How to Remove Acrylic Nails at Home

*Removing Your Acrylic Nails at Home:

**The D-I-Y Checklist**By: Amber Edwards,

Nail Education Group

*Let’s face it. As a nail tech and an educator, I fully anticipate there will be those rare occasions when one of my clients feels the need to removetheir acrylic nails all by their lonesome. It’s no different than my hairdesigner friends whose clients decide to cut their own bangs. Unfortunately,very few clients report back to me that it wasn’t a painful ordeal, whichtells me they are approaching it all wrong. Let me share with you, from mynail tech’s perspective, the proper way you insistent do-it-yourselfers canremove your own acrylic nails at home.It’s important to remember, removing acrylic nails should *never* bepainful, whether it’s you removing them, or the salon removing them. Neverpry, pull or bite at your nails in your frustration of just wanting themoff. The damage you do can be permanent, and your goal—and mine--is gettingyour nails back to being healthy. To keep your natural nails in the bestpossible shape, please try the procedure outlined below to ensure apain-free acrylic nail removal with minimal damage.

*These are the supplies you should have on hand:* -

Pure 100% acetone polish remover -

1 glass bowl (that you wouldn’t mind throwing away) -

Vaseline petroleum jelly -

One 80-grit file - One 100/180 grit file -

One buffer file - 2 wooden cuticle pushers -

A timer*D-I-Y Acrylic Nail Removal Procedure:*

- Ensure that your nails are completely void of nail polish. - File your nails as short as you can. - Pour the acetone into an old glass bowl, filling it about one inch deep. - Cover the skin around your nails with the Vaseline to protect your skin from the damaging acetone. - Set your time for 10 minutes . - Soak your fingers in the acetone, covering only the artificial product. Take them out once the timer has run at the 10-minute mark. The artificial product will look swollen, but this is only one layer of many. - Use the cuticle pusher and scrape off the melted layer. - Some products are harder to get off than others, when the product doesn’t seem to be responding to the acetone, use your 80 grit file to thin some of that hard to remove product. -

Reset your time for 10 minutes and soak again. Continue repeating this process for five consecutive times until the product has completely thinned out. - Once you have gotten to the very last few thin layers, I suggest you leave one layer on. This will protect the nail that is growing out, as well as help the polish to stay on. In turn, you will realize less damage to your nails. - At this point, wash your hands free of Vaseline petroleum jelly and use your buffer to make your nails smooth. -

Next, oil or polish your nails. Now you can let your nails grow with minimal to no damage.

*Note: * If the glass bowl has a foggy appearance that you cannot seem toget clean, please throw the bowl away.Remember, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals, but I realizethat sometimes, just like with hair color, it’s hard to wait until you canget to the salon and the temptation is too great to just DIY. For morehelpful tips and hints, please visit my Web site at *www.nailtech-inc.com*<http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nailtech-inc.com%2F>,or look for me at the *Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago*.