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Acrylic nails may be the best-recommended synthetic nails on earth. Acrylic nails are known as polymer monomer acrylic nails using an acrylic brush. Acrylic faux nails are sturdy and strong and are an excellent choice when seeking long-lasting false nails.
Imagine this, you decided to stay in for the weekend and are having a self-care day. You are done with your acrylic nails and want to pamper yourself with a fresh new color only to realize that you have run out of acetone! Worry not; we have got your back, you won’t even need to leave the house or go to the nail salon to take off your acrylic nails1.
In this article, we will show you a few techniques to get rid of your acrylic nails at home. Keep reading even if you just want a healthier alternative to swap out acetone and the damage it causes to your skin.
1. What is Acetone?
Acetone is a solvent widely used for cleaning and removal of products. Often used in medicine, it is propane-2 oz2. Dimethyl ketone. Using acetone for nails will remove any adhesive that keeps them attached.
Nonetheless, using it incorrectly or over time may cause irritation and damage to your skin and nails. Acetone may be very irritating to people with severe headaches.
2. Why Use Acetone?
Acetone has become an effective way to remove faux nails because it can easily dissolve the adhesive. Using the cleaner can help remove nail debris and remove excess nail polish from nail beds.
Acetone can quickly remove acrylic, but it should be handled cautiously. Occasionally acetone allergy3 sufferers will find it useful to understand what is possible to substitute.
Without further ado, here are the ways:
3. How To Take Off Acrylic Nails:
3.1 Method 1– Use a Non-Acetone Remover:
Although acetone is the most common and effective way to remove polish or fake nails, it can cause considerable damage if used regularly. We would recommend a softer or non-acetone nail polish remover to reduce the damage, albeit it might take longer to finish the process.
You can also use a nail polish remover pad instead of a liquid solution. These pads come in compact packaging and are spill-free, easy to carry, and travel-friendly since they have no acetone but are saturated with oils and still do the deed.
That brings us to our next point.
3.2 Method 2- Oils:
Grease is a good way to remove any kind of paint. Cuticle oils protect and nurture your cuticle from the harsh chemicals in nail paints and removers, the buffing process, the glue from false nails, and the UV light used for curing or drying them. It is safe to apply cuticle oil to your nails to loosen the grip of the acrylics.
This should be kept at hand for the removal of manicures. It helps to keep the cuticles hydrated before and after a manicure, helps to moisturize them, and helps prevent dandruff and sagging.
If you do not have cuticle oil, you know that any essential oils you may be using on your skin or in your bath are safe and skin-friendly. You can drop a few drops of the oil on the base of the nail and soak it well before the glue softens, and you can take off your false nails.
Speaking of skin and baths leads us to our next method.
3.3 Method 3- Soap it up:
The easiest hack you can do at home is soaking your nails in hot, soapy water and allowing the nail bed to loosen the glue under your nails. You should use hot water as it quickens and allows a painless removal process.
Once the nails are soaked and the adhesive has melted away, you can use a cotton swab to peel the fake nail off. This is the most commonly used method of fake nail removal, and it usually works most effectively for most people.
3.4 Method 4- Alternatives:
If none of the above-mentioned techniques work, you can use any mild perfume you own or rub alcohol in place of an acetone remover. Spray some perfume or rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and rub it on the base of the nail.
Rubbing a slice of lime will also accomplish the deed as it is acidic in nature and a natural product in comparison to a regular nail paint remover or acetone. You can also mix some vinegar with lime juice solution and soak your fingers for half an hour to help soften the acrylic. Your local hand sanitizer also contains acetone and can be used as an alternative.
Unfortunately, rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers might be as damaging as acetone, even though diluted, as they, too, cause dryness on the skin and nail bed.
Another alternative method that blew up as a viral social media hack would be to use dental floss or some sort of strong thread. This usually works for acrylic nails that have grown out, and you can see the base of your nails and cuticle area.
Carefully place the thread beneath the base of the acrylic nail from the cuticle side and push it beneath the acrylic nail. You have to essentially sandwich the floss between the acrylic and your nail at the base so that the thread will loosen the glue grip from your nail underneath.
If you do not have dental floss at home or you are outside the house where you do not have access to it, you can also use a business card or a credit/debit card, which is tough enough and will not bend by pressure. You can use the corner of the card and try to push it between the fake acrylic nail and the real nail. It follows the same technique as the dental floss method4.
