Sophia Delgado
Acrylic and gel nails are a great way to get longer, stronger, and more long-lasting nails. However, they can be expensive to maintain, with fill-ins needed every two to three weeks. Removing and touching up acrylic and gel nails at home is a great way to save money, but it's important to do it carefully to avoid damaging your natural nails. With the right tools and techniques, you can safely and effectively touch up your acrylic and gel nails at home, changing up your look without the cost of a salon visit.
How to touch up acrylic and gel nails at home
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Removal of old nail polish | Use an acetone-based, oil-free nail polish remover. If you have gels or acrylics, soak them in pure acetone to remove them. Do not peel them off. |
| Trimming nails | Trim your nails to a short, even, manageable length. |
| Applying acrylic nails | Pour liquid acrylic into a dish and powder into a separate dish. Dip your brush into the liquid and then run it through the powder to create a small, moist ball. Apply the mixture to the base of each nail and brush it over the line where your natural nail meets the base of the acrylic tip. Use circular motions to bring the mixture close to your cuticle without touching it. |
| Touching up edges | File along the edges and tip for a neat look. |
| Removing acrylic nails | File as much of the acrylic as possible. Soak cotton balls in acetone and wrap them around your nails with tin foil. Use a coarse nail file to buff off the top coat. Submerge your nails in acetone for 9 minutes and then use a scraping tool to remove the product. |
| Touching up gel polish | Do not trim nails or file the edges. Carefully touch up your gel polish to make it last longer. |
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What You'll Learn
Removing gel and acrylic nails at home
First, cut down your extensions with sharp nail clippers, leaving about two centimetres of the nail above your nail bed for safety. Then, file away any regular polish on top of your acrylics with a nail file. If you have gel polish, use the coarse 100-grit side of your nail file to file off the shiny topcoat. Next, use the coarse side of the file to get rid of the bulk of the acrylic. The more you file off, the less time you will need to soak in acetone later.
If you are removing gel nails, you can stop filing once you have removed the topcoat. Then, soak cotton balls in acetone nail polish remover and wrap them around your nails with tin foil. Leave them for a while, and you should then be able to gently remove the product.
If you are removing acrylic nails, you will need to soak your nails in pure acetone for longer than gel nails. Do not peel them off; soak them until they can be pushed away with ease. Peeling them off will damage your nails, making them thinner.
After removing your gel or acrylic nails, apply a good hand cream or nail oil, as acetone will dry out your nails and skin.
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Using acetone to remove gel and acrylic nails
When using acetone, it's crucial to work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling the strong fumes produced by the chemical. Before applying acetone, remove any old nail polish and trim your natural nails to a manageable length. Then, soak cotton balls or cotton swabs in acetone and apply them to the surface of your gel or acrylic nails. Leave them on for about 10 minutes to allow the acetone to take effect.
After the waiting period, the gel or acrylic nails should start to soften and can be gently pushed away from your natural nail. Avoid peeling or forcing them off, as this can damage your natural nails and cause thinning. If you encounter resistance, you can try gently filing the surface of the gel or acrylic nails to thin the layer and then re-soak them in acetone.
It's important to note that acetone can also dry out the skin around your nails, so it's recommended to use cuticle oil and hand cream before and after the removal process to maintain skin health. Additionally, leaving time between manicures will give your nails a chance to recover and strengthen.
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Applying the acrylic mixture to your nails
Now that you have your acrylic materials ready, it's time to apply the acrylic mixture to your nails. Before you begin, ensure your nails are clean and free of any old polish. Use an acetone-based, oil-free nail polish remover to take it off. If you have old acrylics or gels to remove, soak them in pure acetone. Do not peel them off, as this will damage your nail and make it thinner.
To apply the acrylic mixture, start at the "smile line", which is the bottom edge of the acrylic tip. Flatten the acrylic ball over the line and brush it down to the tip. Spread it quickly and smoothly, ensuring a seamless transition between your natural nail and the acrylic tip. Take a second ball of acrylic and place it near your cuticle, without touching it. Then, use small circular movements to brush the acrylic down, creating a smooth transition.
Repeat this process for all ten nails. Remember to wipe your brush on a paper towel between each stroke to prevent the acrylic from sticking to your brush. If the acrylic is still on the brush, dip it into the liquid and wipe it off again. Once you've applied the acrylic to all your nails, you can move on to the next step of filing and shaping your nails.
