Acrylic nails may give you an instant glow-up, but they have several downsides. Can you have flawless, shiny nails without the harsh chemicals? Thankfully, you’ll find several acrylic nails alternatives that give you the best of both worlds.
We’re no longer in an era where you have to sacrifice your health and well-being for the sake of beauty. We’ll show you all the options available, including gel, dip, and fiberglass.
But there’s one reliable, healthy alternative to acrylic nails that everyone is talking about as the best option. Polish Pops nail kits are revolutionizing the nail care world. Our nail wraps are cruelty-free, Vegan, 14-free, and HEMA-free, offering the safest way to get a vibrant manicure.
Polish Pops provide you with the most convenient way to transform your nails. You apply our nail wraps by peeling the adhesive, pressing them onto your fingers, and then curing them under UV light (if using gel). You’ll be admiring your fresh new nails in just 15 minutes or less.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our fabulous customers:
“I started using Polish Pops after taking off a set of acrylics from the salon. My nails were so brittle and so short some of them were actually bleeding. After just three weeks of using polish pops my nails look amazing. They are so easy to apply and there are so many gorgeous designs to choose from. I would definitely recommend”
“Loving this sparkly, soft red to kick off the holiday season. And my nails have never previously maintained this length without damaging dips or acrylics. LOVE Polish Pops!”
“I have tried countless nail polish solutions to avoid acrylics and gel manicures that ruin my natural nail. Polish Pops Popped up in my IG Feed, looked great but I thought “too good to be true”. Finally I purchased, they went on great and lasted close to 2 weeks. Fast forward, I’m on my third set. I couldn’t be happier with how they look and the removal process.”
Visit our shop to discover over 100 styles, including nail art and holiday designs for every occasion!
All About Acrylic Nails
We’re going to explore the best alternative to acrylic nails in this guide. But before we can distinguish acrylic nails alternatives from one another, we first need to start with the original.
Acrylic nails are a staple of the beauty industry. When you put on a full set of acrylics, you instantly elevate your manicure with length, strength, and plenty of design potential. You can shape acrylic nails any way you desire, from the avant-garde coffin style to timeless oval or square designs.
Acrylic nails involve a chemical cocktail of liquid and powder polymers. You place these materials onto your nails, allowing them to harden into a solid, glossy finish. However, there’s a significant downside to this method.
Acrylics sit on top of your natural nails, where they quickly break down the underlying structure. Your natural nails will become thin, brittle, and prone to infection. Acrylic nails emit harsh fumes during the application process, which you don’t want to breathe in regularly.
Acrylic nails are difficult to remove. You typically need to visit a salon to remove or replace them, which can be costly and potentially cause further damage to your natural nails.
Why You Might Want an Acrylic Nails Alternative
Is it worth it to look for a healthy alternative to acrylic nails? While acrylic nails have a reputation for glam, they aren’t the only option you have. Several acrylic nails alternatives can help you achieve fantastic results without potential downsides.
The Impact of Acrylics on Natural Nail Health
Acrylic nails look fabulous on the outside. But there’s a price to pay for that external glam - your natural nails will suffer.
Applying acrylics involves harsh chemicals, which weaken your nails over time. Your underlying nails will become prone to breakage, peeling, and even bleeding. You’re also at higher risk of infections, especially if moisture or bacteria get trapped between the acrylic overlay and your natural nail bed.
The removal process for acrylics is similarly dangerous. You need to use chemicals like acetone, which removes natural oils and dries out your nail bed. Most acrylic nails alternatives are healthier because they avoid harmful ingredients and allow your natural nails to breathe.
The Time and Cost Commitment of Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are among the most time-consuming beauty routines. You need to maintain them every 2 to 3 weeks with regular salon visits. You’ll spend more than an hour at the salon for your appointments.
This is a significant burden on both your schedule and your wallet. That’s before you factor in time spent driving to and from the salon, or money spent on tips or picking up a coffee on the way home.
The best alternative to acrylic nails will save you time and money without sacrificing results.
