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Elana Ross

The plastic tips are being glued onto the natural nail, from there they are cut down to the length and shape the customer prefers. "I hate painting my nails and with acrylics I can just pick out a color and be good for a month or so before I have to go in and get them done again," senior Hannah Haslach says.

A new trend has emerged in the last few months, lots of girls can be spotted with fake nails, with a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes. Students can alter them just the way they want and create the image they are going for. Most get them because they like the look of the nails and some get it to help them from biting nails.

Acrylic nails have been around for a very long time, first starting in the Chinese Ming dynasty. Noblewomen would get acrylic nails to show others that no hard labor was expected from them. A form of fake nails appeared in Greece during the 19th century and the upper class women would put pistachio shells over their nails to show superiority.

The first form closest to the acrylics we have now came from Fred Slacks dental mishap in 1954. Slacks was a dentist working on a patient when he broke off a nail. This  affected his work so Slack decided to create a fake nail to substitute the one he lost. After that acrylics spread around the whole U.S. Most wore them for special occasions like weddings or prom but now however acrylics are becoming more common for everyday wear.

Acrylics started as a sign of superiority and now they are worn just for the looks. Students say that acrylics make them feel put together, confident and help make outfits come together. Teens have started wearing acrylics for everyday wear now instead of just special occasions for many reasons whether it is the looks or to stop nail biting.

“I like acrylics better than my natural nails because they are pretty and they look better,” junior Madi Gackstetter said.

When acrylics are not used for the looks they can be used to help someone who struggles with biting nails and help to protect nails from splitting. They also create a look of very healthy nails.

“I like acrylic nails because they make my nails look really nice and healthy, even when I don’t have to grow them out and worry about them breaking,” sophomore Micaela Engebretsen said.

The downfall of getting fake nails is that a lot of damage is done to the customer’s nail. The removal process is very hard on your nail. Nails have a layer of them taken off after removal, resulting in weak nails.

“I realized all the damage done when I just recently got mine off for gymnastics season. My nails were left pretty weak because the top layer of the nail underneath comes off,” senior Hannah Haslach said.

Acrylic nails may look nice, but they also come with a high price. When it comes to nails quality over quantity is sometimes the risk that has to be taken. Most start at $30 and up for a full set, which normally lasts two to three weeks. After that one typically needs to get them filled, which can start at $20, however each nail place differs. If you choose to let them keep growing, they tend to get annoying. Hair gets caught in them, residue gets stuck underneath them and everyday tasks like texting are a more work than needed.

“I’ve only gotten acrylics a few times, usually for special occasions like dances. I normally get gel polish because it is a cheaper option but still looks just as nice as acrylics do,” Engebresten said.

Students who wear nails say that they help give them a little extra boost of confidence, making them feel more put together, or completing the missing piece from their outfit. With a multitude of shapes, lengths and colors, there is something out there for any student thinking about getting acrylic nails.

“I get them done every 2 or 3 weeks, it is fun to switch up the colors. They also help keep my nails looking a lot nicer than my natural nails,” Gackstetter said.