GR you are right, you MUST maintain acrylics regularly. And yes, they do affect your natural nail, so once you atart you are more or less committed to ongoing maintenance. However, your natural nails will grow back full strength in time, if you ever decide to stop doing acrylic.

Another point to mention is that acrylics have to be completely renewed every five months or so. The plastic ages and loses its adherence to the nail, and then you have to soak them off with acetone and have them renewed. But any good nail tech will tell you when this needs doing.

Cost, ongoing maintenance, these are the downsides. But IMHO the benefits far outweigh the negatives. And when your nail tech is as gorgeous as mine is, who gives a toss about the cost?

Murray