Environmental and Ethical Considerations
Acrylic nails alternatives aren’t just great for your health. Acrylics have serious ethical and environmental concerns.
The polymers and monomers in acrylics contribute to pollution during manufacturing and disposal. Many of these ingredients are animal-tested and/or animal-derived. Acrylic nails are not a viable choice for sustainability or ethics-focused consumers.
Is There an Alternative to Acrylic Nails That Still Looks Good and Lasts, Though?
Acrylics are still a popular option despite their drawbacks. People are willing to overlook these issues for the long-term durability and flawless shine of acrylics.
However, the reality is that you don’t have to accept the downsides of acrylics just to achieve flawless results. You can have your cake and eat it too with the best alternative to acrylic nails.
What is the Best Alternative to Acrylic Nails?
Your next step is to find a viable alternative. However, there are plenty of acrylic nails alternatives for you to choose from. How do you determine which one is best for you?
We’ll need an alternative that is healthy for your natural nails, environmentally friendly, less expensive than salon visits, and convenient to use.
Let’s explore each option. We’ll discuss the differences in gel vs dip nails, review unique options like fiberglass, and help you make a final decision.
Semi-Cured Gel Wraps From Polish Pops
Polish Pops is the #1 acrylic nails alternative. Our wraps are cruelty-free, Vegan, 14-free, and HEMA-free, offering a safe and ethical way to achieve glam nails.
We sell gel nails in adhesive form. You peel the strips, press them onto your nails, cure them under a UV light, and then admire the final results. The entire process takes 15 minutes or less.
Our gel nail kits are the fastest and most convenient way to achieve glam nails. You don’t need to be an expert on how to do gel nails at home with UV light or worry about how to do nail art. Just choose from over 100+ designs, follow the process, and you’re all set.
Nail wraps and strips preserve your nail health in the long term. Your nails will grow long and healthy, giving you the same length of acrylics without harsh chemicals.
Nail Polish Wraps From Polish Pops
Do you prefer regular nail polish to gel? Our nail polish wraps offer an alternative to acrylic nails that is both convenient and stylish. They are cruelty-free, Vegan, HEMA-free, and 14-free, just like our gel kits. You get an at-home manicure in minutes, without a UV lamp.
You can remove our polish wraps and gel strips with just a cuticle stick, avoiding harsh chemicals like acetone. There’s also no dry time to take up time in your busy schedule.
We recommend our gel strips over our standard nail polish wraps as an acrylic nails alternative. Gel lasts almost twice as long (7-10 vs. 14+ days) and has a smooth finish. However, both are healthier, more ethical, and more convenient compared to acrylics.
How does our brand compare to other companies in the space?
Dashing Diva is a popular brand. But when you look at Polish Pops vs Dashing Diva, our brand has better ingredient quality, durability, and value for the cost.
Polish Pops vs Color Street is another popular debate. Color Street offers visually appealing products; however, their wraps require acetone and polish remover. Polish Pops is the only way to ensure your nails remain healthy.
Dip Powder Nails
Nail wraps and strips aren’t the only acrylic nails alternatives. Dip powder is one of the most popular choices. Dip powder contains fewer odors and is less damaging to your nails, but it’s not perfect.
When you dip your nails into the powder, you’re still applying chemicals that dry out your nail bed in the long term. Removing dip powder also requires acetone, like acrylics.
Traditional Gel Polish Nails
Gel nails are another viable alternative to acrylics. Stark differences in acrylic vs gel nails make them the healthier choice. Gel nails are light and flexible. This lowers the risk of your nails becoming brittle or breaking.
Gel nails also require acetone for removal, unless you’re using one of our gel nail strips. Gel manicures are expensive in salons and can take up to an hour of your time. UV light might also be a concern. It’s safer than the chemicals in acrylics, but could be damaging if you have sensitive skin.
Polygel Nails
Polygel is a hybrid of acrylics and gel nails. You’ll have the flexibility of gel nails and the durability of acrylics. However, they also bring the downsides of both methods: the UV lamp, acetone for removal, and potential stress to your underlying nails.
