How to Take Off Acrylic Nails With Hot Water at Home

Acrylic nails have conquered the fashion market because of their unique ability to give the illusion of length to your nails. But like all makeup, this too needs to be removed after a certain point in time.

The easiest and quickest method of removal is quite obviously by the use of acetone.

While it might be okay to use acetone once in a while, regular usage of acetone can lead to skin problems. Then what must be the solution? The use of plain hot water can be the safest way to remove it. So today, we’ll guide you on how to take off acrylic nails with hot water at home.

How You Can Take Off Acrylic Nails with Hot Water

Things that you will need:

• A bowl of hot water.
• Cuticle oil or any moisturizer

Steps that you’ll need to follow:

1. Fill a bowl with water and start heating it.
2. After it has become warm enough to soak your hands in it, put it down.
3. Soak your nails in the water for about 15-20 minutes.
4. Keep it like that until the nails start swelling. This is a sign that the acrylic nail is coming off.
5. Use a pointed object to separate the acrylic nail from your original one.
6. Moisturize your cuticle by using cuticle oil or any moisturizer that suits your skin.

Why Should You use Hot Water to remove acrylic nails?

Water is a natural ingredient that causes no harm to your skin. The layer of the skin around the cuticle is soft and tender. Regular use of a chemical as harsh as acetone can result in dryness, itching, and hypersensitivity of the skin. Also, it can result in corrosion of the skin, causing permanent damage.

While it is understandable that using acetone is the fastest method to remove acrylic nails, as it quickly dissolves the chemical in it, but is definitely not recommended. Using hot water is a harmless way to take off your acrylic nails. Sparing a few more minutes and using a natural, affordable, and readily available ingredient as water can give you long-term benefits.

Things to keep in mind while taking off acrylic nails

1. Never tug or pull your nail forcefully.
2. If you face difficulty removing a particular nail, put your hand back in the warm water and soak it for five more minutes. The nail will come off with ease now.
3. Acrylic nails contain artificial chemicals that might have a detrimental effect on the natural growth of your nails. To prevent this, make sure you discontinue its usage after wearing it for a month or so. Give a sufficient gap and then start wearing it again.
4. Meanwhile, use nail strengtheners to keep your nails from becoming brittle and weak.
5. Consume an ample amount of calcium. Incorporate it into your diet or take supplements. There is nothing more effective than calcium in enhancing the growth of your nails.
6. Moisturizing is a must. It often happens that prolonged usage of artificial nails can rip off the natural oils from your nails. It is necessary, therefore, to add moisture and nourishment from the outside.

How to remove the glue that’s left behind?

You’ll notice that there is an excess of glue on your nails after the removal of the acrylic nails. This needs to be taken care of. Here are a few simple ways you can remove the glue left behind after removing acrylic nails:

• Take a bowl and fill it with warm water and gentle soap. Apply cuticle oil on your nails. Submerge your nails under the water for 15 minutes. Now that the glue will soften, gently scrape off the leftover glue.

Or

• Use a nail buffer to buff away excess glue. Rinse away and moisturize after the glue gets off.

Or

• Fetch a nail filer and scrape off the excess glue from your nails.

DIY Nail Care at Home after removing acrylic nails

If you cannot afford the time to get a manicure from the salon, make sure you do it at home by following a few simple steps. A nice manicure is ideal aftercare to repair your skin that might have suffered during your prolonged usage of acrylic nails.

Things you’ll need:

• A bowl of lukewarm water
• A spoonful of shampoo
• A brush
• A dry towel
• A nail filer
• A cuticle cutter
• Cuticle oil or moisturizer

Steps to follow:

1. Begin by heating some water in a bowl.
2. Add a spoonful of your favorite shampoo in that lukewarm water and soak your hands for minutes.
3. Take a brush and scrub the area around your cuticle thoroughly but gently.
4. Wipe your hands clean with a towel.
5. Take nail filer and push your cuticle back in position.
6. Cut off any excess skin around your nail.
7. Apply cuticle oil or a moisturizer thoroughly.

