Not enough women thank their lucky stars for being born in the age of acrylic nails. The convenience, the flexibility—what’s not to love? However, as much as we love these nails for also being long-lasting, this presents the issue of removal.
What if you can’t make it to the salon, or just don’t want to leave your house? Will removing your own acrylic nails do more harm than good? Not if we have anything to say about it!
Acrylic Nails: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The things we love most about acrylic nails come from a mix of powder polymer and liquid monomer. A wet brush dipped in acrylic liquid is mixed with powder to create a pliable bead. This bead is then applied to the nail bed and extended onto a plastic tip for added length. Once cured, your nails are ready for regular or gel polish.
Because of the protection they give, acrylic nails make your natural nails both longer and stronger. That makes them a great canvas for nail art and designs, but it makes them tougher to remove.
Acrylic nails need a lot of time to remove, even with nail techs. One of the first nail care tips we all learn is that removing acrylic nails is best left to professionals. Add to that the time that goes into working out a schedule that fits you and them both, and it can turn into a bit of a hassle. Your nails also get weaker the longer you wait to remove them, opening the possibility of bacterial infection. Faced with all of that, we think it’s justified to remove those nails at home when necessary.
Acrylic Nail Removal Tutorial: the Soak-Off Method
Removing acrylic nails isn’t about speed or convenience; it’s really about avoiding nail damage. Make sure to follow these steps for safe removal.
Setting up your workspace
If you’re choosing to remove your acrylic nails at home, do it right! The process begins with the right tools:
- Nail clippers
- Acetone
- A cuticle pusher
- A nail buffer
- A nail file (go for 100/80 grit)
- Foil
- Cotton balls
- A hand towel
- Paper towels
- Nail polish remover (for those with regular polish on top of their acrylic nails)
Next, set up a clean workspace with lots of moving air; acetone doesn’t exactly smell pleasant and your lungs will thank you for considering their health.
Use a table with enough space to maneuver. Cover the area you’ll be working in with a hand towel, then cover that with a paper towel. That should help with any stains or spills.
Prepping your nails
You’ll have to trim your extensions as closely as you can without risking your nails. Around three-quarters of an inch above the natural bed should do it.
Next, take off as much of the acrylic as possible with a nail file. If you have nail polish on, deal with that first. Use polish remover for plain old polish. If you used gel polish, go straight to the nail file.
Both steps cut down the time you need for soaking, which means less exposure for your nails and less curling up your nose at the smell. Can’t get overzealous, though, as removing too much also leaves your natural nails at the mercy of the harsh, drying acetone.
Professionals learn to get a feel for when the balance is right. You can get there eventually, but until that day comes, leave a bit more acrylic to serve as a buffer.
Soaking off the acrylic
Soak cotton balls in acetone and place them over your nails. Wrap each with foil, the snugger the better. Squeeze each finger over the foil until there’s some acetone dripping out. That’s a good sign that you’ve used enough.
Let your nails soak for at least 20 minutes, then check if the acrylic is starting to look soft and gooey. Repeat until that happens.
Removing the acrylic
Use your cuticle pusher to push off the acrylic, very carefully, starting from the cuticle area to the free edge. It shouldn’t need much pressure. Too much resistance means you’ll have to go back to soaking.
Once you’ve pushed off the acrylic, use the nail buffer to get rid of stubborn bits. After you’re done, give your hands a good and thorough wash.
Help your nails recover
Nail techs generally recommend a short break between treatments such as acrylics, gel extensions, and press-on or regular nail polish to let your nails recover. Watch out for signs that your nails need to breathe and heal, like ridges, splits, dry cuticles, discoloration, peeling or white patches. Oil serums or nail strengthening treatments should help speed things up.
An Easier, Healthier Way with Modelones Pleascent Removal
If you want to really speed things up without compromising your nail health though, there’s the Acetone-based Remove Plus Liquid. This acetone remover comes from the Modelones Pleascent Removal product line, and is formulated to provide an effective yet gentle removal experience without the harsh side effects.
This acetone-based acrylic nail remover has the strength (90% acetone) to soften poly gels, dip powders, press-on nails, and, of course, acrylics.
At the same time, its 10% natural essential oil content soothes your skin as it hydrates, protects, and strengthens your nails.
Unlike pure acetone, Acetone-based Remove Plus Liquid gives you the refreshing fragrance of lemon and osmanthus.
See the difference for yourself with the Acetone-based Remove Plus Liquid. You can also explore more ways to achieve salon results for your nails at home with the full Modelones product line on Amazon.
Safe Acrylic Nail Removal at Home
Acrylic nail removal doesn’t always have to take a trip to the salon. As long as you don’t rush through the process, use the right tools, and use a high-quality nail remover, like the Acetone-Based Remove Plus Liquid from Modelones, you can keep your nails healthy.
