Isla Bennett
Removing fake nails can be tricky, and it's tempting to just rip them off or peel them off. However, this can cause serious damage to your natural nails. The best way to remove fake nails is to soak them in acetone. Acetone is a strong chemical that breaks down the acrylics and gels that fake nails are made of. It can be drying, so it's important to use cuticle oil before and after soaking to keep your nails hydrated and healthy. To remove fake nails with acetone, you'll need to soak them for 20 to 30 minutes, and then gently push or scrape off the dissolved product with an orange stick or cuticle pusher.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soak solution | Acetone |
| Soak time | 20-30 minutes |
| Soak method | Soak nails in acetone, or soak cotton balls in acetone and wrap nails |
| Nail type | Acrylic, gel, and dip powder nails |
| Aftercare | Cuticle oil, nail strengthener, hand cream or moisturizer |
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What You'll Learn
Soak nails in acetone for 20-30 minutes
Soaking your nails in acetone is an effective way to remove fake nails, but it requires patience and careful execution to avoid damaging your natural nails. The process typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, and it involves several steps to ensure the health and safety of your nails and skin.
First, trim your fake nails to the length of your natural nails. This step helps reduce the exposure of your natural nails to acetone, which can be drying and damaging. Next, use a nail file to roughen the surface of your nails. Focus on the area where the fake nail meets your natural nail for acrylics, and file the entire nail surface for gels to remove the shiny topcoat. Filing helps the acetone penetrate and remove the product more easily.
Now, you can prepare the acetone soak. Pour 100% pure acetone into a glass bowl or tray—acetone is strong and can damage some surfaces. Soak cotton balls or paper towels in the acetone and place them on your nails. You can also dip your fingertips directly into the acetone bowl, ensuring they are fully saturated. Then, wrap your nails with foil or plastic wrap to hold the cotton in place and trap in heat, which speeds up the process.
Let your nails soak for 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, you may notice the product melting and breaking down. After the allotted time, remove the wraps and gently pry or push off the fake nails with an orange stick or cuticle pusher. If the product doesn't come off easily, rewrap your nails and allow them to soak for a few more minutes.
Finally, tend to your natural nails. Acetone can be drying, so it's essential to rehydrate your nails and skin. Apply cuticle oil or hand cream to nourish and protect your nails. You may also want to buff your nails gently to remove any remaining residue.
While this process is effective for removing fake nails, it's important to note that at-home removal is generally not recommended by experts. If you can, opt for professional removal at a nail salon to minimise the risk of damage to your natural nails.
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File nails to remove topcoat
If you want to remove fake nails at home, filing them down is an important step in the process. Filing the surface of the nail helps to remove the topcoat and roughens the surface, allowing the acetone to penetrate the fake nails more quickly.
It is not necessary to file off 100% of the topcoat. Instead, aim to file off the shine, breaking the seal so that acetone can more easily break down the polish. You can use an e-file sanding bit or a hand file to do this.
After filing, you can then soak your nails in acetone to remove the fake nails. This can be done by dipping your hands into a bowl of acetone or wrapping your nails in foil with an acetone-soaked cotton ball. This process can take up to 30 minutes, and it may be necessary to rinse and repeat until all the product is removed.
It is important to note that acetone is a strong chemical that can dry out your nails and damage surfaces. Therefore, it is recommended to use cuticle oil before and after the removal process to keep your nails and skin moisturized. Additionally, take your time when removing fake nails to avoid damaging your natural nails.
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Wrap nails in foil
Removing fake nails at home is not recommended, but it is possible in a pinch. Before you begin, prep your nails with cuticle oil to replenish the natural oils on your nails and prevent them from drying out. You can also apply hand cream or moisturizer to your hands to lock in moisture.
Now, it's time to soak. Acetone breaks down acrylics and gels, but unlike regular polish that only requires being wiped down, gels, gel extensions, and acrylics require time. One way to do this is to dip your hands into bowls filled halfway with acetone. However, this method requires you to sit still for up to 30 minutes. If you don't want to sit still for that long, you can wrap your nails in foil with an acetone-soaked cotton pad.
