How to Take Off Acrylic Nails At Home
Quick and easy ways to get your nails ready for a new set at home.
Acrylic nails have become a key staple in the beauty world. From fun designs to expensive bling, acrylic nails are a unique way to express your individuality. However, they can be a pain to take off. Most nail salons advise that you make an appointment to get your acrylics removed when they start to grow out. With the world being so crazy right now, we don't always have the time to get our nails taken off professionally. For those times when you're in a time pinch and need to get them off, here's a step-by-step guide on how to take your acrylic nails off at home.
Soak Off With Acetone
This at-home removal is one of the easiest options. For this process, you'll need nail clippers, 100 percent acetone, a small bowl, a nail buffer, a cuticle pusher, and cuticle oil. Here's the step by step guide:
Step 1: Cut off excess acrylics carefully. You want to cut as close to your natural nail as possible.
Step 2: Rough up the surface of your polish until the shine is completely gone with a nail buffer. This will help the polish soften in the acetone.
Step 3: Pour 100 percent acetone into a small bowl and soak nails for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Using the cuticle pusher, gently push off the remaining polish in a downwards motion.
Step 5: Resoak nails for five minutes and repeat pushing process until the majority of the acrylic is gone.
Step 6: Buff off any left over polish with nail buffer.
Step 7: Apply cuticle oil into nails to rehydrate them, and buff into nails with the soft side of the nail buffer.
Use an Electric File/Nail Bit
If you're someone who gets your nails done often, investing in an electric nail file could save you a lot of time at the salon. This process is safer and gentler on the nail beds and will leave you with a professional finish. Here's the step by step:
Step 1: Gently sand down the top layer of acrylic with a sanding bit.
Step 2: Soak a cotton ball with 100 percent acetone and wrap it on top of the nail in aluminum foil.
Step 3: Remove aluminum foil after 10-15 minutes and remove excess with a cuticle pusher.
Step 4: Rinse hands and hydrate nails with cuticle oil.
Use Dental Floss
This process is a last resort option. It can cause damage to your natural nails, so only try if you have no other options available. You will need dental floss, a cuticle pusher, and cuticle oil for this process. Here's the step by step:
Step 1: Find a partner. Pulling the dental floss the right way is incredibly difficult to do alone, so this is definitely a team effort.
Step 2: Using a cuticle pusher, make a small cut between your natural nail and the acrylic tip.
Step 3: Insert floss underneath the cut and pull up towards the nail bed. This will cause the bond between the acrylic and the natural nail to loosen, resulting in the acrylic nail popping off.
Step 4: Apply cuticle oil to natural nails to hydrate.
