Taking off acrylic nails yourself

What to set out first

Plan on about an hour at a table near an open window or a running fan. Acetone is highly flammable, so keep it away from candles, stoves and cigarettes, and lay down a thick towel, since it can mark varnished wood and some plastics.

• 100 percent acetone, because non-acetone remover will not dissolve acrylic
• Nail clippers and a coarse file, around 100 grit
• A glass or ceramic bowl
• Cotton balls and foil squares, if you prefer wrapping each nail
• Petroleum jelly and a wooden stick
• A soft buffer, cuticle oil and hand cream for the end

The removal, in order

Soaking usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, and a thick set can need an hour. For a faster soak, set the glass bowl inside a larger bowl of warm tap water. Never warm acetone on a stove or in a microwave.

• Clip each nail as short as you comfortably can, since less product means less soaking
• File off the shine and as much color as you can, stopping well before your own nail
• Coat the skin around each nail with petroleum jelly
• Soak your fingertips in acetone, or press soaked cotton on each nail and wrap it in foil
• After 15 minutes, scrape away whatever has gone soft, working from the base toward the tip
• Return to the acetone for 10 to 15 minutes and repeat until the product is gone
• Buff any leftover ridges lightly, then wash your hands and moisturize

Shortcuts that cost you nail

Acrylic bonds firmly to the top of the nail plate. Anything that lifts it before it has softened takes part of the plate along, which leaves your nail thin and sore and sometimes separated from the skin underneath.

If a nail is very painful, bleeding, swollen or turning green, stop and have a doctor look at it. These are the moves to avoid.

• Pulling, twisting or biting the acrylic off
• Sliding dental floss under the edge
• Forcing a metal tool under product that is still hard
• Using an electric drill at home

What your nails need afterward

Your nails will probably look thin, dry and a little white. Acetone pulls out moisture, and the surface has been worn by filing and by the set itself, so this is common. Rub in oil twice a day and keep the length short for a few weeks to stop them from catching and tearing.

Wear gloves for dishes and cleaning during this stretch. Damaged layers have to grow out, and a fingernail takes about four to six months to replace itself, so the improvement comes gradually.

When the salon is the easier choice

Home removal is reasonable if your nails feel fine and you have the time. It makes less sense if a nail is already broken or lifted, if the set is very thick, or if you are going straight into new nails anyway.

At Element, Take Off is added to another service instead of booked alone, and the $10 is a starting price. A Color Acrylic Full Set starts at $60 and a Color Acrylic Fill starts at $50, about 60 minutes each. Leaving acrylics behind? Pair the take off with a Gel Manicure from $45, which takes about 45 minutes. We are open Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM at 8151 W Sunrise Blvd.

Questions guests ask

Can you remove acrylic nails without acetone?

Not well. Non-acetone remover, hot water and oil can loosen an edge at most, and what follows is usually prying. If you react to acetone, talk to your doctor and tell your artist before any removal.

How long should I wait before getting a new set?

There is no fixed rule. If your nails are not sore and do not bend much, you can go right back to a set. If they feel thin, a couple of weeks with oil and short length gives them a chance to settle.

Does acetone hurt your skin?

It dries skin and nails quickly, which is why the petroleum jelly and the moisturizer matter. Some redness can follow a long soak. If your skin blisters, burns or stays irritated, rinse it off, stop, and call your doctor.