How to Take Off Your Press-On Nails the Right Way

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Two easy methods for removing press-on nails + nail care tips
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Press-on nails can give you a professional-looking manicure in minutes, but removing them can be a pain and may damage your nails. However, you can do a few things to make removing press-on nails easier and less damaging, such as soaking your nails in acetone and loosening them with a cuticle pusher. Read on to discover the best ways to remove your press-on nails to prevent damage to your nail beds.

How to Remove Press-on Nails

Soak your press-on nails for 10-15 minutes in soapy water if you want to reuse them, or acetone if you plan to discard them. Then, use a cuticle pusher to gently lift the press-on nails off your nail beds. Lightly buff your natural nail to remove residue.

Section 1 of 3:

Removing Fake Nails with Acetone & Foil

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  1. Acetone breaks down nail polish and adhesives, so your press-ons will no longer be usable after taking them off with this method. [1] If you have very long press-on nails, cut them down with nail tip clippers to make them easier to wrap with foil.
    • Be careful not to purchase a non-acetone nail polish remover, which won’t be helpful in dissolving adhesive.
    • Acetone can dry out your cuticle and the skin around your fingernail. Use cuticle oil to protect your skin. As a bonus, the oil may also help break down the adhesive under the press-on nail.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Remove Press‐On Nails
    While holding the acetone-soaked cotton against your fingernail, wrap a 3 inches (7.6 cm) x 3 inches (7.6 cm) square of aluminum foil around the tip of your finger to keep the cotton in place. The foil holds in heat and slows evaporation, making the acetone work faster.
    • Plastic wrap or nail clips are also effective for holding the cotton ball to your nail. [2]
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  3. Place an acetone-soaked cotton ball and wrap on each nail. Then, wait for the acetone to break down the press-on nail and adhesive. When using this method to remove press-on nails, place wraps on only one hand at a time so you have one hand free to remove the foil.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Remove Press‐On Nails
    The press-on nails will loosen up as the acetone starts to dissolve the adhesive. Use your fingers to remove the press-on nails if possible. Or, you can use a cuticle pusher to work the press-on off your natural nail slowly.
  5. The acetone in nail polish remover can dry out your skin, so make sure that you give them some special attention after you get the press-on nails off. [4] Wash your hands and nails with warm water and mild soap. Then, dry them well and use hand cream on your hands and nails. [5]
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Section 2 of 3:

Removing Press-On Nails with Soapy Water

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  1. If you plan on reusing your press-on nails, soak them in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Place your fingertips in the water and let your nails soak for about 10 minutes.
    • If you plan to discard the press-ons or they won’t come off after soaking in soap and water, soak them in a bowl of 100% acetone to dissolve the adhesive.
    • Rock the nails back and forth slightly while soaking to the water or acetone loosen the adhesive.
    • Don’t try to force off the nail if it will not come off easily.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Remove Press‐On Nails
    After soaking, place the end of an orange stick or wooden cuticle pusher between your natural nail and the press-on nail. Then, slowly rock the cuticle pusher back and forth to loosen the nail. [6]
    • Don’t start at the tip of the nail. Start at the cuticle and then work the orange stick towards the tip.
  3. After you’ve removed the press-on nails, go back over your nailbeds and buff off any remaining adhesive with a buffing block or fine-grit nail file. A cuticle pusher can also scrape adhesive off your nails. [7]
    • If the adhesive still doesn’t budge, try soaking your nails in warm water again or applying a bit of acetone with a cotton ball.
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Section 3 of 3:

