Can Acrylic Nails Be Painted? [If So, How Exactly?!]

Acrylic nails are a wonderful cosmetic change and offer a way to spice up your hands.

However, what if you want to fully customize them?

Is it possible to apply a bit of nail polish to your acrylic nails, or is that off-limits?

This is a question many people have when it comes to their nails and rightly so.

Let’s take a look at whether or not it’s okay to paint acrylic nails and how to go about doing it.

Can Acrylic Nails Be Painted?

It’s fine and absolutely safe to paint your acrylic nails. Good news!

Acrylic Tips are just like any other surface and can be painted as long as you are using and applying the right nail polish.

When the right nail polish is applied, these nails are going to look amazing, and that’s when you can customize them based on what you want.

The beauty of going down this route is how easy it is to make changes. You can repaint them!

This is what makes acrylic nails a lot of fun for those who want to add them to their overall look.

They’re flexible, fully customizable and you are not restricted by any one style!

How to Paint Acrylic Nails

Preparation

Before beginning with the products, it’s time to think about the preparatory work needed.

The nails aren’t going to be ready to go as soon as you sit down.

Instead, it’s important to begin by removing any type of nail polish that’s already in place. If not, you can skip to the next step.

You are going to remove the nail polish with an acrylic-friendly nail polish remover. To do this, you are going to need to first wash your hands with water.

Dry the nails using a cloth and then let it sit for a few minutes as it air dries. This is more than enough to work away with the nail polish remover.

Even if you don’t have some type of nail polish on from before, you are recommended to keep your hands clean with a bit of water. Don’t wash them for too long!

When you wash your hands, use nothing more than a bar of simple antibacterial soap. This will be more than enough to get the job done.

When the hands are ready to go, it’s time to prepare the actual products you’re going to be using.

For this, you are going to have to find something that is acrylic-friendly.

This means it will have to work well with Ethyl Methacrylate, which is the scientific term used to indicate what’s in acrylic nails.

The nail tech is going to use a special powder while shaping the nails, and it’s important to account for this when it’s time to buy nail polish.

Take the time to do your research and buy a base coat, nail polish, and topcoat. This will ensure the final look is on par with what you want.

2) Base Coat

For the base coat, you are going to want to start with something that’s acrylic-friendly.

You want to get the entire nail and make sure at least two layers are applied for a more seasoned finish.

Some may not like the idea of a base coat, and that’s a personal preference. However, it’s best to go down this route as it keeps the actual nail polish safer over the long-term and makes it sparkle a bit too.

3) Nail Polish

For the nail polish, you are going to want to let the base coat dry for a few minutes.

Once the base coat is dry to the touch, you can move forward with the nail polish.

Two coats will be more than enough as long as you get the entire nail.

You want to choose a color that matches what you are hoping to get. Remember, this is totally up to you and your preference!

4) Top Coat

The last step is an important one and shouldn’t be ignored.

You are going to apply a layer on top of the nail polish to seal the deal.

This means you are going to take a special finishing product to layer on top of the main nail polish. This will dry on top and make it look impressive from all angles.

While doing this, it’s important to make sure you are not using a UV-based top coat.

This isn’t good for the nails and may end up leading to unwanted chips. Acrylic doesn’t respond well to this type of topcoat.

For those thinking about adding a topcoat, it’s best to go with something that’s made of refined ingredients and has good reviews.

This is a lot easier to use and will work as soon as it’s layered on top.

You can actually get a Base and Top Coat duo at an excellent price when bought together.

I love the Seche Vite combo which is available on Amazon.

Maintenance

Maintenance is essential when it comes to your acrylic nails. This applies whether or not you are moving forward with the nail polish.

In general, you want to think about creating a daily routine.

With nail polish, the idea is to wear gloves rather than soaking the hands in water for long periods (i.e., extended baths).

You want to make it easier for the nail polish to remain in place rather than drowning it in water.

This is when the nail polish starts to wither away. You also should look to use oil-free hand cream on a daily basis.

This will make it easier to ensure the nails don’t break down and stay as healthy as you want them to be.

You should also be sure to maintain your nails at times in between Acrylic Nail wear.

Be sure to take regular breaks from them to give your natural nails a chance to naturally recover and strengthen.

Being exposed to the air, Oxygen will help them to self-moisturize and enable their natural oils to be created. You can always

Final Thoughts

In the end, acrylic nails are a beautiful addition to your look, and it’s all about personalizing the finer details.

Whether you are going for a darker shade or something bright, it’s up to you, and that’s what makes them so special.

The best part is, you are not bound to what the nail tech applies. Nor are you destined for the first color that you choose.

Instead, it’s easy to play around with different color nail polishes and get your nails to appear just the way you had imagined.

This is what makes acrylic nails a no-brainer when it comes to quality, aesthetics, and overall beauty.

Plus they’re pretty customizable too!