False nails, in acrylic or gel, are the perfect solution for all women who want to have beautiful and well-groomed hands. They can be applied using different techniques and when it's time to take them off there is no need to go back to the beautician, you can save money by removing them at home. This article discusses the same methods that professionals also use. In no time your hands will be ready for a new manicure.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use acetone, cotton and tinfoil
Step 1. Shorten the false nails to reduce their surface
The first thing to do is cut them to limit the area you need to apply acetone to. The solvent will be able to penetrate more easily under the acrylic material or gel. Use the nail clipper or scissors and be careful not to exceed the natural limit of the nails.
In this phase you have to cut only the false nails, you can shape the natural ones after removing the tips
Step 2. Thin the acrylic or gel layer with a coarse file
Move it back and forth along the nail surface where the acrylic meets the natural nail (near the cuticles) or over the entire gel surface. Continue filing until you have removed the top layer of resin or gel.
- Don't skip this step. Take the time it takes to file the surface of the nails, you will recover it later as the acetone will act faster.
- Do not file too much so as not to risk removing even a part of the natural nail. Be careful as an infection could develop.
Step 3. Cut out 10 rectangles of aluminum foil that you will use to wrap your fingertips
Use a pair of scissors and make rectangles 10cm long and 5cm wide.
Check if the dimensions of the first rectangle are correct before creating the others. Make sure it's large enough to completely wrap your fingertips and to fit a cotton ball. You need to be able to roll the ends around your fingers to block the cotton
Step 4. Soak a cotton ball (or piece of gauze) and place it on your nail
The cotton must be impregnated with acetone, but it must not drip.
- Make sure the cotton is where the fake nail is attached to the natural nail.
- If you used fake nails that stick with glue, place the cotton where the adhesive is.
- If you prefer, you can use acetone-free nail polish remover, but keep in mind that it will take longer to remove the false nails.
Step 5. Wrap the foil around your fingertip to lock the cotton to the nail
Place your fingertip in the center of the foil rectangle, then wrap the paper around your fingertip. Shape the paper with your free hand to keep the cotton in close contact with the nail even as you move.
Don't worry if the result isn't as accurate as what professionals get in beauty salons. If you've wrapped the foil securely around your fingertip, the acetone-soaked cotton ball will stay stable and do its job
Step 6. Repeat the steps for each nail
Soak the cotton with acetone, place it on the nail, and then wrap your fingertip with foil. Continue like this until you have bandaged all ten fingers. Unfortunately you will struggle more and more as the free fingertips will be less and less.
- The simplest solution is to ask a friend or family member to help you wrap the paper around the last few nails.
- Another possibility is to first remove the false nails from one hand and then from the other.
Step 7. Wait 20 minutes before removing the card
While waiting, you will have very little manual dexterity, so take the opportunity to relax by watching television or listening to some music.
Since you have your fingertips covered, you will probably not be able to interact with the touch screen of the phone
Step 8. Use a cuticle stick to remove any resin or gel residue
When the time runs out, free one of the ten nails and see if you can scrape off the resin or gel with an orange wood cuticle stick. If you used fake nails that stick with glue, try inserting the tip of the stick under the nail to see if you can lift and peel it off. If the resin, gel, or fake nail come off easily, free the other fingers from the paper as well, one at a time, and use the stick as described.
- If, on the other hand, you are having a hard time peeling off the resin, gel or fake nail, reposition the foil around the nail and wait another 5 minutes before checking again.
- Remember that it is best to remove the paper from one nail at a time and use the stick right away.
Step 9. Remove debris from the nail with a brick file
After using the cuticle stick to remove the resin, gel or to remove the fake nail, take a brick file and wipe the last residue of glue, polish or acrylic material off the nail. Move the file back and forth across the nail surface by applying light pressure.
In some places you may need to increase the pressure slightly to be able to remove residual glue, resin or gel
Suggestion: acetone will tend to dry out the skin around the nails. When you're done, apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your nails and all hands.
Method 2 of 3: Soak Nails in Acetone
Step 1. Shorten the false nails as much as possible
The first thing to do is to cut your nails to facilitate the action of acetone, in this way it will be able to penetrate more easily under the acrylic material or the gel. Use the nail clipper or scissors and be careful not to exceed the natural limit of the nails.
In this phase you have to cut only the false nails, you can shape the natural ones after removing the tips
Step 2. Thin the acrylic or gel layer with a coarse file
Move it back and forth along the nail surface where the acrylic meets the natural nail (near the cuticles) or over the entire gel surface. Continue filing until you have removed the top layer of resin or gel.
