How do I remove acrylic nails so I can have gel nails done? I'm getting ready to do a Brisa nail tech course and would like to redo my own nails with the gel. I've been wearing professionally done acrylic nails for the last year or so. I've tried the acetone but it doesn't work very well with professional acrylic nails. I know the best thing to do is to go to a professional to have them removed but with Christmas around the corner, funds are tight. Much thanks for any help.
Kelly
I've tried a million different at home remedies and only two of them have really worked so there's no pain involved. The best of the two have been acetone (nail polish remover, and even hand sanitizer).
1.Get a bottle of acetone (nail polish remover, hand sanitizer) or pure acetone and soak your fingers in it, it can take about 10-20 minutes. Just give the nails a little wiggle to see if they feel even the least bit loose or anything to that nature. Then when you feel that you can, ever so gently peel them off from the cuticle up, it may seem easier to pull from the top but then some pieces of the acrylic nail can be left and that can be complicated to remove. A little to no damage will be done in the process.
If you have a little more time than that then you can soak for about 20-30 minutes and the acrylic should turn into gel and you will have no problem or pain getting them off and there will only be the damage to the nail that was done when getting the nails put on.
The other method I found to be helpful is rubbing alcohol.
2. The only other things that you will need are cotton balls and tape. Put enough rubbing alcohol in a bowl so that you can put your fingers in it and put a cotton ball over the nail, tape it down and soak for 15-20 minutes. Then just give it a little tug, pull, and wiggle and you should have little to no pain doing this. This has seemed to also work like a charm.
NOTE: You should definitely file the top of the nail "lightly" and then lotion up, preferably coco butter but if not, anything else will do. Then apply a coat of a strengthening nail polish. This should fix up a big majority of the damage done when you got them done.
I promise this works, and I hope that I've helped! (12/04/2008)
By Lo<3</p>
When I had mine removed they had me soaking in acetone for quite a while. This is the only way to get them off. They use 100% acetone. Hope this helps. Janette (12/19/2008)
By Janette
I took the advise about the hand sanitizer, it worked wonders. I had my nails put on last week and I really found them to get in the way. So they weren't loose when I was taking them off. I put hand sanitizer on the nail and took a flat flexible piece of plastic and went under and got them off. I put pressure and eventually each one popped off.
It was extremely easy, a little painful but truly not so bad and it was very fast like around 15 minutes to get all 10 off. But for the flexible surface I suggest an old beaten up metro card it works very well. (12/22/2008)
By Ennie
I have a method I haven't seen mentioned here, but for me it works wonders. I simply get a pair of latex gloves and pour just a little acetone in them. Just enough so my fingers are immersed. I put on the gloves and put an elastic band at the rim to keep them in place.
In 20 minutes or so, the acrylic is soft enough to scrape off, and I use a cotton ball soaked in acetone to remove the stubborn bits. Then I soak my hand in mineral oil in another pair of gloves. When I do this I save time, because I can get stuff done, while I remove my nails, and treat them. Hope this helps.
(01/05/2009)
By Nicholle
I have found the best way in removing Acrylic Nails is to get a big bowl, fill it with warm water, and then get another bowl (a bit smaller than the larger bowl, but make sure your whole hand can fit in the smaller bowl). Then place the smaller bowl in the larger bowl and pour in your 100% pure acetone in the smaller bowl and add a couple drops of cuticle oil in with your acetone.
Then place your hands in the small bowl, get a warm towel and tightly wrap it over the bowl and your hands so that you are keeping the heat in at all times. Take out after 10-15 minutes. Then buff and replace back in. After about an hour all your nails should be free of acrylic.
I know this works because I have been a nail technician for the past 5 years now. (01/08/2009)
By Cara
I used the Kiss Remover. I started at 11pm and ended at 2:30am. It contains brush pad inside to soak and brush. I just soaked, but I was able to sit on bed and watch TV. Finally done and they look good! A thick layer - I will apply Strong Nails Now by Sally Hansen.(01/30/2009)
By Octavia in St. Louis
I know you just asked how to remove the acrylic nails but I wanted to give you a little advice anyway. You can soak them in acetone based nail polish remover and gently remove them with an orangewood stick. As far as getting gel nails, they aren't as durable. Quite frankly, I strongly suggest getting your own nails in good shape and going for weekly manicures at the salon.
By Leigh
Start at the base where the fake nail starts to lift. Put in dental floss and floss under the nail as high as you can go without pain. Then, gently wedge a toothpick under the nail.
Put a few drops of acetone in the opening with an eyedropper (I rubbed some Vaseline around my nails to keep the acetone off my skin). Keep working the dental floss upward, and the nail will pop off. You might have to do this twice, depending upon how well the fake nail is adhered. I did notice that the more hand sanitizer I used at work, the looser the nails became (alcohol). It's so good to have my real nails back! (02/21/2009)
By Lisa
I am a nail tech for both Gel and Acrylic Nails.
The very easiest way for you to remover acrylic nails is to soak them in acetone. The only way this will work is if you do not have a gel overly. Gel does not soak off. A lot of techs use a gel product as a top coat as it is a stronger option then regular top coat. So, if you want to remove your nails without the help of a technician, you need to know if you have a gel top coat. Once you have removed your nails, they will be dry so you need to use a cuticle oil or a cream designed for nails. Regular cream will not penetrate the nail to moisturize properly enough. Then apply a nail strengthener free from DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde.
One thing to know is your natural nail should not be in bad shape after removal. A good nail tech can apply a set of nails and have them last without severely damaging your natural nail. When they file your natural nail prior to applying your enhancements, they should ONLY be buffing the shine off; not digging in or causing harm to the natural nail. This is one misconception many have about nail enhancements. Be sure to find out who is doing your nails, how long they have been doing them and that they are educated technicians. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. (03/10/2009)
By Lia
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