The Australian social distancing laws and the subsequent closure of beauty salons mean that many of us are DIYing our beauty. Nail salons have been shut for weeks and it's likely this will continue for another few months. Which is bad news if you have acrylic nails. A few weeks of regrowth is manageable but a few months is likely to turn your into Wolverine.
Rather than ripping your acrylic nails off, and risking losing your actual nails in the process, there is a better way. Here at RUSSH, we're big on DIY beauty, so we're happy to report there is a DIY way of removing your acrylic nails without ripping or tearing. Here's how to do it.
What you'll need:
- 100% acetone nail polish remover
- Cotton pads
- Aluminium foil
- A cuticle pusher
- Clear nail polish or nail strengthener polish
Method
- If your nails are very, very long, start by trimming with a nail clipper
- Soak a cotton pad in acetone and wrap around the top of your finger. Ensure the acrylic nail is completely covered.
- Cut or tear a 10x10cm square of aluminium foil. Use this to wrap around the soaked cotton pad and encase your finger tip
- Repeat for each nail. Leave on for 20 minutes
- After 20 minutes, unwrap. If the acrylic is not soft enough, rewrap and wait another 5-10 minutes.
- Push or scrape off the acrylic nail with a cuticle pusher
- Buff off the excess with a nail file or nail buffer
- Finish with a coat of nail strengthener or clear polish
The idea here is that the acetone dissolves the acrylic nail and makes it soft and pliable enough that you can remove it without damaging your real nail underneath. The aluminium foil is a key part of the process, so don't skip it. It insulates your finger tips, adding a little heat to get the acetone working faster.
Remember to use 100% acetone, or the nails won't dissolve correctly. But acetone does have a tendency to dry out your nails, which can cause flaking. So, it's a good idea to finish the process with a nail strengthening polish or hydrating nail cream.
Voila.
If you need more help, try watching the video below for tips.
