When you remove the foil, your acrylic nails should come right off! You can use rubbing alcohol to soften the acrylic, but it takes a long time, 20-30 minutes. Thank you for such a great article. If it is painful to remove the nails or if they aren’t coming off after repeated attempts, stop and consult a nail salon for help. Kristin Pulaski. ", "I did not have acetone, I plan to use the third method. “When you see the acrylic start to swell, this indicates the acetone has started to penetrate the acrylic,” Ms. Logan said. But make sure you don't cut any of your nail bed because it will bleed. For help dealing with particularly stubborn nails, read the article! This article was co-authored by Kristin Pulaski. There’s really no way to know which type you have before you start, said Ms. Boyce, a nail artist in Los Angeles. Sawing back and forth will gum up your nail file with acrylic, rendering it useless, Ms. Logan said. Place it on top of the nail, then wrap the nail with aluminum foil. Wait for 10-15 minutes before unwrapping the foil and removing the cotton. File across the nail in one direction. “Dip nails are just powder and glue. Place that bowl inside a larger bowl filled with warm water. It’s likely that this is what you have. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to get your acrylic nails off without making a trip to the salon. It will melt down in acetone.” After it lifts, wipe off the excess with a towel and shape your nails. Soak-off hard gel, a sturdier gel that’s often used for nail extensions, is removed in the same way, but with more filing and longer soaking. Gels come in a few forms and require different removal. This article was co-authored by Kristin Pulaski. Apply Vaseline, lotion or cuticle oil around cuticle area and finger where acetone will touch but not your acrylic nails. Let dry for 30 minutes. “I know we hate losing the length of our natural nails underneath, but this is the time to keep your nails short so you can manage them at home,” Ms. Logan said. To avoid damaging your nails, file in one direction only, and avoid using a sawing motion. Is it easy to use the dental floss method? Use an orangewood stick to gently push the gel off your nail. In the time you’re filing one hand, the acrylic on the other will have rehardened, making it impossible to file. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 Can you use rubbing alcohol to remove acrylic nails? “Filing lets the acetone penetrate through the rest of the gel, which makes the soak-off easier,” Ms. Boyce said. Wrap only one hand at a time. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Work on one hand at a time. Use a cotton-tipped wooden applicator if you need help applying the petroleum jelly more precisely. You can do this by placing your fingertips in a bowl of nail polish remover containing acetone or by applying acetone-soaked cotton balls to your nails and wrapping them in foil. However, this takes more time. Wrap the cotton pad with tinfoil and cover it completely. Soak Your Nails in Acetone There are two ways you can do this. Soft gels are by far the most common gel manicure. Wrap only one hand at a time. Things you Need to Remove Acrylic Nails at Home are: Acetone-Nail Polish Remover is important to scrape off acrylic nails. 19 May 2020. Make sure the cotton ball is completely covering your nail, then wrap each finger in aluminum foil. Acrylic nail removal kit: If you don’t like to try the home remedies for taking off acrylic nails, then I … Then, saturate a cotton ball with acetone and apply it to the top of each nail. Step 3: Pour one cup of acetone-free nail-polish remover in a bowl.Remember: Remover will evaporate, so you’ll need to add a few tablespoons over time. Be extremely gentle as you take off the top layer of your acrylic nails. This water will heat up the acetone (imagine the gentle warming action of a double boiler), making it dissolve the acrylic faster. Repeat the process with every nail until they're all removed. ", "I followed every step, and it worked perfectly! Just soak your fingers in pure acetone for about 20 minutes. “It’s time to start filing.”. Unfortunately, acetone soaks won’t break down this gel. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. You can use hot water to remove acrylic nails, but it requires a long soaking time, usually about twenty minutes. How can you take off acrylic nails at home without acetone? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can soak the nails in hot water or rubbing alcohol for 20-30 minutes. The Orly at Home Gel Removal Kit, $19.99, includes little plastic pockets to cover the nail. Rehydrate them with an oil or lotion and buff the surface to a smooth shine. Keep it away from sources of heat or flame. This could take up to 10 minutes per nail. If the acrylic nails are still firmly stuck, repeat the process for another 20 minutes and attempt to remove them again. It will deteriorate and get acetone everywhere. But you’ve probably got some time on your hands. Finally, apply a nail strengthener, like Nails. “But at least four or five times on average.”, It can be tricky to identify when you’ve removed all the acrylic because it’s clear.