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Smoothing out the powder mixture
Before you begin smoothing, it's essential to prepare your nails properly. Start by removing any old nail polish or gel using an acetone-based, oil-free nail polish remover. Then, trim your natural nails to a short, manageable length, leaving a few millimetres of growth. This provides a good base for the acrylics and ensures the glue adheres well. Next, gently push back your cuticles with a specialised tool or a popsicle stick. By clearing this area, you create a neat foundation for the acrylic mixture.
Now, you're ready to mix your acrylic powder and liquid. Pour the powder into a separate dish and dip your acrylic brush into the liquid. Then, run the damp brush through the powder to create a small, moist ball. The mixture should be spreadable and not too wet, as this can cause pooling and interfere with the bonding process. Remember, the ratio of liquid to powder is crucial. A ratio of 1:1 is recommended, but some technicians suggest using less liquid to avoid a brittle result.
With your mixture ready, it's time to apply it to your nails. Start at the "smile line," the bottom edge of the acrylic tip. Place the ball of acrylic mixture over this line and brush it smoothly towards the tip. Use small circular motions to guide the mixture closer to your cuticle without touching it. This technique ensures a seamless transition between your natural nail and the acrylic tip. Remember to wipe your brush on a paper towel between strokes to prevent the acrylic from sticking.
As you work, be mindful of the drying time. The mixture should remain moist enough to sculpt and smooth but not too wet that it pools. If you notice the mixture drying too quickly, you can adjust the room temperature to make it cooler. This slows down the drying process, giving you more time to perfect your smoothing technique.
Finally, remember that practice makes perfect. Acrylic nails are a skill worth pursuing, and with each attempt, you'll improve your smoothing technique and create more seamless transitions between your natural nail and the acrylic tip. Enjoy the process, and soon enough, you'll be flaunting picture-perfect acrylic nails!
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Trimming and filing nails
Trimming and filing acrylic nails:
Before you start trimming your acrylic nails, it's important to determine how long you want them to be. If you're looking to maintain your desired length, trimming is an effective way to do so. Acrylic nails can add length to your natural nails, but they can become frustrating if they get too long. Your natural nails continue to grow underneath, so the longer your nails grow, the longer your acrylics will become. Thus, filing the tips is essential to avoid extra length.
If you have ultra-long structured acrylics, you may want to debulk your nails, especially at the tips. To do this, lay your file flat along the length of the nail, tilt it slightly down towards the free edge, and file up and down using medium to hard pressure. Ensure that you pay attention to the thickness of the tip of the nail and maintain evenness along all sides.
When using nail clippers, position the clippers on the outside of the nail and cut towards the middle. Then, do the same on the other side, pulling off the cut tip. Avoid using scissors, as they can apply uneven pressure, causing the acrylic to crack. If you don't want to reduce the length too much, you can skip the clippers and simply use a file.
If you'd prefer to use a file, start filing from the sides of the nail towards the center. Acrylics are tough, so use a coarse (around 100 grit) or medium (180-220 grit) file. You can opt for an emery board or metal file to shorten your nails more quickly. After cutting your acrylic nails, they will likely be thicker than desired, so you can use a nail file or motorized nail grinder to thin them out. Remember to file on top of the nail rather than underneath it.
Trimming and filing gel nails:
Gel manicures are durable and can last up to 2-3 weeks. However, if you wish to reshape your gel manicure, you can do so at home. First, use nail clippers to trim your nails if they are longer than your desired length. If you are happy with the length, you can skip cutting them.
Next, use a coarse nail file (80-100 grit) to file the surface of your nails in a cross-hatching pattern. Run the file across your nail in one direction, then rotate it at a 90-degree angle and repeat the motion in the same spot. Move the file to a different area of your nail and continue the cross-hatching motion.
If you have soft gels or soak-off hard gels, file them down and then soak them in acetone to dissolve the gel. For hard gel polish, you'll need to file it all the way down. To break the seal of the gel polish, buff the shine off with a coarse nail file until the nail looks dull. This will remove the hard topcoat and allow the acetone to penetrate the gel polish more effectively.
If you have a softer gel, file away the top third of the polish, and if it's a hard gel, file it down by about half. Remember to be gentle and careful not to overfile your nails. If filing starts to cause discomfort, stop the process.
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