The fake or reconstructed nails rest on top of the natural ones, so the acetone will have a hard time penetrating if you do not file them first. The gel technique requires a surface layer of top coat to be applied to protect the enamel. Thinning the resin or top coat before soaking your nails simplifies and speeds up the process
Step 3. Fill a bowl with pure acetone
The size of the container must allow you to soak all the nails at the same time. A half liter bowl should suffice, about half full with pure acetone.
- You can buy pure acetone in perfumery or in the supermarket.
- If you prefer, you can use acetone-free nail polish remover, but keep in mind that it will take longer to remove the false nails.
Step 4. Place the bowl in the center of a bowl that contains hot water
Once the acetone is heated it becomes more powerful, so the process speeds up. Use a tureen about twice the size of the bowl and fill it with very hot water for about a quarter (you can use hot tap water). Then place the bowl with the acetone in the center of the bowl.
Make sure the water doesn't go over the edge of the bowl to prevent it from diluting the acetone. Place the bowl on the bottom of the bowl slowly to check if the water level is correct. If it's too much, throw some away and try again
Suggestion: acetone is a powerful solvent and dries the skin. If you want, you can also add a few drops of baby oil to the bowl to counteract the dehydrating effect.
Step 5. Soak your nails in acetone for 10 minutes
Dip your fingertips in the acetone, up to the cuticle level and soak them for 10 minutes. The acetone will dissolve the resin, gel, or glue that holds the false nails attached.
Bend your fingers and dip your nails only to minimize the area of skin exposed to the acetone
Step 6. Check if the acetone worked
When ten minutes are up, remove your fingers from the acetone and examine your nails. See if you can scrape off the resin or gel with an orange wood stick for the cuticles. If you've used fake nails that stick with glue, try inserting the tip of the stick under a nail to see if you can easily lift and peel it off. Examine all nails one at a time.
If you are having a hard time peeling off the resin, gel or false nails, dip your fingers in the acetone again and wait a couple of minutes before checking again
Step 7. Use the stick to scrape off the resin or gel or to pry and detach the false nails
After removing the false nails, also use it to remove the glue residue. The acrylic material will have been dissolved by the acetone, so it should come off easily.
If necessary, after using the cuticle stick, take a brick file and remove any remaining glue, gel or resin residue. Move the file back and forth across the nail surface by applying light pressure
Method 3 of 3: Using the dental floss
Step 1. Know that using this technique could damage your natural nails
Industry experts advise against removing false nails using dental floss. The risk is to detach a part of the natural nail as well. In addition to feeling intense pain, an infection may develop.
Step 2. Purchase a pack of interdental forks
They can be found easily in the supermarket and are perfect for removing false nails. To further simplify the process, it is best to use a floss designed to eliminate plaque even between teeth that are very close together.
Alternatively, you can use common dental floss. In this case, however, you must ask a friend or family member for help because you will not be able to hold the thread taut with one hand
Step 3. Use the pointed end of the fork to loosen the false nail
The lower end is usually pointed like that of a toothpick. Insert the tip under one part of the nail to create a crack, but without levering too hard. Just lift the end of the false nail slightly where it coincides with the natural one.
Tip: You can use a cuticle pusher stick instead of the back of the fork.
Step 4. Push the floss against the natural nail and slide it under the fake nail
Place the thread against the natural nail where the fake nail begins, then push it down and move it under the false nail.
If there is someone to help you, ask them to hold the floss taut and push it against the natural nail
Step 5. Move the thread back and forth to slide it under the false nail
The movement is the same as you use to remove the plaque between your teeth. Press on the fake nail with one finger to hold it steady while running the thread. Gradually advance with the floss until you reach the end of the natural nail and the fake nail comes off.
Proceed very slowly and carefully to prevent the natural nail from coming off as well as the fake one
Step 6. Repeat the steps to remove the other nails
Peel off one at a time until you have removed all of them. When finished, cut, file and smooth the natural nails to shape them and remove any residual glue or acrylic material.
Warnings
- Pure acetone is flammable, so keep it away from heat sources and open flames.
- Pure acetone can stain or discolour surfaces and fabrics. Protect your work area with an old towel and wear a cheap T-shirt.
- If you have done the reconstruction, do not try to remove the nails without first using acetone to dissolve the resin or gel. Otherwise you run the risk that even part of the natural nails will come off. In addition to feeling a lot of pain, an infection may develop.
