Need to get your acrylic nails off, but don't have the time or patience to go to the salon? We've all been there — but it pays to remove that manicure correctly instead of, say, prying them from your natural nails (ouch!) or mindlessly biting them off while absorbed in a TV-watching session. If you're wondering how to take off your acrylic nails quickly at home, we've got you covered — and we've even got an acetone-free option. Show
This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Unfortunately, removing acrylics forcefully means removing some of the many layers of your natural nail plate,too, according to Savannah Walker, a professional nail artist and owner of Manifest Nail in New York City. "Usually this results in thin, flimsy, damaged nails, which last for months until they grow out," she says. And that's the best possible scenario! So, if you choose to wear acrylics, we suggest keeping this handy tool kit at home for a damage-free removal: Tools You'll Need to Safely Remove Acrylic NailsMakartt 100-Grit Nail FileCredit: Makartt EC Labs 100% Pure Acetone Nail Polish RemoverCredit: EC Labs Sky Organics Cotton BallsCredit: Sky Organics Reynolds Wrap Aluminum FoilCredit: Reynolds Youngever Small BowlCredit: Youngever Adecco Wooden Cuticle PushersCredit: Adecco AHIER Nail BufferCredit: Ahier How to remove acrylic nails at home with acetoneThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Remove Acrylic Nails At Home: Step By Step How-To Tutorial Watch onKeep in mind, even if you follow these five steps, you may be left with somewhat compromised natural nails, depending on how the technician applied them the acrylics in the first place and how carefully you execute the removal. However, "if the acrylic process is done patiently, it can be virtually damage-free," Walker says. Now, follow these simple steps from nail pros to take acrylics off fast without damage: 1.File off as much of the acrylic nail as possibleInstead of filing your nails in the usual way (along the top edge of the nail), you'll need to
thin out the entire area the acrylic covers. "Using a coarse grit file, file off as much of the acrylic product as possible," Walker says. "You need a really good file for this; an emery board would be useless." Look for a
100-grit nail file, which is coarse enough to file down the surface of the acrylics, or a
nail drill. Pro safety tip: "Be careful not to cut the skin around the nails with the edges of the file," she advises. "Always 'season' a new file by using another file over the edges to soften them." 2. Soak off any remaining acrylic nailaltrendo images//Getty Images Once the acrylic has been filed down much as possible, Walker recommends soaking the nails in
100% acetone nail polish remover for as long as it takes to dissolve the product. There are two ways to do this. One method is to place an acet0ne-soaked piece of cotton over each nail, then wrap each fingertip in foil, Walker advises. "This is the superior technique," she says. Otherwise, you can try soaking fingers in a bowl of acetone. It's simpler, but "the bowl technique is very harsh on your skin and takes longer," Walker notes. If you do go this route, "only dip your nail tips in the bowl to avoid drying out the skin on your fingers and hands," says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. "Be sure to only use acetone in a well-ventilated area, because it is very volatile and can easily irritate your respiratory system." 3. Gently scrape or buff off the last bits of acrylicAfter soaking in acetone, check nails "every 20 minutes or so to scrape off the softened acrylic using an orange stick or cuticle pusher, repeating this process until all the product has been dissolved," Walker says. There may be a few small areas of acrylic that remain, but don't get rough with them! "If there are any little bits of acrylic that won't budge, a soft foam nail buffer can be used to buff those little stubborn bits smooth," she says. 5. Protect your nails from future acrylic damageAcrylic isn't necessarily bad for nails, but it can take a toll on natural nails. For acrylics devotees, try to take a weeklong break from them every month so your nails' health doesn’t completely dwindle. During that time, brush on one coat of a strengthening nail treatment every day to prevent breakage, like this moisturizing oil created by nail artist Deborah Lippmann. To give them an even more
intensive treatment, “cover your nails with cuticle oil and
cuticle cream, then wrap each hand in a warm washcloth for five minutes,” says manicurist Deborah Lippmann, founder of
Deborah Lippmann nail collection. The result: shinier, stronger nails in no time. How to remove acrylic nails at home without acetoneThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. HOW TO REMOVE ACRYLIC NAILS AT HOME WITHOUT ACETONE + BASIC MANICURE DIY | LOCKDOWN BEAUTY Watch onYou can remove acrylic nails without acetone using an acetone-free nail polish remover as a soak-off solution. But know that "if you wish to avoid acetone, it will take longer to remove acrylics," says Anastasia Totty, a LeChat Nails Educator in Saint Johns, Florida. Here's how:
Marci Robin is a freelance writer and editor specializing in beauty and lifestyle content. With over 20 years of experience, Marci has served as a contributing editor for Allure, senior beauty editor at GoodHousekeeping.com, executive editor of xoVain and senior online editor at NewBeauty. Her writing has also appeared in her writing has also appeared in InStyle, MarthaStewart.com and Refinery29. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. How can you take off acrylic nails at home without acetone?If you don't want to use harsh chemicals to remove your acrylic nails, another option is to try using warm water. You can even add a few drops of soap into the mix. You will need to soak your nails in the warm water for 20 minutes before you try to remove them.
How do you remove acrylic nails with hot water?Here's how you can effectively remove acrylic nails using hot water: Start by putting warm or hot water in a bowl, then put your hands with acrylic nails in for approximately 15-20 minutes. Once the acrylic nails start to get loose and come off easily, you can gently remove them.
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