1. Trim Down Those Nail Extensions

Take a moment to say goodbye, it’s time to cut away at your acrylics. Trust us, making the acrylic nails smaller will make the following steps much, much easier. Hora says, “Use the nail clipper to cut the extension down to the natural nail,” This way, you’ll have less of the faux nail to actually remove.

Filing your nails is a crucial step to wear down the top layer of nail polish, but before you go to town with your traditional nail file, you might need to call in backup. “Two types of files are needed,” says Choi. “Begin with a coarse file to remove the outermost portion of the acrylic, then use a fine file as you get thinner so you don’t file your natural nail too much.”

Coarse files will have rougher texture compared to the file you typically use to shape your nails. “File perpendicularly to the nail bed in long, gentle strokes,” says Choi. Since most salons use mechanical files, patience is key to yielding the best results, so keep at it until the shine of the nail polish is completely gone. Doing so will allow the polish and the nail to soften quicker once you’re ready to apply acetone. “If you use force when trying to remove your acrylic nails, you'll undermine the nail bed,” says Choi.

Hot Tip: To achieve the best results, opt for 100 percent acetone, which will dissolve acrylic much quicker than the diluted stuff. You’ve got options when it comes to soaking–here’s what the pro’s recommend:

• The acetone soak-off: Once you’ve filed away the top layer of polish, put your fingers in a shallow bowl of warm, pure acetone. To warm the acetone, you can run the bottle under warm water before you pour it into a bowl. Whatever you do, do not use any other method to heat it as acetone is extremely flammable. Then, make sure your nails are completely submerged and keep them in the bowl for at least 30 minutes. “Acetone softens the acrylic,” explains Choi. “It gradually melts the acrylic to make removal easier.”
• The foil method: If you want to reduce the damage to your skin, and free up your fingers faster, you can try the same method your nail artist uses to soak off gel nail polish. Start by soaking pieces of cotton ball with acetone so they're completely drenched, and then apply them directly onto the nail. Next, wrap the nail in tin foil to seal it up, and hold it in place for at least 30 minutes. “It’s essentially the same as soaking your nails in acetone, except that you don’t have to submerge your entire fingertip in the acetone,” says Choi, who adds that “The reduced exposure of your skin to acetone is worth the effort.”

At this point, your nails will be looking, well, not so pretty. But don’t worry, you’re halfway to acrylic nail freedom. Once you’ve allowed the acrylic to dissolve, you’ll be ready to remove the remaining pieces of fake nail with a nail file, cuticle pusher, cuticle stick, or nail buffer. “Buff gently instead of filing,” says Choi. If the remaining pieces are resistant, try soaking your nails in acetone again for a few minutes, then try to gently remove them again (key word: gently!).

It’s no secret that applying, wearing, and the removal process of acrylic nails can take a toll on your real nails. That’s why, after removing, you’ll need to treat your nails to a little TLC. Hora says the immediate next step is to wash your hands. Then, it’s time to restore hydration and strengthen your nail beds. “Lots of moisture is needed,” says Choi. “A good cuticle oil, a rich hand cream, a hand mask, or a paraffin treatment are all great to restore hydration in both your hands and nail beds.” Even if you don’t have time for a DIY manicure, a little hand lotion can work wonders.

And, you’re done! It may be tempting, but it’s important to not head straight back to the nail salon for another acrylic nail session. You can add a topcoat on nails for some shine and protection, or leave your nails bare to breath. “Take a nail detox once in a while,” says Choi. “Regularly cleaning and caring for your nails will prevent any nail fungus and bacteria issues that may come from constant use of acrylics.”

Want to work on your DIY mani technique? Check out our easy At-Home Mani Guide.

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