TBH, the safest way to remove acrylic nails is at a salon with a trained nail tech. But, if you’re desperate, there are some methods you can try at home that won’t completely destroy your nails like biting, chewing, or picking them off would. Keep reading for a guide on how to remove acrylic nails at home (even including methods that don’t involve drying acetone), plus some tips to keep your nails healthy afterward.
12 Of The Best And Worst Fabrics To Wear In Summer Heatwaves If You Want To Avoid Sweat Patches
From the benefits of cotton to the evils of rayon, we take a look at best and wore fabrics to wear this summer if you count yourself a ‘sweaty betty’.
By Katie O’Malley Updated: 12 June 2023
Jeremy Moeller // Getty Images
Whether you consider yourself a ‘sweaty person’ or not, at some point this week you’re bound to have some kind of wet patch fiasco.
Over the weekend the Met Office issued a weather warning for thunderstorms and rain, with almost a month’s rain expected to fall over parts of the UK in the next 12 hours. However, it’s estimated the country will still be hotter than Monaco.
You might be someone who needs only a small spritz of deodorant in the morning, or the girl whose friends whisper ‘S.U.L.A.’ (sweaty upper lip alert) to her in a social gathering. Regardless, the hot climes we’re expecting in the UK are sure to play havoc with our wardrobe decisions.
Your Chloé woody logo-print canvas slides might have provided some ‘cool girl’ glamour in spring, but the dribble of sweat running down your legs after a hot bus ride rather undermines this statement in summer. And that Reformation Juliette dress isn’t going to be such a clever investment when you’re having to fan your darkly damp underarms.
Seriously summer, you’re really testing our patience.
Kirstin Sinclair // Getty Images
Hot weather is great for the much-needed Pimms, parks and vitamin D, but we’re already struggling to know how to dress, not only because of our post-lockdown transition season dressing nightmares, but for our excessive public perspiration.
As a result, we’ve rounded up a list of fabric do and don’ts for the summer 2020 because, let’s face it, we’re tired permanently glueing our elbows to our sides.
Summer fabric Dos:
There’s a reason your summer wardrobe consists of so many cotton dresses, shirts and flared skirts.
Cotton is a natural fibre which allows air to circulate and move freely through the fabric, ensuring airflow that dries out damp areas of the body. A good quality lightweight cotton also absorbs moisture, allowing you to cool down quickly, and comes in a variety of styles and colours.
Claudio Lavenia // Getty Images
However, be warned, because cotton creases easily. So, when it comes to packing for a holiday, a cotton polyester blend may be your best option.
It’s also worth noting that as cotton soaks up moisture, it can become heavy and wet so may show sweat patches. As a result, your best bet is to opt for light, rather than dark, colours in order to avoid pit marks.
ELLE UK‘s digital fashion editor Daisy Murray says: ‘Dresses in cotton poplin create a more polished feel, while a great organic cotton T-shirt can take you anywhere from brunch with a denim skirt to the office with some wide-leg trousers.’
Linen
All hail, linen. Linen is a loosely woven, natural fibre which allows heat to escape from the body, it absorbs moisture and dries quickly.
What does this mean? You + linen = cool as a cucumber.
It’s also pretty malleable so doesn’t tend to stick to the body. However, it can wrinkle quite easily so look for linen blends if crinkles aren’t your bag.
Edward Berthelot // Getty Images
‘The more you wash and wear linen, however, the softer the fabric becomes, creating much more “flattering” and gentle creases when worn, so wear, wear then wear linen again for best results,’ says Murray.
‘If you’re travelling without a steamer or iron, hang your linen clothes up in the bathroom as your shower to provide a gentle steam.’
How do I remove acrylic nails at home?
To remove acrylic nails at home, you’re going to want to soak them in acetone to help lift up the acrylic. The easiest way to remove acrylic nails fast is to cover them with a cotton ball soaked in pure acetone, wrap your fingers in tin foil or nail clips, and let them sit for 30 minutes. The acetone will help break down the acrylics, so you can buff or scrape off the rest with an orange stick or cuticle pusher. As a ~hot~ tip (literally), try warming up your acetone before starting, which will help it work faster and more effectively on your nails. (Note: Acetone is incredibly flammable, so don’t microwave it—just run the bottle under warm water for a few minutes.)
- Carefully clip off your excess acrylics, cutting them as close as possible to your real nails.
- Using a nail buffer, rough up the surface of the polish until the shine is completely gone. Removing the top layer helps the polish soften faster in the acetone.
- Pour 100 percent pure acetone into a tray or bowl and soak your nails in it for five minutes.
- With a metal cuticle pusher, gently push the polish off your nails, pushing from your cuticles downward.
- Redip your nails for five mins, then gently push again. Repeat until your acrylics have completely soaked off.
- Buff off the rest of the smaller pieces with your nail buffer.
- Massage cuticle oil into your nails to rehydrate them, then buff it into your nails with the soft side of a buffer. Finish with another layer of cuticle oil.
The only nail files and buffers you’ll need:
Pear Nova Glass Nail File
Tweezerman Tweezerman Black Nail Buff (2 Pack)
But keep in mind that acetone is very drying for your skin and nails, so if you want a less easy approach that won’t damage your nails as much.
How do you take off acrylic nails at home without acetone?
To take off acrylic nails at home without acetone, you’ll need a nail drill, which will help gently grind down the acrylic. “It’s important to be aware that a drill should be used very carefully,” nail artist Mazz Hanna previously told Cosmo, “and your nail artist should be properly educated on how to remove the gel with a drill since improper drill use can cause damage.” Which is why it’s extremely important to take caution and watch a ton of tutorials before trying it on yourself.
- Gently and carefully sand down the acrylics with a sanding bit, taking off the top layer of your acrylics.
- Then soak a cotton swab with 100 percent acetone, wrap it around your nails, and cover it with tinfoil, until all your digits are swaddled in foil.
- After 10 to 15 minutes of soaking, unwrap your fingers, then remove the excess acrylic with a cuticle pusher.
- Rinse your hands and finish with a cuticle oil.
Just some nail drills for ya:
Airsee Portable Electric Nail Drill
HugMaplePro Professional Portable Nail Drill
And if you’ve seen a bunch of TikToks about removing acrylic nails with dental floss or dish soap and hot water, sure, they might remove your acrylics (albeit, in a few hours), but they can potentially damage your nails too. I lost half a nail trying the dental floss trick on my acrylics, FYI, and dish soap can also be majorly drying. So if you’re truly in a pinch, def just go see a nail tech to get the job done effectively and with the least amount of damage.
When should acrylic nails be removed?
Your acrylic nails should be removed after four weeks max, but this depends on how fast your nails grow. “Your natural nails grow out regardless of how long your acrylics last, and you’ll start to see growth at your cuticle beds after two weeks,” nail artist Rita de Alencar Pinto previously told Cosmo. So even if you top your acrylics with gel nail polish and don’t notice any chipping, the growth will still make your nails more susceptible to breaking, cracking, and snapping off, which you don’t need me to tell you is painful AF and can damage your real nails.
Your post-acrylics care kit:
CND RescueRxx Daily Keratin Treatment
OPI Repair Mode Bond Building Nail Serum
Tenoverten The Rose Oil Nourishing Cuticle Oil