4 Other Ways to Remove Acrylic Nails

Now you know about the hot water method and why it is the best. Let me take you quickly through the other methods that you can use.

Using a nail filer

This one is one of the natural methods to remove acrylic nails without using acetone and damaging them. Also, it does not involve the use of harsh chemicals. It’s a dry method, and you can definitely give this a try.

Things you’ll need:

• A carbide drill bit
• A nail cutter
• A nail filer
• An orange stick
• Moisturizer or a cuticle oil

Steps to follow:

1. First, remove all the nail paint or any decorative materials like stone or glitters that have been used on your nails. Use a carbide nail drill (get one here) bit to remove them all. Make sure you are using glass protectors to protect your eyes, as these substances can irritate your eyes easily.
2. Next, you’ve to use your nail cutter to cut your nails short.
3. Use your nail filer till a point where you feel you’ve reached the original length of your nails.
4. Use an orange stick to get rid of that excess glue.
5. Finally, apply a good moisturizer to compensate for the harsh treatment you just subjected your nails too.

The only setback of this method is that it is too harsh on your skin as it involves a lot of tugging, pulling, and brushing in and around your skin.

Using a dental floss

This method is risky, for if you become a bit careless while doing it, there are chances of severe damage to your skin.

Things you’ll need:

• A dental floss
• A cuticle stick
• A nail cutter
• Cuticle oil or a moisturizer
• A person who will operate on your nails

Steps to follow:

1. Take a cuticle stick to locate and make a slight cut in the area between your original nail bed and the fake acrylic nails.
2. Ask the person who is helping you to insert a dental floss in that gap.
3. Ask him to use to and fro motion to make the cut deeper.
4. You’ll notice your fake nails coming off. At this point, use your fingers to detach any part of your fake nail that might be clinging to your nail bed.
5. Use your nail cutter to cut your nail short.
6. Moisturize your cuticle with a cuticle oil or a moisturizer.

This method is not recommended except in case of emergencies. It involves a lot of risks and might result in bleeding if not performed carefully.

Using laminated cards

 This method hardly involves any hassle. Your credit or debit card can come of aid in this method.

Things you’ll need:

• A discarded business card
• An orange stick

Steps to follow:

1. Locate and mark a dent between your original nail bed and the fake nail with your orange stick.
2. Insert your business card into the gap and use force in the upward direction to pry open the acrylic nail.
3. Your fake nail will come off with ease.
4. Use your orange stick to remove any excess glue.

This method is quick and easy but is not advisable because it involves using muscular force, which might be too harsh for your tender cuticles to bear.

Using acetone

This is the fastest and the most effective method and does not involve the use of force or any rubbing or tugging. However, acetone is too harsh for your skin and can cause dryness and irritation in your cuticles.

Things you’ll need:

1. A 100% acetone nail remover
2. A zip lock bag
3. A cuticle stick
4. Moisturizer

Steps to follow:

1. Pour the nail remover in a zip lock bag and soak your nails in it for about 3 minutes.
2. You’ll find that your fake nails have mostly dissolved in the chemical-like magic.
3. Use the cuticle stick to remove any remnant traces of glue.
4. You’ll find your nails all white and dry. Make sure you moisturize them thoroughly with a moisturizer or cuticle oil.

Prolonged use of this method can be permanently damaging to your skin. You should definitely avoid using acetone and try using nail removers that do not have acetone as a constituent chemical. Although those are less effective and take a long time, they are safe for your nails in the long run.

Bottom Line

Acrylic nails are irresistible and alluring. Using them adds color and diversity to your look. But removing them can be quite a hassle. You have to be cautious in your decision about the method you’re about to use.

Always try to opt for the safe and effective one than the one that is quick and easy. Of all the discussed methods, the best is undoubtedly the hot water one as it is easily available, natural, and effective. Now you know how to take off acrylic nails with hot water. Furthermore, this method does not dry out your nails and does not involve the use of harsh chemicals that might be damaging to your skin.

Taking care of your nails is a must to keep them healthy and shiny. Remember the three holy steps of nail care – scrub, cleanse, and moisturize, and you’ll be good to go.