Hard Gel (Builder Gel)
Hard gel is thicker than standard gel. This provides a sturdy and glossy finish, but it can feel heavy on your fingers. You need to use acetone and heavy filing to remove hard gel, which can harm your underlying nail health.
Silk Nail Wraps
Silk nail wraps are one of the lightest alternatives to acrylic nails. They appear as a thin layer of fabric on top of your nail bed.
Silk nail wraps have the opposite problem of hard gel. They are too lightweight, causing them to lift, tear, or chip easily. They aren’t a good canvas for complex nail art and require frequent replacement.
Long-term durability is a key highlight of acrylic nails. Silk nail wraps fail to meet that standard, making them a poor replacement.
Fiberglass Nails
Fiberglass nails are tiny mesh strips. They have a natural feel, but have issues with tears and damage, similar to silk nail wraps. Small mistakes during application can create lumps and uneven surfaces on your nails. Fiberglass nails require curing and removal, just like gel, which means using acetone.
Which Acrylic Nails Alternative is Right For You?
It’s time to decide. You understand how all of these acrylic alternatives work, but which one is right for you?
First, let’s review what makes acrylic nails so popular. They are durable, shiny, and offer limitless nail art potential. However, this comes with steep drawbacks. Acrylic nails are ethically dubious, dangerous to your nail health, and expensive in terms of time and money.
We can immediately eliminate all options that are simply inferior versions of acrylics. Fiberglass and silk nail wraps yield weaker results than acrylics, with little upside, so they aren’t suitable replacements.
There are also a handful of alternatives that avoid some of the downsides of acrylics. Hard gel and polygel are slightly better for your nail health, but they can feel heavy on your fingers and still involve acetone. But “good enough” isn’t what we’re looking for.
Traditional gel manicures and dip powder are almost viable. They provide results that closely resemble acrylics, but are still time-consuming, expensive, and not ideal for your nail health.
The truth is that there’s only one acrylic alternative that ticks all your boxes and more: nail wrap kits from Polish Pops.
Our salon-quality products are free from harmful ingredients, certified Vegan, and cruelty-free. They’re simple to use, as you just peel, press, cure, and admire. The entire process takes 15 minutes or less.
We offer 100+ styles, including basic colors, holiday designs, and unique nail art looks. Our nail wraps provide the ideal environment for your natural nails to grow. You can remove our nail strips with a cuticle stick, which avoids the need for acetone.
We also offer standard nail polish wraps, providing the same professional-quality results without the need for UV light.
Hear how our fantastic customers have switched from acrylics and turned around their nail health:
“I have had extremely brittle nails for the past 40 years due to having acrylics & gel nails. Whatever is in your amazing product has strengthened my nails. I am only on my 3rd set since January and look how long & strong my nails are…extremely glad I took a chance on Polish Pops!”
“I have had acrylic nails for 25+ years. My natural nails are horrible. So I thought I would give Polish Pops a try. I am still learning how to do this, but even as a novice, I am very happy with how they go on, how they look, and how long they last.”
“I usually have very long acrylic nails, Polish Pops are amazing ! Still getting used to the application but I am a cuticle picker and it has helped! And my nails are growing !”
Your natural nails deserve a break. With Polish Pops, you can let them grow naturally, while still turning heads with salon-quality results.
Parting Thoughts on a Healthy Alternative to Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are popular for a good reason. They provide an excellent foundation for nail art, allowing you to showcase a shiny, vibrant manicure.
But underneath that glam, your natural nails are crying for help. Acrylics are turning your nail beds into a weak, brittle mess. Plus, they’re putting a hole in your budget and calendar.
Polish Pops are the best alternative to acrylic nails. You get to keep the stunning professional results that shine thanks to over 100 styles. You just use a cuticle stick to remove our gel nail strips, which is a safe and healthy alternative compared to acetone.
We’re always adding new designs to our store. Check out our selections to find your next favorite style. Your nails will thank you for it!
