Many women love the sexy and glamorous look of long acrylic nails. Acrylic nails can be quickly attached to your natural nails with glue. When it starts to lift off or looks thick from too much nail polish, it's time to take it off. Learn three methods for removing acrylic nails: soaking them in acetone, sanding them, or using a piece of dental floss.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Soak Acrylic Nails in Acetone
Step 1. Trim your nails
Use nail clippers to trim the tips of your acrylic nails short. Cut as much of the acrylic as possible. If it's difficult to trim because the nails are thick, use a coarse nail file to file them. But make sure you don't hit the base of your natural nail as it can cause it to bleed.
Step 2. File the top layer of the nail
Use a soft scouring cloth to sand down the paint and remove as much of the acrylic as possible. Use long strokes that run down the length of the nail.
Step 3. Pour the acetone into a bowl
Fill half of a medium-sized glass bowl with acetone. Some people like to put the bowl in a larger bowl filled with warm water, to warm the acetone. Do not microwave acetone or use it near a heat source. Acetone is highly flammable.
- Make sure your room is well ventilated, as acetone has a strong odor.
- Do not light cigarettes near acetone.
Step 4. Apply petroleum jelly on the skin around your nails
Acetone dissolves plastic and is also harsh on the skin, so it's important to protect yourself. This will prevent your skin from being irritated by the acetone, especially if you have hangnails (siwilen - cut skin around your nails).
- Be careful not to apply too much petroleum jelly to your nails, as the acetone can reach and dissolve them.
- Use a cotton swab so you can apply the petroleum jelly more precisely.
Step 5. Apply acetone on your nails
Wet one cotton ball with warm acetone for each nail, then place the cotton ball on your fingertips. Wrap the cotton ball stuck to the acrylic nail using a sheet of aluminum foil. Let your nails soak in the acetone for 30 minutes.
- You can use non-plastic tape to tie the cotton balls together if you don't have aluminum foil.
- You can also soak your nails in a bowl of acetone if you know that acetone doesn't irritate your skin.
Step 6. Remove the foil and cotton ball from your fingertips
The cotton balls and fingernails should be easy to remove.
- If you are soaking your acrylic nails in a bowl of acetone, gently pry the nails out with a wooden nail stick.
- If the acrylic nail is still firmly attached, repeat the process for another 20 minutes and try to lift it again.
Step 7. Scrape off the remaining acrylic with a nail polishing cloth
The acrylic must have softened from being submerged in the acetone, so take this opportunity to scrape off any excess acrylic. If the acrylic starts to harden again when you scrape it off, use a cotton ball soaked in acetone to wet it.
Step 8. Shape your natural nails
Use nail clippers and a nail file to smooth the tips of the nails. File your nails lightly with a soft scouring cloth, moving from the base of the nail toward the tip of the nail.
- To avoid damaging your nails, file them in one direction, and don't use a sawing motion.
- Some of the top layer of your nail may be eroded along with the acrylic. Be careful not to tear or damage them further when filing and scrubbing your nails.
Step 9. Restore moisture to your hands
Acetone causes the skin to become very dry. Rinse off any remaining acetone with soap and water. Dry your hands and rub them with body oil, olive oil or moisturizing lotion.
Method 2 of 3: Sanding Acrylic Nails
Step 1. Trim your nails
Use nail clippers to trim the tips of your acrylic nails short. Cut as much acrylic as possible. If it is difficult to cut because the nails are thick, use a coarse sandpaper to sand the nails.
Step 2. Sand your nails
Use a scouring tool on the rough side to sand each acrylic nail. Treat your nails one at a time, scraping the acrylic that covers your natural nail thin. Continue until you have removed as much acrylic nails as possible from each of your natural nails.
- You may have succeeded in scraping the acrylic nail so that your natural nail looks acrylic free. If you are worried about damaging your natural nails, now is the time to stop. Scraping off the remaining nail can cause your natural nail to erode too, which can cause long-term damage.
- If you prefer to remove all of the acrylic residue, continue to the next step.
Step 3. Use a cuticle stick to pry the edges of the acrylic nail
Once you've removed the edge, place the tip of the cuticle clipper under the edge of the nail and use the scissors to start cutting the acrylic. Continue to lift the edges and cut the acrylic until all the acrylic is removed.
- Repeat this process for each nail until the acrylic is completely gone.
- Do not pry more than a small amount of acrylic at a time from your natural nail. If you pry too much at once, your natural nail layer will tear as well.
Step 4. Brush your nails
Use a nail polishing cloth to remove any acrylic residue. Shape your natural nails with nail clippers and sandpaper. Apply cuticle cream and moisturizer.
Method 3 of 3: Removing Acrylic Nails With Dental Floss
Step 1. Find friends
This nail removal method requires another person to do it, as it requires two hands to pull the dental floss under the nail.
Step 2. Pry the bottom edge of the acrylic nail
Use a cuticle stick to gently pry the entire bottom edge of the acrylic nail.
Step 3. Ask your friend to tuck the dental floss under the acrylic rim
He should be facing you, tuck the floss under the bottom edge of the nail, and grasp both ends of the floss with both hands.
Step 4. Your friend should start swiping the floss back and forth under the nail
Ask your friend to slide the floss back and forth and pull it up, so the nails start to loosen. Continue this sawing motion until the acrylic nail separates from the natural nail.
- Make sure your friend doesn't jerk the string up too fast; You certainly don't want your natural nails to be ripped off by the acrylic nails.
- Repeat the process on each nail until all the acrylic is removed.
Step 5. Brush your nails
Use a scrubbing cloth to clean your natural nail, which may be a little torn from the process you did. Apply cuticle cream and moisturizer.
Step 6.
Tips
- Do not put acetone in a plastic bowl. This will melt the bowl and make the acetone splatter everywhere.
- You can buy professional Acrylic Nail Removal kits at your local drugstore.
- The sanding method should be used after your natural nail has grown long enough to exceed the length of the acrylic nail.
Warning
- If removing the nail is painful or the nail won't come off after repeated attempts, stop trying and consult a nail salon for help.
- Using acrylic nails poses a slight risk of infection if the distance between the acrylic and your natural nail widens. If your natural nails become thick and discolored, go to the doctor who treated your nails or to a dermatologist.
- Acetone is highly flammable. Keep away from heat or fire sources.
