It used to be that a typical Vancouver manicure would end with a simple polishing. The wildest you could do was get a French tip, paint your nails red or even wilder, in neon colors! But Japan’s come up with something really crazy and beautiful -the artificial nail craze.

What started in an innocent Vancouver japanese nail salon has now boomed into a modern global trend: fake nail art. Whether you’re just curious or you’ve been eyeing fake nail art for some time, this article is filled with useful need-to-know facts.

The advantages of getting fake nails:

One of the considerations to make in getting artificial nails is the lifestyle you lead. Sure you may love the feeling of having beautifully designed nails fitted specially for your fingers but if you’re into a lot of extreme sports, those nails won’t last. If your job involves dirty work, or even just a lot of working with your hands, it’s usually not a good idea to get artificial nails.

Here’s some useful info to remember if you choose to get them:

Nails are easily attached and removed by professionals, so you can have them changed anytime you want. That means you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a single design for a long time. If you wish to have your nails match your outfit, you can do that very easily!

Apply only the necessary amount of nail oil to keep your nails healthy and moisturized.

Having them attached effectively eliminated nail biting. Aside from the fact that you will have trouble biting your artificial nails because they’re tough, you will also be conscious of the times that you are nail biting, hence, you can consciously prevent yourself from doing it.

They are perfectly safe if all instructions for attachment, care, and maintenance are followed. Tips on caring for the nails: You’ve already splurged on getting them attached, so don’t be stingy when it comes to maintenance. Get the proper tools necessary to take care of your nails at home, don’t share them with anyone else, and keep them properly sanitized.

Don’t wear them for longer than 4 months as they will get damaged and broken, risking infection to your real nails.

Don’t wear the nails for more than 3 months to ensure quality and safety -as the nails may discolor by then or may actually break and damage real nails.

Should you choose to have some attached, here are a few tips to remember: Safety first: take care not to break the nails, and should you break them, have them repaired or replaced by professionals. Tampering with the adhesive and chemicals without understanding how to use them can get you an allergy, or worse, an infection.

If you do your own nails at home, never share the tools you use with anyone. And keep them clean. If unsure about anything regarding the health and maintenance of your nails, consult the pros.