Here's how to do it:
- File the top of your nails to remove the topcoat. Use a nail file and go over each nail in a back-and-forth motion. For acrylics, file near the cuticle bed where the fake nail meets your natural nails. For gel nails, file over the entire surface of the nail. Be careful not to file down to your natural nails.
- Soak cotton balls in acetone and wrap them around your nails. Make sure the cotton is wet but not dripping. For acrylics, centre the cotton over the area where you filed to expose the adhesive.
- Wrap each finger in foil.
- Wait 10 to 30 minutes. The time it takes depends on how thick the product is, but when it is soaked properly, it will flake away from the nail.
- Remove the wraps and pry off the nails with an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher. If the nails don't come off easily, wrap your nails for another 5 minutes and try again.
- Buff off any remaining residue with a fine-grit file or buffing block.
After removing your fake nails, it's important to continue caring for your nails and hands. Cuticle oil and moisturizer will help keep your nails and skin hydrated. You can also use a nail strengthener to help repair any potential damage and keep your nails healthy and strong.
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Buff or scrape off remaining product
Removing fake nails at home is not recommended, but it is possible in a pinch. It's important to take your time and use the proper tools to avoid damaging your natural nails.
After you've soaked your nails in acetone and removed the majority of the product, you may still have some residue left on your nails. This is where buffing or scraping comes in.
To buff off the remaining product, use a fine-grit nail file or buffing block. Gently buff your nails until all the residue is gone. Be careful not to over-buff, as this can damage your natural nails.
If you prefer to scrape off the remaining product, use a metal cuticle pusher or orange stick. Gently scrape the surface of your nails until all the residue is removed. Again, be careful not to apply too much pressure, as this can damage your natural nails.
It's important to note that acetone can be very drying for your skin and nails. Therefore, it is recommended to use cuticle oil before and after the removal process to keep your nails hydrated. Additionally, using hand cream or moisturizer after removing your fake nails can help to lock in moisture and keep your hands soft.
In the days following the removal, it's a good idea to give your natural nails a break and focus on caring for them. You can use cuticle oil, nail strengtheners, and hand cream to promote healthy and strong nails.
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Moisturise with cuticle oil or hand cream
After removing fake nails, it is important to moisturise your nails with cuticle oil or hand cream to nourish, repair, and moisturise your weak, thin, and damaged nails. Cuticle oil is a moisturising product for your nails and cuticles. It is most commonly made up of vegetable oils and sometimes contains vitamins and citric acid. Cuticle oils with vitamins or other ingredients such as antioxidants are ideal. For example, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream includes both Vitamin E and antioxidants.
Cuticles that are exposed to excessive cold, sun, chlorine, or salty or soapy water can become chapped, cracked, and dry. In these cases of extreme dryness and damage, cuticle oil can help moisturise your cuticle and nail, restoring it to health. Applying cuticle oil can increase the circulation around your nails, stimulating nail growth. It can also help to protect your nail and cuticle against trauma.
You'll only need to use a few drops of cuticle oil, as most oils work best in small amounts. Depending on the product, you can either dab your cuticles with a cotton ball or brush the oil on. Apply a few drops to each cuticle and then massage in for a few minutes. The best cuticle oils absorb quickly into your skin. They’re also rather thin, because thick oils won’t absorb into your skin as well.
You can also use hand cream to moisturise your nails. After removing your fake nails, your nail bed and fingers will experience dryness because of the acetone and liquid soap used in the removal process. So, start your rehydration process with hand cream, which will rehydrate your hands and fingers.
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Frequently asked questions
Acetone is the most commonly recommended product to soak off fake nails. It is a strong chemical that breaks down the acrylics and gels.
It is recommended to soak your nails in acetone for 20 to 30 minutes. However, you may start to see results in as little as 5 minutes, and you can gently push off the product with a metal cuticle pusher.
While acetone is the most effective method, you can also soak your nails in warm water. However, this method may take hours and could potentially harm your natural nails.
