Have you ever felt impatience and the need to get rid of your acrylic nails? Well, I have been there. After a successful hang-out and cruising around town with friends and a new crush, I got tired of the artificial nails I had on. Just felt the urge to feel my natural nails again.
Here comes the problem! I would usually use my teeth to do the trick, and voila! All the artificial nails are gone. But this time, it was so different. I couldn’t use my teeth or the scissors available to take off my fixed artificial nails—they were acrylic nude nails.
I had to contact my nail tech because I had never worn this spec of nail before. Before my birthday three weeks ago, I felt the need to try a kind of nail design, especially the popular acrylic nails most ladies go crazy about! It was indeed not like the regular press-on gel nails, but taking it off almost cost me my fingers.
After so much research and a cry for help as a first-timer, I carefully took them off on my own without external help or supervision.
How to remove acrylic nails
Here are the steps I took to take off my acrylic nails without damaging my natural nails.
The tools you will need:
A small clean bowl
A nail file with two grits
A nail buffer
A nail clipper
Acetone
Cotton balls
Steps to follow
Ensure the bowl is clean and dry without any mix of water in it. I’m sure you do not want your acetone mixed with water to avoid it being ineffective.
Pour a reasonable amount of acetone into the dry, clean bowl.
Sit in a comfortable position while you soak both hands in the bowl filled with acetone for about 10-15 min.
Since those acrylic nails are actually quite strong, I would not recommend trying to cut them off with a nail clipper or pair of scissors before soaking your nails to prevent breaking your natural nails.
After soaking in for about 15 minutes, I used a cotton ball on each finger to carefully remove the soaked acrylic polish until the acrylic polish was off. Then I used a nail file to file off the residues.
When they were all off completely, I used a nail buffer on my natural nails to give a clean look.
The nail clipper came into use after the artificial nails were off. I used the clipper to cut my overgrown nails and a nail file to maintain their natural shape.
I washed my hands and then proceed to use used some nail dissolvers to clean off my nails again before using transparent nail polish to coat my natural nails.
Alternative Method
Soak Off Your Acrylic Nails Using Acetone
Acetone, as everyone is aware, smells strongly and can make nails feel dry. Contrary to what some people may have you think, milder methods like dental floss, warm water, and dish soap will not be able to get rid of your artificial teeth. Without acetone, acrylic nails cannot be removed. Pinch your nose and grab your bottle; let’s get started.
Mytien Le, a nail specialist at Sundays Studio in NYC, advises using acetone that is at least 70 proof or higher. Your acrylics can still be removed using lower-grade acetone, but it will take more soaking time.
There are two methods for removing artificial nails by soaking. The first approach, which is trickier, uses foil and cotton balls to take off your gel polish. Wrap the nail bed with foil securely and cover it with a cotton ball saturated in acetone. Wait till you try wrapping a cotton ball in foil and resting it on your nail bed if you thought painting with your non-dominant hand was difficult. But if you have a little patience, you can accomplish anything! If you don’t have any foil on hand, you may substitute nail paint remover clips in this place.
Push Your Acrylic Nails Off Gently
Mytien Le explains that when you soak your acrylics, you’ll notice that they start to melt and get incredibly sticky and pretty disgusting. Now is your chance. Going from the cuticle region to the free edge of your nail, carefully push the acrylic off using your cuticle pusher or orange stick. In Rancho Cucamonga, California, nail technician and owner Monserrat Rodriguez explains, “The acrylic should come out smoothly without exerting too much pressure on the nail bed.” Repeat soaking your nails in acetone in the previous step if it is difficult to remove.
File, Shape, and Buff Your Nails
Mytien Le advises softly buffing the tops of the nails with a buffer to eliminate any debris and smooth the nail once you’ve successfully removed the acrylic. Naturally, wash your hands well after that, she advises.
Keep Your Nails Hydrated
After going through this entire procedure, your nails will probably feel quite dry, therefore it’s important to hydrate them. Apply cuticle oil to your cuticles and the area surrounding your finger’s tip that is closest to the free edge of your nail bed.
Many Thanks for Reading!
