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 remove their acrylic nails all by their lonesome.  It’s no different than my hair designer friends whose clients decide to cut their own bangs. Unfortunately, very few clients report back to me that it wasn’t a painful ordeal, which tells me they are approaching it all wrong. Let me share with you, from my nail tech’s perspective, the proper way you insistent do-it-yourselfers can remove your own acrylic nails at home.

It’s important to remember, removing acrylic nails should never be painful, whether it’s you removing them, or the salon removing them. Never pry, pull or bite at your nails in your frustration of just wanting them off. The damage you do can be permanent, and your goal - and mine - is getting your nails back to being healthy. To keep your natural nails in the best possible shape, please try the procedure outlined below to ensure a pain-free acrylic nail removal with minimal damage.

These are the supplies you should have on hand:

·    Pure 100% acetone polish remove

·    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 and next,

·    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.

·    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 to get clean, please throw the bowl away.

Remember, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals, but I realize that sometimes, just like with hair color, it’s hard to wait until you can get to the salon and the temptation is too great to just DIY. For more helpful tips and hints, please visit my Web site at nailtech-inc.com or look for me at the Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago.

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