How To Wash Your Hair With Acrylic Nails: A Step-By-Step Guide
Having long, beautiful acrylic nails can make daily grooming tasks like washing your hair more difficult. But with some adjustments to your routine, you can keep your nails looking fabulous while also keeping your hair clean and healthy.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to keeping your hair clean while wearing acrylics: Use your fingertips instead of nails when massaging shampoo into scalp, switch to sulfate-free shampoos that require less scrubbing, and rely more on conditioner and gentle scalp massages to lift dirt between washes.
Adjust Your Shampooing Technique
Use Fingertips Instead of Nails on Scalp
When shampooing with long acrylic nails, it’s best to avoid scrubbing your scalp with the sharp nail tips. Using the pads of your fingertips instead helps ensure a gentle clean while preventing scratching or irritation of the delicate skin on your head.
Lightly massage the shampoo into your hair and scalp using just the pads of your fingers and thumbs. The nail tips can still help scrub the hair shafts and ends without irritating your scalp.
Choose Gentler, Sulfate-Free Shampoos
To avoid drying out hair and scalp when frequently shampooing with nails, consider switching to a gentler, sulfate-free formula. Sulfates are harsh detergents commonly found in shampoos that can strip hair of its natural oils.
Brands like OGX or SheaMoisture offer great affordable sulfate-free options for around $8-15 per bottle. Opting for a gentle lather will help prevent an irritated and flaky scalp.
Focus Lathering on Hair Ends and Roots
Rather than massaging shampoo all over your head, concentrate application on your hair roots around your scalp and the ends of your hair shafts. This puts less stress on your nails while still effectively cleaning.
| Section | Technique with Nails |
|---|---|
| Roots | Use pads of fingers to gently scrub shampoo into scalp near roots |
| Middle of Hair | Let water stream rinse soap through this section |
| Ends | Use nails to scrub ends and get out styling product buildup |
By shampooing more thoroughly at the roots and ends, you reduce work for the nails while still washing effectively. And acrylics will still grab lots of dirt and oils from finishing wash strokes down the hair lengths.
Maximize Conditioner and Other Products
Apply Conditioner Generously
When you have acrylic nails, it’s crucial to use conditioner generously when washing your hair. Apply a palmful of conditioner all over your hair after shampooing. Really work it into your strands from roots to ends. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes before rinsing so it can fully penetrate the hair shaft.
This will help add moisture and prevent breakage that can occur from washing hair with long nails.
Look for moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and argan oil in your conditioner. These will help smooth and soften hair. Stay away from formulas with sulfates as these can be drying. Using a deep conditioning hair mask 1-2 times per week will also help restore moisture and strength to strands.
Try a Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Using a pre-shampoo treatment is a great way to protect your hair when you have acrylics. Apply an oil like coconut, argan, or olive to dry hair before washing. Concentrate on the mid-lengths and ends. This will help reduce friction and snagging when shampooing.
The oil essentially helps lubricate the hair, making it easier to wash gently with nails.
Let the oil sit for at least 30 minutes or even overnight. For deeper conditioning, apply a hot oil treatment. Heat opens up the hair cuticle so the oil can really penetrate inside the strand. Try a hot oil treatment 1-2 times per month for ultra moisture.
Use Dry Shampoo Between Washes
Washing hair daily with long acrylic nails can cause damage. So it’s best to only shampoo every 2-3 days. Use a dry shampoo on non-wash days to absorb oil and refresh your strands. Spray it onto roots and brush through with a wide-tooth comb to disperse the powder.
This will buy you an extra day before shampooing again.
Look for dry shampoos made for your hair type, like fine, curly, or color-treated hair. Go for an oil-absorbing formula with volcanic minerals or rice starches rather than heavy talc powders. Brush thoroughly so there is no white residue leftover.
By maximizing conditioner, pre-treating with oils, and using dry shampoo between washes, you can keep your hair healthy and minimize breakage when washing with acrylic nails. Take it easy on wet strands and avoid over-washing. Your hair will thank you!
Be Gentle When Drying and Styling
Blot Hair Gently with Microfiber Towel
When you have acrylic nails, it’s important to be extra gentle when drying your hair. Vigorously rubbing wet hair with a towel can cause breakage and frizz. Instead, gently blot hair with a soft microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture.
Wrap sections of hair in the towel and press lightly to soak up water. This will minimize friction and prevent tugging that can damage hair.
Let Hair Air Dry When Possible
Letting your hair air dry naturally is the most gentle way to style when you have long nails. Air drying avoids damage from heat tools and allows hair to dry smoothly without frizz. For best results, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair serum to damp hair before air drying.
This seals in moisture and provides heat protection. Just be patient and give your hair time to fully air dry to avoid frizz from touching damp hair.
Use Gentle Heat Styling Tools If Needed
If you need to speed up drying time, use a hair dryer on a low heat setting and hold it at least 6 inches from your hair. Constant motion is key – don’t concentrate heat in one spot for too long. Switch to the cool shot setting before hair is completely dry to lock in shine.
When using hot styling tools like curling irons or flat irons, keep the temperature low and glide quickly through sections to avoid damage from prolonged direct heat. Apply a thermal protectant beforehand as well.
It’s also smart to opt for heat tools with wider plates and brushes when you have long nails. This creates larger sections so there’s less need to make multiple tight passes through hair, reducing the risk of breakage.
Tools like the Dyson Airwrap which use air pressure instead of high heat are other great gentle options.
The key is avoiding tugging at hair and overexposing it to harsh heat which can be damaging. With some thoughtful tweaks to your drying and styling routine, you can rock gorgeous acrylic nails without compromising the health of your hair.
Supplement With Other Grooming
Brush Regularly With Natural Bristle Brush
Brushing your hair regularly when you have acrylic nails is hugely important. Using a natural bristle brush helps distribute your hair’s natural oils from the roots to the ends. This helps keep strands strong and healthy between washes.
Aim to brush for 2-3 minutes per day, working the bristles gently through any tangles.
Choose a brush with bristles that aren’t too stiff or they may scratch the scalp. And be extra careful not to catch your nails on any knots as you brush – go slowly and gently tease them apart with your fingers if needed.
Massage Scalp While Conditioning
When you apply your regular conditioner in the shower, use the pads of your fingers to gently massage your scalp in small circular motions. Be careful not to catch your acrylic nails on your hair. This helps increase blood flow which delivers more nutrients to the hair follicles.
Focus on massaging areas around your temples, crown and nape of the neck. Spend 1-2 minutes massaging before rinsing out the conditioner. Over time this technique may help strengthen strands and stimulate growth.
Trim Ends Regularly
With acrylic nails, trimming your own hair can be tricky without catching a nail. If possible, book regular trims with your stylist – around every 8 weeks is ideal. This helps remove any split ends and keeps ends looking healthy.
If you do want to trim your hair yourself in between salon visits, work in small sections and point the nail tips away from the hair as you cut. Go slowly and carefully. Remove only 1⁄4 inch at most per trim to avoid cutting off too much length.
Conclusion
Acrylic nails shouldn’t get in the way of keeping your hair looking its best. Focus on protecting your nails by avoiding harsh scrubbing at the scalp. Instead, use conditioners, gentle massages and smart supplemental grooming to lift dirt between shampoos.
With some easy adjustments, you can maintain salon-fresh hair and fabulous nails.
What tips do you have for keeping hair clean while wearing acrylic nails? Share your best tricks in the comments!
