Easiest/safest way remove acrylic nails at home?
I don't have time to get to a nail salon, and I'm in a rush to remove my acrylics. I heard removing them can damage my real nails, but are there any tricks to prevent that?
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For a complete guide to this topic, read the wikiHow article Removing Acrylic Nails with Acetone, Dental Floss, or an Electric Filer
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Expert Comments
I would agree. Usually in the salon, they use an e-file and they file off the first few layers and then they soak them in acetone. Some people will say that you can e-file off all of the acrylic but e-files should never really be touching your natural nail. Then the acetone soaks off everything so you can slide the rest of the product off.
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The easiest way to remove acrylic nails at home without damaging your nails is to soak them in acetone.
What You'll Need:
100% pure acetone
Cotton balls or pads
Aluminum foil
Glass or ceramic bowl
Nail file
Cuticle pusher
Moisturizer or cuticle oil
Step-by-Step Removal Process:
1. Start by using a coarse nail file to remove as much of the top coat and acrylic layer as possible. This helps acetone penetrate faster.
2. Soak a cotton ball or pad in some acetone and firmly place it on your acrylic nail.
3. Wrap aluminum foil around each fingernail to hold the cotton in place. Let them sit for 20-30 minutes.
4. After soaking the acrylic nails, use a cuticle pusher to push off the softened acrylic. If it resists, rewrap and soak for another 10 minutes.
5. Once all acrylic is removed, buff your nails to smooth out any rough spots.
6. Finish with cuticle oil or moisturizer to rehydrate your nails.
Additional Tips:
If you don’t have foil, you can soak your acrylic nails in a small bowl filled with acetone. (Use a glass or ceramic bowl to avoid plastic as acetone can dissolve it.)
Avoid forcefully peeling off acrylics—this can damage your nails.
Acetone can be drying, so apply hand cream afterward to keep your skin hydrated.
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What You'll Need:
100% pure acetone
Cotton balls or pads
Aluminum foil
Glass or ceramic bowl
Nail file
Cuticle pusher
Moisturizer or cuticle oil
Step-by-Step Removal Process:
1. Start by using a coarse nail file to remove as much of the top coat and acrylic layer as possible. This helps acetone penetrate faster.
2. Soak a cotton ball or pad in some acetone and firmly place it on your acrylic nail.
3. Wrap aluminum foil around each fingernail to hold the cotton in place. Let them sit for 20-30 minutes.
4. After soaking the acrylic nails, use a cuticle pusher to push off the softened acrylic. If it resists, rewrap and soak for another 10 minutes.
5. Once all acrylic is removed, buff your nails to smooth out any rough spots.
6. Finish with cuticle oil or moisturizer to rehydrate your nails.
Additional Tips:
If you don’t have foil, you can soak your acrylic nails in a small bowl filled with acetone. (Use a glass or ceramic bowl to avoid plastic as acetone can dissolve it.)
Avoid forcefully peeling off acrylics—this can damage your nails.
Acetone can be drying, so apply hand cream afterward to keep your skin hydrated.
Reader Comments
Whatever you do, DO NOT PEEL THEM OFF. It will remove the top layer of your nails and make them really weak so they break easily. Trust me, I did it and it took FOREVER for my nails to grow out and get healthy again. You're better off just going to a salon to get them removed.
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If you're having trouble getting your acrylic nails to come off after soaking them in acetone, there might be a problem with the quality of your acetone. I used to use cheap acetone remover from the drug store and would struggle with getting off my nails. Recently I tried out pure acetone from a beauty supply store and that works much better!
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Cut your nails first so there's less acrylic to remove. Also you can put acetone on a cotton ball, press it onto your nail, then wrap it in aluminum foil and let it sit instead of soaking your hands which really dries out your skin.
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Sometimes I do my best to remove my acrylic nails without damaging my natural nails and I still end up scuffing them up a bit. It happens to everyone. I'd recommend getting a nail and cuticle oil that you can use to keep your nails healthy.
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Soaking your hands in acetone is TERRIBLE for your body. You may as well just drink it, it goes directly into your blood stream. Use non-chemical methods to take off your nails. It may take longer but you won't be poisoning yourself.
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Start by filing off the top layer of acrylic with a coarse nail file. Then soak your nails in a bowl of acetone for 15-30 minutes. Use a cuticle pusher to push the acrylic off your nails as it melts in the acetone. Wash your hands really good when you're done and lightly buff off any remaining residue.
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Instead of soaking your nails for the full 15-30 minutes before removing them, you can soak them for 5 minutes at a time and gently scrape off whatever you can before soaking them more, and repeat, to make the process faster.
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Soaking your nails in acetone is typically effective but can be really drying. A trick I have to keep your hands moisturized is applying Vaseline around the edges of your nail before soaking them. Also, have your favorite moisturizer or lotion on hand to apply liberally to your hands after you get the nails off.
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Get yourself acetone pour it into a bowl that you don’t ever want to use again. Put your Nails in it. It’s going to take you a long time to soak them off. Ever so often file them and as you file you, you’ll see that acrylic is melting and coming off and you have to do that Until it comes off. I would not recommend ripping them off because you will rip your natural nail.
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What do other wikiHow readers have to say?
Other wikiHow readers have submitted their own tips on topics similar to this one.
How I remove my nails: I fill my sink with hot (but cool enough to not burn your skin) water, then soak my nails in it for a minute or two. Then I get some nails clippers and gently use them to lift the sides of the fake nails, but if it starts to hurt, then I stop and soak them again for a few minutes. I soak until the nails can be slowly peeled off without hurting.
I suggest you shouldn't get acrylic nails because it can weaken and damage your nail. Also your nail can catch an infection or fungus while wearing acrylic nails. My nails are beaten down because of acrylic and it's not pretty.
After you get the nail off just use baby oil to get the streaks out of your nail. I used it and even though my nails are thin because of the acrylics, they look full and totally natural.
Reader Tips from How to Take Off Your Press-On Nails the Right Way
Always keep the nail glue after applying your nails, just in case you decide to re-use it or if a nail falls off, so you can fix it.
If you don't have cuticle oil, don't worry. Another oil may still work. Try olive oil, jojoba oil, or whatever you may have.
Reader Tips from How to Remove Nail Tips
I used to get my nails done all the time but I stopped because they were ruining my real nails. Now I just take care of my actual nails and they look good but they still are thin from all the times I got fake nails and removed them aggressively.
I remove mine by soaking them in warm water for 10 minutes, then carefully lifting the nails off. As they soak the glue gets easier to peel off.
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