Buzz
Artificial nails, such as acrylic or gel nails, can quickly elevate your natural nails from simple to stylish. However, when you're ready to refresh your nails with a new look, you probably don't want to pay someone to remove the artificial ones. Luckily, you can easily remove them at home using techniques similar to those used by professionals, and your nails will be ready for a new style in no time!
Steps
Use cotton balls soaked in acetone and aluminum foil
Trim acrylic nails to reduce surface area. If you're using acrylic nails, trimming them first reduces the surface area that acetone needs to penetrate, making it easier to remove them. Cut the acrylic nails to match the length of your natural nails.
- Do not cut your natural nails until you have completely removed the acrylic ones.
Use a coarse nail file to thin the acrylic layer or remove the gel coating from the nail surface. Move the file back and forth over the acrylic layer, particularly at the tip where it meets the natural nail (near the cuticle), or across the entire surface of the gel nails. Continue filing until the adhesive underneath the acrylic becomes visible or until the gel’s protective gloss is gone.
- Don't skip the filing step! Taking time to file your nails allows acetone to work more effectively and reduces the time needed to remove the artificial nails.
- Be careful not to file too close to the nail surface! Over-filing may damage the natural nail, leading to possible nail infections.
Cut 10 rectangular pieces of aluminum foil to wrap around your nails. Use scissors to cut each piece to a size of 10x5cm.
- Double-check the foil before cutting. Make sure each piece is wide enough to wrap around the nail along with the cotton ball or gauze. Fold the edges of the foil to secure it tightly.
Soak a cotton ball or gauze with acetone and place it on the nail. Moisten the cotton ball or gauze with acetone, but not to the point of soaking it. Then, place the cotton directly on the nail.
- For acrylic nails, make sure to place the cotton over the area you’ve filed down to reveal the adhesive layer underneath.
- For gel nails, ensure the cotton is fully soaked with acetone and covers the entire nail.
- You can also use an acetone-free nail remover, though it will take longer compared to pure acetone.
Wrap the aluminum foil around your nails to hold the acetone-soaked cotton in place. Start by positioning your fingertip in the center of the aluminum foil. Next, wrap the foil around the nail and fold the excess over the top into a triangle shape. Finally, fold the excess edges a few times to secure the cotton around your fingertip.
- Don’t worry if the foil isn’t as neat as in the salon! Once the foil is wrapped around your finger, the acetone-soaked cotton will stay in place and work effectively.
Repeat the process for each nail. Continue by placing acetone-soaked cotton or gauze on each nail and wrapping it with aluminum foil, repeating the process for each finger. Towards the end, you might find it a bit tricky as the other fingers will already be wrapped in foil.
- If possible, ask a friend or family member to help with the last few pieces of foil.
- Alternatively, you can handle one hand at a time or a few nails at a time.
Wait for 20 minutes before removing the aluminum foil. You won't be able to do much while your fingers are wrapped in foil, so just relax for 20 minutes. Watch a TV show, listen to music, or sit back and unwind.
- Since your fingers are wrapped in foil, you won’t be able to use your phone for 20 minutes, so this is the perfect time to charge your phone!
Use a cuticle pusher to remove any remaining glue or polish. Once the waiting time is over, remove one piece of foil. Gently push the cuticle pusher between the acrylic layer and the natural nail to remove the acrylic. For gel nails, you can use the same tool to remove any remaining polish. If the acrylic or gel layer comes off easily, continue removing the foil layer by layer and use the cuticle pusher to clean off the glue or polish from each nail.
- If the acrylic or gel layer is still firmly attached, rewrap the foil and leave it for another 5 minutes before checking again.
- Note: Only remove one piece of foil at a time and immediately clean the glue or gel polish off the nail.
Use a buffing tool to clean off any remaining glue. After removing the acrylic or gel polish, you can use a buffing tool to clean up any leftover glue or polish. Gently buff the tool back and forth across each nail.
- Apply a bit more pressure on certain areas where the glue or polish is still stuck.
Tip: Acetone will dry out the skin around your nails. Be sure to apply a generous layer of hand and nail cream after removing your artificial nails.
Soak your nails in acetone
Trim the acrylic nails as short as possible. If you've applied acrylic nails, shortening them will reduce the surface area, making it easier for acetone to remove the fake nails. Trim the acrylic nails to match the length of your natural nails.
- However, don't trim your natural nails just yet! Wait until you've removed all the fake nails before trimming your natural nails.
File the surface of the acrylic or gel nails with a coarse nail file. Use a coarse nail file to file back and forth on the surface of each nail. For acrylic nails, file where the acrylic meets the natural nail (near the cuticle) until the glue is exposed. For gel nails, file the entire surface until the shine is gone.
- Acrylic nails are applied on top of the natural nails, which makes it hard for acetone to penetrate unless you file the surface first. Similarly, gel nails have a clear protective coating over the polish. Filing the acrylic or gel layer before soaking will make the process quicker and easier.
