Isla Bennett
Acrylic dip nails are a type of manicure that uses a strong adhesive to seal in colour, lengthen, and change the shape of nails. While they are long-lasting, the removal process can be arduous, especially at home. The process involves cutting the nails, buffing the top layer, and soaking nails in acetone. It is important to do this correctly to avoid damaging your natural nails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Removal difficulty | Tougher to remove at home than gel manicures |
| Removal tools | Nail clippers, nail file, acetone, petroleum jelly, bowl, aluminium foil, cotton balls |
| First step | Cut off any nail extensions with nail clippers |
| Nail file usage | Use the coarse side to remove the seal (shiny topcoat) by buffing |
| Protecting skin from dryness | Rub petroleum jelly on fingertips and into cuticles |
| Acetone usage | Pour acetone into a bowl and submerge nails, or use foil wraps with acetone-soaked cotton balls |
| Acetone type | Use pure acetone or nail remover alternatives |
| Acetone application | Ensure acetone-soaked cotton is directly on top of buffed nail |
| Acetone application duration | Leave on for 10-15 minutes |
| Removing remaining powder | Use a wood stick or cuticle pusher to gently push off remaining product |
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What You'll Learn
Use pure acetone
Pure acetone is a must for removing acrylic dip nails. It is important to note that you should not use hardware store acetone on your hands, as it is not manufactured to be in contact with human skin. Instead, opt for 100% pure acetone that is specifically meant for nail care. You can find these at any big-box store or pharmacy.
Before using acetone, it is recommended to cut your nails down to your natural nail length with nail clippers. This helps speed up the removal process. Next, use a coarse nail file (100 grit) to remove the shiny topcoat of your manicure by buffing. Ensure you only buff until there is a thin layer of product left over on the nail, being careful not to over-buff down to your natural nail.
Now, you can prepare the acetone. Cut up some aluminum foil into squares big enough to wrap each nail. Soak cotton balls in pure acetone and place them on each nail. Then, wrap the foil around your nails to secure the cotton balls in place. For better results, you can apply indirect heat by wrapping a hot towel around your hands. This technique helps speed up the removal process.
Leave the foil wraps on for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the time is up, remove the foil and most of the powder should rub right off. If the powder was applied thickly, you may need to repeat the process. Finally, use a wood stick or a cuticle pusher to gently remove any remaining product. Rinse and repeat until all traces of dip powder are gone.
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Protect your skin with petroleum jelly
To protect your skin with petroleum jelly, start by trimming your nails with a nail clipper to the length of your natural nails. Then, grab a 100-grit nail file and use the coarse side to remove the seal, or the shiny topcoat of your manicure, by buffing. Before soaking your nails in acetone, rub petroleum jelly on your fingertips and into your cuticles, avoiding your nail bed. This will help prevent the skin around your nails from drying out.
It is important to note that acetone can be damaging to the nails and surrounding skin, so it is crucial to take precautions such as using petroleum jelly to protect your skin. Acetone is necessary for effectively removing dip powder nails, but it can be harsh. To safely use acetone, ensure you are using 100% pure acetone from the nail care section of a store, as hardware store acetone is not intended to be in contact with human skin.
After protecting your skin with petroleum jelly, you can proceed with the acetone soak. Soak cotton balls or patches in pure acetone and place them on top of your buffed nails. Then, wrap each nail tightly with foil, making sure the acetone-soaked cotton is directly on top of your nail. Leave the wraps on for 10-15 minutes.
Once the time is up, remove the foil and most of the powder should rub off. If the powder was applied thickly, you may need to repeat the process. After removing the majority of the powder, gently push off any remaining product with a wooden stick or cuticle pusher. Finally, rinse your nails and repeat the process if necessary until your nails are completely free of any traces of dip powder.
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File nails to remove the seal
To remove the seal of your dip manicure, you will need to file your nails. The seal is the shiny topcoat of your manicure, and filing it will help the acetone penetrate and dissolve the powder more effectively.
Use the coarse side of a nail file (100 grit) to buff the top layer of each nail. File in a back-and-forth, then side-to-side motion until you see the top layer of your dip powder is fully covered with fine white dust. Be mindful not to over-buff down to your natural nail.
The thinner the layers of dip powder, the less time you will need to soak your fingers in acetone later. So, it is worth spending time on this step to speed up the overall removal process.
If you have added any length to your nails with the dip powder, it is recommended that you first cut off the extension down to your natural nail length with nail clippers. This will also help to speed up the removal process.
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Soak nails in acetone
Before you start soaking your nails in acetone, it is important to protect your skin. Los Angeles-based nail artist Ashlie Johnson recommends rubbing petroleum jelly on your fingertips and into your cuticles, avoiding your nail bed. This will help prevent the skin around your nails from drying out. Next, pour the acetone into a bowl and fully submerge each nail.
Alternatively, you can try the foil-wrap soak-off method. First, buff the top layer of each nail with a coarse nail file. Be sure to buff evenly and thoroughly until there is a thin layer of product left over on the nail. Be mindful not to over-buff beyond the artificial layer to the natural nail. Prepare aluminum foil squares big enough to wrap each nail with a cotton ball. Soak cotton balls in pure acetone or nail remover alternatives. Place the soaked cotton ball on each nail and secure it in place by wrapping aluminum foil around your nails.
For best results, use 100% pure acetone. Once the dip powder has begun to dissolve, lift off the remaining product by gently pushing it off the nail. You can use either a wood stick or a cuticle pusher to remove any remaining product. If the dip powder was applied thick, you may have to repeat the acetone-soaked foil wraps a second time.
It is important to note that acetone from hardware stores is not meant to be in contact with human skin and should not be used on your hands. Instead, opt for 100% pure acetone from the nail care section of a big box store or pharmacy.
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Remove remaining product
Once the dip powder has started to dissolve, use a wood stick or a cuticle pusher to gently lift and push off any remaining product from your nail. You can also use a nail buffer to remove any excess product. If there is still some product left on your nails, repeat the acetone-soaked foil wrap process for another 10 minutes.
According to nail expert Evelyn Lim, if the powder was applied thickly, you may have to repeat the acetone-soaked foil wraps a second time. "Also, depending on the formula of the dip powder, it may break down to a gummy consistency that can be rubbed off, or it may crumble," she warns.
Once your nails are completely free of any traces of dip powder, you're done! However, keep in mind that professional nail treatments like dip powder and acetone-based removers can be damaging to the nails and surrounding skin. Therefore, it is important to be mindful not to over-buff your natural nail.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to remove dip powder nails at home is by buffing off the top layer with a nail file/emery board to allow the acetone to penetrate and dissolve the powder. Then, use foil wraps with cotton saturated in acetone and wrap them around your nails. Leave the wraps on for 10-15 minutes, and then peel off the foil.
It is recommended to use 100% pure acetone to remove acrylic dip nails at home. Hardware store acetone should not be used on your hands as it is not manufactured to be in contact with human skin. Pure acetone can be found in the nail care section of most big box stores or pharmacies.
You should soak your nails in acetone for 10-15 minutes. If the dip powder was applied thick, you may need to repeat the process and soak your nails for an additional 10 minutes.
