Mission, BC · By appointment
Acrylic full set
Structure built on top of your own nail, so you get strength and length that your natural nails may never reach on their own — shaped to whatever actually suits your hands.
Private studio — the address is sent with your booking confirmation.
What acrylic is
A liquid and a powder are combined and shaped over your nail, sometimes over a tip for extra length. It cures hard in open air — no lamp — and creates a structural layer that does not bend or tear the way a natural nail does.
That structure is the whole point. If your nails split at the free edge or break as soon as they grow past your fingertip, acrylic gives them something to live inside while they grow underneath.
Choosing a shape
Shape changes how a set looks more than colour does. The common ones:
- Almond — tapered with a rounded tip. Softens the hand, very forgiving.
- Square — straight across. Strongest shape, shortest-looking.
- Coffin / ballerina — tapered with a flat tip. Needs some length to work.
- Stiletto — pointed. The most dramatic and the least practical.
- Oval — rounded and natural. Good at shorter lengths.
Not sure? Bring a photo of a hand you like the look of. Shape gets decided together at the appointment.
Fills, and how often
Acrylic does not fall off — your nail grows and a gap appears at the base. That gap gets filled rather than the whole set being replaced.
Most people come back every two to three weeks. Leaving it much longer puts stress on the join, which is where lifting and breaks start.
What changes the price
$55 is where a full set starts. It moves with:
- Length — longer takes more product and more shaping time
- Shape — coffin and stiletto take longer than square
- Nail art, chrome, French or accent nails
- Removing an existing set, especially one done elsewhere
- Fills cost less than a new set
Looking after them
- Book your fill before the regrowth gets wide — it protects the set and costs less than a repair
- Cuticle oil daily, around the base and underneath the free edge
- If one lifts or cracks, come in. Water under a lifted nail is the thing to avoid.
- Never pull or pry a set off. That is what causes the damage acrylic gets blamed for.
Questions about this service
What is the difference between acrylic and gel?
Gel polish is colour on your own natural nail — shine and durability, but no extra length. Acrylic builds structure on top of the nail, adding strength and length and letting the shape be changed completely. If your nails break before they grow, acrylic is the one you want.
Do acrylics ruin your natural nails?
Not when they are applied carefully and removed properly. The damage people describe almost always comes from prying a set off at home, or from leaving fills far too long so the join lifts and moisture gets underneath.
How often do I need a fill?
Every two to three weeks for most people, depending on how fast your nails grow. The set itself can be maintained for months that way rather than being replaced each time.
Can I go back to natural nails afterwards?
Yes. Book a removal rather than taking them off yourself — removal starts at $25 and includes nail and cuticle treatment. Your natural nails may feel thin at first; that is normal and they recover with oil and a bit of time.