How To Take Off Acrylic Nails

Hi Everyone!! Today, I will share how to take off acrylic nails.

In the beauty world, Acrylic nails are the definition of glamour. These are the easiest way to add some length to your nails and can instantly take your natural nails from drab to glamorous. But when the time of removing these nails comes, it is always recommended to get it done by a pro at a nail salon. However, time and money often become a real constraint. Taking off acrylic nails at home can be challenging but fret not as this post will share with you how to take off acrylic nails by following simple techniques at home.

How To Take Off Acrylic Nails

Acetone is the best solution for removing acrylic nails. It dissolves the acrylic nails thereby helping to remove them easily. Now, the question that comes in mind is whether this strong liquid-based chemical is safe for the skin or not. Though, acetone shouldn’t come in contact with your skin very often however, it is fairly safe to use apart from the fact that in some cases, it causes a little dryness and redness. All you need to do is take necessary safety measures and you are good to go.

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How To Take Off Acrylic Nails With Acetone

Below are mentioned two methods showing how to take off acrylic nails with acetone.

Method 1: How To Take Off Acrylic Nails With Acetone & Aluminium Foil

Material Required

• Aluminum Foil
• Acetone
• Nail buffer or file
• Nail clippers
• Cotton balls/pads
• Petroleum jelly

What All You Need To Do

1. Trim the tips of your acrylic nails short using a nail clipper. Cut off as short as possible and make sure to protect your nail bed during the process.

2. Using a fine-grade buffer, file the top coat off your nails and make sure not to file or damage your natural nail while doing this.

3. The third step is to apply petroleum jelly on the skin that surrounds the cuticles. This application will protect your skin from any irritation caused by acetone.  Make sure not to apply petroleum jelly on your nails as it will prevent acetone from dissolving acrylic nails.

4. Soak one cotton pad in acetone and saturate it properly. Then place this soaked cotton pad on your acrylic nail. Do this process for all the nails. Now, using strips of aluminium foil, wrap these cotton pads tightly so that they stay in place. In case you are not having aluminium foil, you can use non-plastic tape to fasten cotton pads.

5. Let the cotton pads stay in place for 25-30 minutes. Now, remove the foil gently, the cotton pad and the nail should come off with some gentle manipulation. You can repeat the process for another 20 minutes if you feel the acrylic nails are still firmly stuck.

6. Using nail buffer, scrape off any leftover acrylic.

7. Using nail clipper and nail file, smooth the edges and give shape to your nails.

8. As shared above, acetone causes skin dryness so make sure to moisturize your hands after the procedure. All you need to do is wash your hands with soap, pat dry and apply a good cream to keep your hands moisturized.

This was the first method showing how to take off acrylic nails with acetone and now let’s see the second method.

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Method 2: How To Take Off Acrylic Nails With Acetone & Warm Water

Material Required

• Aluminum Foil
• Acetone
• Warm Water
• Nail clippers
• Tweezers
• Two Bowls
• Orange Stick
• Petroleum jelly

What All You Need To Do

1. Trim the tips of your acrylic nails short using a nail clipper. Cut off as short as possible and using the orange stick, pry your cuticles.

2. Take one bowl and fill it up with acetone and the other one with warm water. Place the bowl containing acetone in the bowl containing warm water. This will help in speeding up the process.

3. Apply petroleum jelly on the skin that surrounds the cuticles. This application will protect your skin from any irritation caused by acetone.  Make sure not to apply petroleum jelly on your nails as it will prevent acetone from dissolving acrylic nails.

4. Now, in the bowl that contains acetone, dip your nails and let them in for 30-40 minutes.

5. If you feel that the acrylic nails are softened enough to pull out then, gently do that with the help of tweezers. Otherwise, repeat the process and soak in your nails for some more time in acetone.

So, these were the two methods showing how to remove acrylic nails with acetone and now, let’s see how to do this without acetone.

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How To Take Off Acrylic Nails Without Acetone

Method: How To Take Off Acrylic Nails Using Dental Floss

Material Required

• Dental Floss
• Orange stick
• A partner to help you out

What All You Need To Do

Before going further with the process, let me tell you that this method is not recommended by nail professionals. This method can result in pulling off part of your natural nail that can be painful and can also lead to an infection.

1. There are two options of dental floss available in the market: one is flosser stick and the other is a regular floss. If you wish to use a regular floss then you need to take the support of your partner as it will be difficult for you to follow the process on your own. However, with the flosser stick, as shown in the picture above, you alone can manage the things.

2. Stick the toothpick/pointed part of the flosser stick under the corner of your acrylic nail and try to lift the end slightly where it meets your natural nail.

3. Now, at the point where your acrylic nail begins, position the floss against your natural nail. Pressing down, move the floss under the acrylic nail. If you are using regular floss then ask your partner to hold the floss taut and press it against your natural nail.

4. Using back and forth motion, make your floss work under the acrylic until you reach the end of the natural nail and then, the acrylic nail will come off. Do this process slowly otherwise you may pull off part of your natural nail.

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Important Tips And Precautions To Be Followed

• Make sure not to pull your nails with a jerk otherwise, you might end up pulling your real nail bed which will be very painful.
• Acetone is highly flammable so, while working with it, make sure there is no fire around you.
• Acetone is a strong chemical and if you experience a severe burning sensation or serious redness seek professional help immediately.
• After removing the acrylic nails, make sure to use cuticle oil to restore your real nail bed.
• Once you removed the acrylic nail, scrape off the remaining glue or any residue of the acrylic nail on your nail bed.
• While doing the whole process, cover the table or surface that you are using to protect it from acetone stains.
• Be patient as the process is really time-consuming.
• Let your real nails restore some balance and give a gap of at least seven days before putting on new ones.

So, these were the methods showing how to take off acrylic nails easily at home. Now, go and rock those designer acrylic nails!!