How to remove nail adhesive from your nails

Fake nails look stunning but can be difficult to remove if you're new to the process. You can either visit a salon to have the adhesive removed or try doing it yourself at home. To take off fake nails, gently file the nails to remove excess adhesive after soaking them in soapy water. The next step is to use a nail buffer and acetone to clean off any remaining adhesive. For acrylic nails, simply use acetone to dissolve the fake nails, then file away any leftover adhesive. Before long, you'll have your natural and healthy nails back.

Soak your nails in warm soapy water for 15 minutes. Pour warm water into a bowl or basin with a small amount of mild hand soap. Submerge your nails completely in the water and soak for around 15 minutes.

• The soap and water will penetrate the nail adhesive, softening it and making it easier to remove the fake nails.
• You can also soak your nails in pure acetone to soften the adhesive, but be aware that acetone is much stronger than soapy water when applied to skin, nails, and cuticles.
• Another method is to apply a few drops of cuticle oil to each fake nail and let it absorb for a few seconds to soften the adhesive.

Gently lift the fake nail once the adhesive has softened. Look for a spot where the nail has started to peel, and carefully lift the fake nail. If you can't find any peeling, cautiously use the edge of a nail file to lift the corners of the fake nail until it starts to come off.

• Do not yank forcefully if the nail doesn't come off easily. If necessary, soak your nails in soapy water for a few more minutes to soften the adhesive further.

Carefully use a nail file to file off the remaining adhesive. Once the fake nails have come off and your natural nails are dry, use the “buffer” side of the nail file to remove any leftover adhesive. Once most or all of the glue is gone, wash your nails with water to remove any powder residue.

• If desired, you can use the “shiny” side of the nail file to give your nails an extra glossy finish.

Remove any remaining adhesive with acetone. Soak a cotton ball in acetone and rub it over each nail to remove any remaining adhesive streaks. Wash your hands with soap and water to remove any acetone and glue left on your hands and nails.

• If your nails feel dry after using acetone, you can apply some moisturizer or cuticle oil.

Trim the fake nails as short as possible. Acrylic nails are made from a material directly attached to your natural nail rather than being glued on. Use scissors or a nail clipper to cut the fake nails short without cutting into your natural nails. This step will make the removal process faster, as there will be less material to dissolve.

• Avoid cutting down to the nail bed to prevent pain.
• This step works well for both dip powder nails and acrylic nails.

File down the shiny surface of the fake nails. If the acrylic nails are still attached to your natural nails, use a nail file to sand off the shiny surface of the fake nails. Move the file back and forth across the entire surface until the glossy finish disappears, leaving only a matte surface. Try to file evenly across all parts of the nail. This step will make the nail removal process faster and more effective.

• If you see natural nail exposed underneath the fake nails, stop filing there. Continuing to file could damage the natural nail.

Use a dry, clean cloth to wipe off the dust. A microfiber cloth is a cost-effective and efficient choice, but any clean cloth will work. Wipe away dust from the nails to allow the acetone to penetrate the remaining acrylic coating.

Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around the skin surrounding the nails. This step will protect the skin when using acetone. Apply a thin layer of Vaseline around the nail bed and the area beneath and around the nails.

• If you have dry or sensitive skin, apply a thicker layer of Vaseline.

Wrap cotton soaked in acetone around each finger on one hand. If your acetone is in a dropper bottle, gently squeeze the cotton ball to soak it. If the acetone is in a regular bottle, pour it into a small disposable bowl and dip the cotton into the bowl. Place a cotton ball on each nail.

• If you don't have cotton pads, regular cotton balls can work as well.
• You can purchase acetone and cotton pads at a pharmacy or supermarket. If you have sensitive skin, choose an acetone-based nail polish remover specifically designed for sensitive skin.
• The fumes from acetone can be toxic, so ensure you're in a well-ventilated area when using it.

Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around each nail and cotton ball. Tear off a piece of aluminum foil about 2.5 cm x 5 cm. Place the cotton ball in the right position and wrap the foil tightly around the nail.

• The aluminum foil will help retain warmth and moisture, preventing the acetone from evaporating before the adhesive softens. This step speeds up the nail removal process.
• Repeat this process for all nails on one hand, then move to the other hand. If you find it difficult to manage the other hand due to the foil wrapping, ask someone to help or wait until you remove the foil and cotton balls before switching to the other hand.

Gỡ giấy bạc và bông gòn sau 20 phút. Hẹn giờ 20 phút và chờ cho a-xê-tôn phát huy tác dụng. Gỡ giấy bạc xung quanh móng và lấy bông gòn ra. Bạn sẽ thấy là keo đã bị hòa tan và móng giả đã mềm nhũn.

• Nếu móng đầu tiên vẫn còn dính keo hoặc các móng giả vẫn còn bám chặt, bạn hãy để giấy bạc và bông gòn thêm 15 phút nữa.
• Cẩn thận đừng để miếng bông tẩm a-xê-tôn vừa dùng lên bàn gỗ hoặc nhựa, vì các hóa chất sẽ làm hư hại mặt bàn.

Lau sạch phần móng giả đã mềm bằng khăn vải. Dùng khăn vải sạch để lau phần móng giả đã hòa tan. Ấn khăn xuống trong khi lau móng, nhưng nhớ ngừng lại khi thấy móng thật bắt đầu đau.

• Quấn lại bông gòn tẩm a-xê-tôn và giấy bạc nếu móng giả không bong ra dễ dàng.

Dùng giũa móng tay để đánh bóng vết keo hoặc sơn còn sót. Bạn không cần giũa toàn bộ móng. Thay vào đó, bạn hãy tập trung vào những chỗ keo vẫn còn dính lại. Hết sức tránh ấn mạnh để khỏi giũa vào phần móng thật.

• Bạn có thể mua giũa móng tay ở hiệu thuốc. Lưu ý rằng một số cửa hàng gọi dụng cụ này là thanh đánh bóng móng.

Rửa tay bằng nước xà phòng ấm. A-xê-tôn sẽ làm khô da nếu còn sót lại, vì vậy bạn hãy rửa sạch a-xê-tôn bằng nước ấm và xà phòng tự nhiên. Xà phòng tự nhiên sẽ để lại chất dầu tự nhiên trên da.

• Dùng xà phòng thông thường nếu bạn không có xà phòng tự nhiên.

Apply natural moisturizing oil to your hands and nails. The process of removing nail glue often causes dryness in your hands. Be sure to generously apply natural oils to your nails, hands, and cuticles to restore their natural moisture.

• Almond oil and olive oil are excellent natural moisturizers. These oils can be purchased at health and beauty stores or pharmacies.

Give your nails time to 'breathe' between manicures. If you frequently wear fake nails, it's important to occasionally let your natural nails rest. After removing fake nails, take a few days or a week off from nail polish to allow your nails to recover before applying a new set of fake nails or polish.

• After every 8 weeks of manicures, take a week off from nail polish.
• Next time, consider using fake nails without glue to see if this method suits you, instead of having to remove glued nails.