Yes! You can bowl with short acrylic nails. So if you love your beautiful nails and your regular Saturday night bowling date with friends, you won’t have to give up either one.
However, it will take a bit of extra care on your part in order to avoid damaging a nail, or worse, injuring yourself. And, if you’ve ever had a painful nail break, you know just how much that can hurt.
This article will discuss what you can do to protect your nails while you work on your strike zone magic. From learning new ways to roll the ball to using nail protection tools, you will discover that there are many things you can do to keep your nails safe.
Is It Safe To Bowl With Acrylic Nails?
Yes. It is safe to bowl with acrylic nails as long as you take extra care in how you handle the bowling ball. Here are some techniques for holding the ball that you can try.
The Granny-Roll
Not just for grannies anymore, The granny-roll is the easiest way to protect your nails.
Here is how you do the granny-roll:
- Cup the bowling ball with both hands
- Walk up to the line
- Spread your legs for balance
- Swing the ball back between your legs and release it towards the pins
You may not win any style points praise, but you will keep your nails safe with this move.
Get a Larger Bowling Ball
If the granny-roll isn’t doing it for you, try getting a larger bowling ball. The larger the bowling ball, the bigger the holes.
Larger holes make it much easier to grip the bowling ball more carefully as well as give you more room when releasing the ball, decreasing the chances of your nails hitting the ball and breaking.
The downside to this is that bowling balls get heavier as they get bigger. If you’re a serious bowler, you may want to work on some upper-body weight training in order to compensate for the heavier ball. It may also take some time to work on your bowling technique as the heavier weight may throw your game off.
Did you know that Storm bowling balls have tons of different fragrances available for their bowling balls? This Storm bowling ball is widely popular due to its Grapevine Fragrance!
Use a Ball Ramp
Ball ramps are available at most bowling alleys and are most commonly used by younger or disabled bowlers.
Ball ramps are made out of metal and have a pedestal where the bowling ball rests until you are ready to push it down the ramp. All you need to do is aim the ramp in the direction you want the ball to go.
Ball ramps are also quite light and easy to move around.
How Do I Stop My Nails From Breaking When Bowling?
Taking extra good care of your nails is vital if you want to do an activity like bowling. If you love your beautiful nails, you will want to follow these nail care tips to keep them strong and durable.
Good Diet and Hydration
Your acrylic nails are only as good as the foundation on which they are glued, that is, your fingernails.
- Take biotin supplements: Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that aids in the metabolism of amino acids, is essential for nail growth, and promotes healthy cell growth. If you prefer to get your biotin from natural sources, you will find it in yeast, salmon, egg yolk, nuts, liver, sweet potatoes, seeds, and more.
- Drink plenty of water: Water is beneficial for a whole lot of things; nails are one of them. If your nails are brittle and cracking, it can be a sign of dehydration. Try to drink at least eight 8 oz glasses of water every day.
- Take a multivitamin with mineral supplements: Vitamins and minerals support your entire body, not just nails. Iron, vitamin A, and C are especially important for strong nails.
- Use gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products: Harsh chemicals can damage and dehydrate your nails.
Don’t Over File Nail Bed
Filing the nail bed is necessary for proper adhesion of the glue for the acrylic nails. But over filing can weaken your nails.
If your manicurist is sanding down your nails with a sanding drill, she may be overdoing it. All that is really necessary is a light buffing by hand. You should ask your manicurist to ease up on the sanding or switch to someone with a lighter touch.
Use Ethyl Methacrylate
There are two different types of acrylic, ethyl methacrylate (EMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). MMA is a dental acrylic that is very hard and will not soak off in acetone. It has to be filed off and can cause damage to your nails.
There have been many reports about MMA damaging and discoloring nails. It is not a band product, however, because it has safe applications in other areas. While most reputable nail salons should know this, some continue to use it because it is less expensive than Ethyl Methacrylate.
Never be afraid to ask what type of acrylic your nail salon uses.
Check for Cracks Before You Go Bowling
If you see a crack in your acrylics, do NOT go bowling until you get it fixed. Cracks are vulnerable spots that can be easily damaged by bowling. Having a nail ripped off is very painful. Don’t take any chances!
Get Regular Nail Refills
It is recommended that you get a nail refill every three weeks. Nail refills are needed because, as your nails grow, a small gap opens up between the cuticle and acrylic nails. Not only does that not look great, it can also cause other problems.
First, it gives your nail artist a chance to look at your nails and make sure no lifting has taken place. If your acrylics have started to lift, that means they have a much higher chance of catching on something and being ripped or broken off, specifically, by your bowling ball!
Lifting can also be detrimental because there is a chance that bacteria or dirt can get between the nail and the acrylic, which can create inflammation and pain.
Get Your Acrylic Nails Removed by a Professional
Removing acrylic nails needs to be done by soaking the nails in acetone for at least ten minutes. Acetone breaks down the glue that is used to hold the acrylic in place. Adding heat can also speed this process along.
This process takes the expertise and patience of a professional nail artist. Removing acrylic nails by force can cause severe and painful damage to your nails.
Most professional nail technicians will also use a nail drill to file down the acrylic coating, which helps in the removal process. After they get your acrylics off, they will also hydrate your nails, which is important for replacing the essential oils that keep your nails from becoming brittle.
Give Your Nails a Break
Your nails need a break from acrylics about every three to six months. The longer your nails are under acrylics, the more you have a chance of developing micro bacteria or nail fungi.
Your nails can also become discolored and brittle from the long-term use of acrylics. In this weakened condition, acrylic nails will not adhere properly and become more prone to painful breaks.
How Do You Protect Your Nails While Bowling?
There are several things you can use to cover and protect your acrylic nails.
Protective Tape
Protective tape is useful for wrapping the fingers and thumb that you use for bowling. This will provide your nails with added strength to withstand the added stress of bowling on your nails. You can use as much as you need to wrap your nails.
Pre-Cut Protective Tape
The nice thing about this tape is that it is conveniently cut up for you into smaller pieces, ready to wrap up your nails before bowling.
Fingertip Bandages
You probably already have these in your medicine cabinet. Fingertip bandages, also known as butterfly bandages, go over the ends of your fingers. Their butterfly shape is designed to easily wrap around the end of your finger and nail, providing extra strength and protection against breakage.
Finger Cots
Finger cots slide over the nail and tip of your finger. Some people have found it helpful to place a rubber band around the base of the finger cot to keep it securely in place. There is no goopy tape or glue to worry about, making this a popular option.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, how you choose to protect your nails while you are bowling is up to you. For the greatest protection, you should consider adopting a couple of different methods to keep your acrylic nails safe from damage while you are bowling. For example, you might try using finger cots with a larger bowling ball.
A diet rich in biotin, vitamins, and minerals, as well as using safe products, and professional nail artists will also make your nails strong and damage-resistant. Which will in turn keep your acrylic nails looking better and lasting longer.
You no longer have to choose between beauty and bowling, now you can have both!