Repairing Damage Caused by Press-On Nails

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  1. Slightly damaged nails may heal themselves in 1-2 weeks. To give them time to heal, don’t apply any nail polish or other press-on nails during that time. [8]
    • Use a few drops of cuticle oil to moisturize your nails and give them a natural shine while you let them heal.
  2. Your nails may be brittle after you remove the press-on nails, so cutting them short may help prevent them from breaking or chipping. Use nail clippers or scissors to trim straight across the nail. Then, file sharp corners with a nail file, moving in one direction rather than back and forth. [9]
    • Use a nail file to smooth out jagged edges if your nails are already short.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Remove Press‐On Nails
    Press-on nails can pull off layers of your nails and leave them looking rough and jagged. Smooth out some of the damage by gently buffing your nails with a buffing block or fine-grit nail file. [10]
  4. Apply cuticle oil and hand cream after you remove the press-on nails and reapply at least once a day or after you wash your hands as your nails recover. [11] Keep a small bottle of hand cream in your purse or desk at all times to reapply it as often as you need.
    • Slugging or slathering your nails and cuticles with petroleum jelly after putting on cuticle oil is a great way to rehydrate your nailbeds. [12]
  5. Nail hardening treatments brush on like nail polish and help repair and strengthen brittle, damaged nails. [13] Use them once a day or as often as directed on the packaging.
  6. Studies have shown that taking a daily biotin supplement improves damaged, brittle nails. In some cases, there was a 25% increase in nail plate thickness in patients with brittle nails. [14]
    • As with starting any supplement, talk to your doctor about the best way to add biotin to your diet.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Remove Press‐On Nails
    Protect your nails before your next press-on application by applying a couple of layers of a clear base coat. This will help to create a barrier between your nails and the nail adhesive. [15]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is the easiest way to remove fake nails?
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Expert Answer
    In most cases, it's easy enough to just soak your nails in acetone for a few minutes. Do your best to not use force to peel them off, since this can seriously damage your nails. Another option is to just go to a nail salon and ask a professional to take them off for you. They'll usually do a great job.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
  • Question
    Will nail polish remover ruin your press on nails?
    Hieveryoneitsme
    Community Answer
    If your press-ons are good quality, any type of nail polish remover should not ruin them. However, if they are cheap or bad quality (you normally can tell if they are discolored, have snagged edges or have paint chips here), be careful if you are planning on re-using them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 17
  • Question
    I recently got acrylics, and they completely destroyed my nails. (Thin and crack/break easily.) I was looking into using press-on nails temporarily; is this a good idea, or should I avoid it?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    Avoid. The glue will destroy your nails even more. Just paint your nails with regular polish at home, and keep cutting your nails until the damaged part fully grows out.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If your press-on nails were applied with an adhesive tab, you may be able to remove them using rubbing alcohol. Simply apply rubbing alcohol around the edges of the press-on, wait 30 seconds for the adhesive to loosen, then gently rock the press-on back and forth until it comes loose.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • 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.
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      Warnings

      • Never pop press-on nails off without loosening the glue. This removes layers of your natural nails, making them weak and brittle.
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        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • Be careful when using acetone. It can damage unprotected surfaces and cause lung irritation if inhaled.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chemicals/acetone/
      2. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
      3. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
      5. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03RnlGDQVbU
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03RnlGDQVbU
      8. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/gel-manicures
      9. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/how-to-trim-nails
      1. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/brittle-nails-causes-treatment
      3. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/what-is-nail-slugging-6750132
      4. ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2018/03/brittle-nails-causes-treatments/
      5. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8477615/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsbUS9CpGg4
      7. Videos provided by Ninja Nail Fairy

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To remove press-on nails, start by soaking your nails in warm, soapy water for about 10 minutes to help loosen them. When you remove your fingers from the water, try to peel off your nails. If they won’t come off, apply a few drops of cuticle oil and let it soak in for a few minutes before trying again. You can also use a cuticle pusher to get underneath your nails and slowly work them off. For stubborn nails, rub some acetone nail polish remover into them with a cotton pad, since the acetone will help dissolve the adhesive. Once you’ve removed your press-on nails, peel off any leftover adhesive with a cuticle pusher or your other fingernails. For more tips, including how to repair your nails if they’re damaged, read on!

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