How to Remove a Fingernail Tattoo
Sports insignias, logos and your favorite icons are popular graphics for fingernail tattoos. Easily and safely remove temporary tattoos and keep your nails healthy at the same time. Use a few household beauty items to remove the tattoos and get ready for the next work of art to grace your nails. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Water
- Towel
- Nail brush
- Nail clippers
- Cotton balls
- Fingernail polish remover
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baby oil
- Hand lotion
Instructions
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Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and lightly scrub your fingernails with a fingernail brush. Dry your nails and hands with a bathroom towel. Trim your nails with clippers if you are giving yourself a full manicure before attempting to remove the tattoo. This step easily eliminates extra adhesive or tattoo coloring at the tip of your nails.
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Swab a cotton ball with fingernail polish remover. One side of the cotton ball should be soaked and the other dry to the touch. Lightly rub over your fingernails one at a time in a circular motion for at least 30 seconds. Complete each nail and then start over at the beginning and repeat the process if necessary.
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3
Soak a new cotton ball on one side in rubbing alcohol. Lightly rub over each fingernail until the tattoo fades or disappears completely. Wipe the cotton ball over your cuticles and edges of your nails to remove any excess tattoo color or adhesive. You may skip this step if the tattoo came off in the previous step.
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4
Throw out the old cotton balls and take out a dry one. Squirt baby oil over one side until damp and rub across your nail in a circular motion. The remainder of the temporary tattoo should come off easily. Use the baby oil to help hydrate your nails if your tattoo came off in the previous steps.
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Repeat the fingernail polish remover, rubbing alcohol and baby oil steps if the tattoo does not disappear completely. Apply your favorite hand lotion liberally over your hands, fingernails and cuticles to thoroughly moisturize and protect against dryness from the fingernail polish remover and rubbing alcohol. Allow your nails to rest and recover for at least a week before applying new tattoos.
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Tips & Warnings
Try the techniques above on one nail and wait 24 hours to watch for an allergic reaction including redness, swelling and signs of rash.
Seal the fingernail polish remover and rubbing alcohol containers when not in use to keep fumes from irritating your eyes.
Get your nails tattooed at a reputable nail salon by a licensed cosmetologist to ensure cleanliness and state-certified procedures.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
