the girl is getting acrylic nails.
Can my 8-year-old get acrylic nails?
Teresa Harrington, a licensed nail specialist with 13 years of experience, says it’s a strict no to getting acrylic nails for an 8-year-old. The powder and liquid used are too strong for your child’s hands and surrounding skin.
She also says that kids are tender at this age. So, in no circumstances should parents allow their 8-year-olds to get acrylic nails.
Can a 14-year-old get acrylic nails?
Yes, your 14-year-old can get acrylic nails, but not regularly. They can get acrylic nails for a specific occasion. As the occasion ends, they should remove their acrylic nails.
If you want to get acrylic nails for your 14-year-old:
- Go to a nail salon and get it done by a nail specialist.
- Never try to do this at home without any specialist’s supervision.
- Get short acrylic nails for your 14-year-old.
Can a 13-year-old get acrylic nails?
Yes, on special occasions. Would you please consult a nail specialist before doing this? Do consider the side effects this can cause to your child’s nails and skin if any.
Get a detailed preview of what it is to have acrylic nails for a 13-year-old from your nail stylist. Based on the information that the nail specialist gives you, make a more informed decision.
Can a 12-year-old get acrylic nails?
No! A 12-year-old should not get acrylic nails. A 12-year-old is still growing, and the product used can cause side effects. Your 12-year-old is also prone to suffer from a fungal infection if she gets acrylic nails.
The acrylic nails can also damage the nail bed if your 13-year-old does not properly care for her acrylic nails. So it’s not advised to get a 12-year-old.
Conclusion
To sum it up, there is no certain age you have to turn to for getting acrylic nails.
It depends on the salon policy and how much responsible the wearer is. If the person getting acrylic nails can take care of themselves, there is no reason to prohibit them from getting acrylic nails.
But if the children get them before 16 years, they can cause more damage than any good.
The chemicals harm the sensitive skin of children. Getting acrylic nails before turning 16 can also cause infections. It can get poisonous.
If you don’t take proper care of acrylic nails and break them, they damage the nail bed. To fix this, you have to undergo surgery.
That is why it is advisable to get acrylic nails after you turn 16. That is why some salons have 16 years or old policy when it comes to acrylic nails.