*Professional nail experts and salons do not recommend the floss method. If the thread is too sharp or slips, it may cut your skin and cause bleeding at the nail base. However, if done carefully, it can be a quick-fix resort.
It would be advisable not to try the dental floss method by yourself as you would be using only one hand to adjust and pull the thread. Instead, have someone do it for you as they will have a better grip and control on the thread or floss. With proper technique, repetition, and experience, you can try it yourself once you have mastered the technique.
3.5 Method 5- Nail file:
This should ideally be your last resort as it may damage the natural nail beneath the acrylics if not done carefully. Hence, we have placed this as the last option. We suggest trimming your acrylic nails with a nail cutter or nail clip as much as possible before filing away with the nail file to cause as little discomfort as possible.
The bulk of the acrylic might take a while to remove as you are not using any material to soften the acrylic away from your natural nail. Use the coarse side of the file in a slow back-and-forth motion to file away carefully at your nails.
The best option is a gentler method like the ones mentioned earlier. Try to take it slow and lift the nail gradually.
4. Advanced Techniques
A more advanced technique would be to use an electric nail file, which fundamentally does the same thing as a manual nail file but with much less effort. We do not recommend using it without proper training and instruction. If you do possess an electric nail file, gently file away the acrylic nail in a slow back-and-forth motion.
Since acrylic nails are harder than gel nails, you might have to work on them for a while. Hold the file like a pen or a brush and gradually file it away. If at any point you feel distressed about using the electric file, it is proposed that you stop using the machine immediately. Do not file at one point on the acrylic nail; keep moving the file back and forth to avoid friction at one point.
This friction might overheat the machine and damage your nails underneath. A typhoon coarse drill bit is usually recommended and gives the best results in removing acrylic nails.
If not utilized correctly, high-vibrating drills can damage your nails or your client’s nails if you offer to remove them for someone else and cause wrist or arm injury.
5. Conclusion
All the methods mentioned above require patience, time, and careful control to work well. Just as the procedure of applying acrylics 5takes attention and time, so does the taking-off part. That is why most people return to the nail salon where they got them done to redo the process. While we would recommend the same, safely diy-ing things doesn’t hurt.
If you have time and the skill, you can learn to apply and remove acrylic nails at home by yourself. Using these techniques, you can even help someone else do the same.
Remember that you cannot soak your nails in hot water for a couple of minutes and expect the acrylic to let go of the adhesive. It needs to be soaked for at least 20 minutes. If the acrylic still doesn’t come off or some chips are left on the nail, try using tweezers to take off the chips.
Some methods might work for you, and some may not, depending on the type of acrylic nail as well as the amount of time you have had them on. You can try these methods to see what works best for you.
Once you try out any of these methods, make sure to wash, clean, and moisturize your hands and most importantly, apply cuticle oil6 on your cuticles and the base of the nail to hydrate and protect them from being brittle.
If you reach the end of this article with your acrylics still intact and not budging whatsoever, it may be time for you to get them removed by an expert.
- Aalto-Korte, Kristiina. “Acrylic resins.” Kanerva’s occupational dermatology (2020): 737-756. ↩︎
- Gadagbui, Bernard, et al. “Derivation of cancer no significant risk levels and screening safety assessment for 2‐nitropropane in spray products.” Journal of Applied Toxicology 40.5 (2020): 691-705. ↩︎
- Svedman, C., et al. “Continuous glucose monitoring systems give contact dermatitis in children and adults despite efforts of providing less ‘allergy‐prone’devices: investigation and advice hampered by insufficient material for optimized patch test investigations.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 35.3 (2021): 730-737. ↩︎
- Silva, Cláudia, et al. “Does flossing before or after brushing influence the reduction in the plaque index? A systematic review and meta‐analysis.” International Journal of Dental Hygiene 20.1 (2022): 18-25. ↩︎
- Sennakesavan, Gangadevi, et al. “Acrylic acid/acrylamide based hydrogels and its properties-A review.” Polymer Degradation and Stability 180 (2020): 109308. ↩︎
- Sennakesavan, Gangadevi, et al. “Acrylic acid/acrylamide based hydrogels and its properties-A review.” Polymer Degradation and Stability 180 (2020): 109308. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
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Removing acrylic nails can be a bit tricky, and having a reliable guide like this is incredibly helpful. I especially appreciate the variety of methods you’ve outlined, giving readers the flexibility to choose the one that suits them best.