How to Remove Acrylic Nails
Clip your nails., File the topcoat off of the nails., Pour the acetone into a bowl., Apply petroleum jelly to the skin surrounding your nails., Apply the acetone to your nails., Remove the foil and cotton balls from your fingertips., Scrape off the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Clip your nails.
Use a nail clipper to trim the tips of your acrylic nails short.
Cut off as much of the acrylic as possible.
If cutting is difficult due to the thickness of the nails, use a coarse nail file to file them.
But make sure you don't cut any of your nail bed because it will bleed. -
Step 2: File the topcoat off of the nails.
Use a fine-grade buffer to file off the paint and remove as much of the acrylic as possible.
Use long strokes that run the length of the nail. , Fill a medium glass bowl halfway with acetone.
Some people like to place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with warm water, to warm the acetone.
Do not microwave the acetone or use it near any source of heat.
Acetone is extremely flammable.
Make sure the room is well ventilated, since acetone has strong fumes.
Do not light a cigarette near acetone. , Acetone dissolves plastic and is also hard on skin, so it's important to protect yourself.
This step will prevent your skin from becoming irritated by the acetone, particularly if you have hangnails.
Take care not to get too much petroleum jelly on your nails, since the acetone should be able to reach it and dissolve it.
Use a cotton-tipped wooden applicator if you need help applying the petroleum jelly more precisely. , Saturate one cotton ball per nail in the warmed acetone, then place the cotton balls on the tips of your fingers.
Wrap them tightly against the acrylic nails using strips of aluminum foil.
Let your nails soak in the acetone for 30 minutes.
You can use a non-plastic tape to fasten the cotton balls if you don't have aluminum foil.
You can also simply soak your nails in the bowl of acetone if you know that acetone doesn't irritate your skin. , The cotton ball and the nail should come off easily.
If you soaked your acrylic nails in the bowl of acetone, gently pry the nails off using an orange wood stick.
If the acrylic nails are still firmly stuck, repeat the process for another 20 minutes and attempt to remove them again. , The acrylic should be soft from the acetone bath, so take the opportunity to buff the rest of it away.
If the acrylic begins to harden again while you're buffing, use a cotton ball soaked in acetone to dampen it. , Use nail clippers and a nail file to smooth the edges.
Buff your nails lightly with a fine-grade nail buffer, moving from the base of the nail to the tip.
To avoid damaging your nails, file in one direction only, and avoid using a sawing motion.
The top few layers of your nails may have been removed with the acrylic.
Be careful not to tear or damage them further when file and buff them. , Acetone causes skin to become extremely dry.
Rinse off the remaining traces with soap and water.
Dry your hands and rub them with body oil, olive oil or a moisturizing lotion. -
Step 3: Pour the acetone into a bowl.
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Step 4: Apply petroleum jelly to the skin surrounding your nails.
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Step 5: Apply the acetone to your nails.
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Step 6: Remove the foil and cotton balls from your fingertips.
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Step 7: Scrape off the leftover acrylic with the nail buffer.
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Step 8: Shape your natural nails.
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Step 9: Restore the moisture to your hands.
Detailed Guide
Use a nail clipper to trim the tips of your acrylic nails short.
Cut off as much of the acrylic as possible.
If cutting is difficult due to the thickness of the nails, use a coarse nail file to file them.
But make sure you don't cut any of your nail bed because it will bleed.
Use a fine-grade buffer to file off the paint and remove as much of the acrylic as possible.
Use long strokes that run the length of the nail. , Fill a medium glass bowl halfway with acetone.
Some people like to place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with warm water, to warm the acetone.
Do not microwave the acetone or use it near any source of heat.
Acetone is extremely flammable.
Make sure the room is well ventilated, since acetone has strong fumes.
Do not light a cigarette near acetone. , Acetone dissolves plastic and is also hard on skin, so it's important to protect yourself.
This step will prevent your skin from becoming irritated by the acetone, particularly if you have hangnails.
Take care not to get too much petroleum jelly on your nails, since the acetone should be able to reach it and dissolve it.
Use a cotton-tipped wooden applicator if you need help applying the petroleum jelly more precisely. , Saturate one cotton ball per nail in the warmed acetone, then place the cotton balls on the tips of your fingers.
Wrap them tightly against the acrylic nails using strips of aluminum foil.
Let your nails soak in the acetone for 30 minutes.
You can use a non-plastic tape to fasten the cotton balls if you don't have aluminum foil.
You can also simply soak your nails in the bowl of acetone if you know that acetone doesn't irritate your skin. , The cotton ball and the nail should come off easily.
If you soaked your acrylic nails in the bowl of acetone, gently pry the nails off using an orange wood stick.
If the acrylic nails are still firmly stuck, repeat the process for another 20 minutes and attempt to remove them again. , The acrylic should be soft from the acetone bath, so take the opportunity to buff the rest of it away.
If the acrylic begins to harden again while you're buffing, use a cotton ball soaked in acetone to dampen it. , Use nail clippers and a nail file to smooth the edges.
Buff your nails lightly with a fine-grade nail buffer, moving from the base of the nail to the tip.
To avoid damaging your nails, file in one direction only, and avoid using a sawing motion.
The top few layers of your nails may have been removed with the acrylic.
Be careful not to tear or damage them further when file and buff them. , Acetone causes skin to become extremely dry.
Rinse off the remaining traces with soap and water.
Dry your hands and rub them with body oil, olive oil or a moisturizing lotion.
About the Author
Jacqueline Ford
Brings years of experience writing about creative arts and related subjects.
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