Pour pure acetone into a small bowl. Use a shallow glass bowl that’s large enough to fit all your nails at once. Choose a bowl with a capacity of around 480 ml. Pour pure acetone into the bowl until it's half full.
- You can purchase pure acetone from the nail care section at a supermarket or beauty store.
- You can also use non-acetone nail polish remover if you prefer. However, it will take longer than using pure acetone.
Place the acetone bowl inside a larger bowl of hot water. Warming up the acetone will make it more effective and speed up the process of removing fake nails. Prepare a larger bowl and fill it with hot water up to about a quarter of the bowl, then place the acetone bowl into it.
- Be sure that no water gets into the acetone bowl! Place the acetone bowl into the larger bowl slowly. If you feel the water might spill into the acetone, pour out some water and try again.
Tip: Acetone is a strong solution that can dry out your skin. If you wish, you can add a few drops of baby oil to the acetone to prevent this from happening.
Soak your nails in acetone for about 10 minutes. Dip your nails into the bowl so that the acetone covers the cuticles and leave them to soak for 10 minutes. The acetone will loosen the glue holding the acrylic nails or dissolve gel polish if you're wearing gel nails.
- To minimize the contact between acetone and your skin, tilt your fingers so only the nails are submerged in the acetone.
Remove your hands from the acetone and check if the nails have lifted. Once the soaking time is up, take your hands out of the acetone and examine the nails. Next, gently use a cuticle pusher to slide it between the natural nail and the acrylic layer to see if it lifts easily. Use the pusher gently to clean off any leftover gel polish. Repeat the process for all nails.
- If the acrylic layer is still stuck or if the gel polish isn't coming off, soak your nails in acetone for a few more minutes.
Clean any remaining glue or gel polish with a cuticle pusher. After completing the soaking process and being able to easily remove the acrylic nails or clean off leftover gel polish with the cuticle pusher, continue working on the rest of the nails. Remove the acrylic nails or clean off the gel polish from the remaining nails.
- If it's acrylic nails, also use the cuticle pusher to scrape off any leftover glue.
Removing acrylic nails using dental floss
Be aware that this method may cause damage to your natural nails. This technique is not recommended by professional nail technicians. Using dental floss to remove fake nails can cause part of your natural nail to come off, resulting in pain and possibly leading to infection.
Buy dental floss that comes attached to a small handle. This product is widely available and is ideal for removing fake nails. To make the process easier, it's best to choose a thin floss, such as the Glide brand.
- If you can't find or purchase the type of floss attached to a handle, you can also use regular dental floss. However, you will need help from someone else since you can't stretch the floss with just one hand.
Use the pointed end of the floss handle to separate the fake nail. The other end of the floss handle is sharp. Place this end under the acrylic layer to create a gap. Be careful not to go too deep into the natural nail. Gently lift one end of the acrylic layer where it is attached to the natural nail.
Tip: A cuticle pusher can also help you lift the acrylic layer.
Press the dental floss into the natural nail and move it under the acrylic layer. Place the dental floss on the natural nail at the edge where the acrylic nail is attached, then press it down and move it underneath the acrylic layer.
- If someone is helping you use regular floss, ask them to stretch the floss and press it onto the natural nail.
Move the dental floss back and forth under the acrylic nail. Move the dental floss back and forth as you would when flossing your teeth. Use one finger to hold the acrylic nail steady while you work. Continue moving the dental floss until the acrylic layer comes off completely from the natural nail.
- Be sure to do this slowly! If you do it too quickly, you may accidentally lift part of your natural nail.
Repeat the process to remove all the acrylic nails. Continue removing each nail until all are taken care of. Once you're done, trim, file, and polish your nails to clean them. Finally, feel free to style your nails however you like!
Warning
- Pure acetone is a flammable liquid! Therefore, keep it away from heat sources and open flames.
- Pure acetone may leave stains or discolor the surface of materials and clothing. Be sure to cover the work surface with a cloth and wear old t-shirts before starting.
- Never pull or peel off the acrylic or gel layer without using acetone to loosen it first! Doing so could cause part of your natural nail to peel off, which could be painful and lead to infection.
What You Need
Use cotton balls soaked in acetone and aluminum foil
- Dụng cụ dũa có độ nhám cao
- Acetone nguyên chất
- Giấy bạc
- Kéo
- Bông gòn hoặc gạc
- Dụng cụ đẩy biểu bì
- Dụng cụ đánh bóng móng
Ngâm móng trong acetone
- Dụng cụ dũa có độ nhám cao
- Bát nhỏ có dung tích 480 ml
- Bát to có dung tích 960 ml
- Acetone nguyên chất
- Nước ấm
- Dầu dưỡng dành cho em bé (tùy chọn)
- Dụng cụ đẩy biểu bì
Tháo móng acrylic bằng chỉ nha khoa
- Que chỉ nha khoa hoặc chỉ nha khoa thông thường và người giúp đỡ
