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There is no denying that acrylic nails give your manicure an undeniable boost. They also make it simple to show off long, elegant nails. But when it comes to removing them,  there are many difficulties you can face to remove correctly and you can end up harming your natural nails. In this write-up, we will discuss how to remove acrylic nails at home safely. 

1.With Acetone 

Acetone is the most commonly used product to remove acrylic nails. 

What You Need:

• 100% pure acetone
• Aluminium foil
• Cotton balls
• Small bowl
• Nail file
• Cuticle remover cream
• Nail oil
• Step 1- Prep your items: Pour enough acetone to submerge your nails into a bowl. Have foil, cotton balls, files, cuticle remover and nail oil ready.
• Step 2- Protect skin and cuticles: Apply cuticle oil around the skin surrounding your nails. You may also apply petroleum jelly as a barrier. This prevents drying out.
• Step 3-Wrap nails: Soak small cotton balls or crumpled aluminium foil in the acetone. Wrap each finger, ensuring the soaked cotton or foil completely covers each acrylic nail.
• Step 4- Soak nails: If you are wondering how to remove acrylic nails at home with acetone, the next step is to ensure complete submersion. You can do it by placing the fingers on it. Set a timer for 10 minutes. The acrylics will begin dissolving from the underside first.
• Step 5- Check progress: After 10 minutes, check if the acrylics can be gently pried off with an orangewood stick. If not, re-soak another 5-10 minutes until they detach more easily.
• Step 6- Gently pry off: Once ready, use a cuticle pusher to gently lift the acrylics off the nail. Try not to rip them off. If needed, re-soak and repeat step 5.
• Step 7- File gently: Use a coarse nail file to gently buff off any excess acrylic still stuck to the natural nail. Do not file roughly as this can damage nails.
• Step 8- Remove cuticle acrylic:  Use cuticle remover cream to dissolve any acrylic left around the cuticles. Push back cuticles gently after 5 minutes.

2.With Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover 

So, how to remove acrylic nails at home? Acetone-free nail polish remover will not dissolve acrylics as quickly or effectively as pure acetone, but it can be used in a pinch.

• Start by protecting your skin with petroleum jelly around the nails. Soak small cotton pads in the acetone-free remover and place one on each fingernail. Wrap each finger with foil to hold it in place.
• After 20-30 minutes, check if the acrylics can be gently lifted at the tip using an orangewood stick. If not, re-soak the cotton pads for another 20 minutes. The acrylics will slowly soften and detach from the natural nails.
• Once ready, very gently lift the acrylic off each nail using a cuticle pusher. Do not rip or peel them off forcefully as this can damage the natural nail underneath.
• Use a coarse nail file to gently buff off any excess acrylic still stuck to the nails. File gently and avoid over-filing.
• Soak nails in olive oil for 10 minutes to hydrate. Apply cuticle remover to get rid of any acrylic around the cuticles and gently push them back.

3.With Electric File 

Electric nail files, also called nail drills, can be a great solution for those who want to find out how to remove acrylic nails at home safely. It is used to remove acrylics instead of soaking in acetone. Here are some tips:

1. Choose the Right Bit

Select a carbide or diamond encrusted safety bit made for acrylic removal. Do not use regular sanding bands as these can damage natural nails. 

1. Protect Skin and Nails

Tape around the skin near cuticles to protect from filing. Keep nails wet with spray or dipping in water to avoid heat damage.

1. Shape the Free Edge

Hold the drill at a 45 degree angle and shape the free edge of the acrylic nail to make it thinner. This exposes the natural nail underneath.

1. Work from Cuticle Down

Once the free edge is thinned out, begin gently filing at the cuticle area and work downwards. Let the bit do the work. Do not apply excessive pressure.

1. Stop and Re-wet

Stop every 30-60 seconds to spray nails with water or dip in a bowl to re-wet. This prevents heat buildup. Wipe away filing dust.

1. Avoid Overheating

Another very important step to follow while you are searching for how to remove acrylic nails at home is to avoid overheating. If the natural nail feels hot, stop immediately and allow it to cool before continuing. Work in short intervals to avoid friction heat damaging nails.

1. File Gently

Once acrylic is removed, use a gentle touch with lower speed to finely shape the natural nail. Do not over-file the surface.

1. Moisturise After

Following removal, apply cuticle oil around nails and let nails soak in olive oil to hydrate and recover.

4.With Nail Filers 

Nail filers can be used to remove acrylics instead of soaking in acetone. It takes more time and patience but can be done. You’ll need a coarse file to rough up the acrylic surface. 

Filing Tips:

• Soak nails in warm water to soften acrylics first, for 5-10 minutes. This allows easier filing.
• File using long, gentle strokes in one direction only.
• Concentrate on the free edge first to thin out the tip of the acrylic. Then work on filing downward from the cuticle area.
• If you want to know how to remove acrylic nails at home with nail filers, you must remember that never file too hard or aggressively. Let the file do the work.
• Take breaks to re-wet nails and remove filing dust. This prevents heat buildup.
• Watch for thinning or damage to the natural nail. Stop immediately if you feel discomfort.
• Once acrylic is removed, use a finer 240/280 grit file to gently smooth and shape the natural nail.
• Avoid over-filing the surface. Buff gently to restore shine.
• Finish with cuticle oil and thick nail moisturiser to hydrate after filing.