How to Remove Old Nail Polish

Before giving yourself a new manicure or pedicure, it's important to remove old nail polish completely as part of the preparation process. Leftover polish can leave unsightly bumps or prevent the new coat from adhering completely to the nail beds. You can remove old nail polish quickly and easily in just a few minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old towel
• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs
• Nail polish remover
• Orange stick or toothpick

1. Find a comfortable place to do your nails. Spread out the old towel in the area you'll be working. The towel serves to protect floors, carpet and tabletops from nail polish and especially remover spills. Nail polish remover is acidic and can ruin a variety of finishes.

2. Saturate a cotton ball with polish remover. Carefully squeeze the excess back into the bottle or into a lined trash can.

3. Wipe each nail with the wet cotton ball in an outward motion from cuticle to tip. Turn the cotton slightly with each swipe. Repeat as often as necessary to completely remove the polish from your nails.

4. Replace cotton balls as necessary while removing the polish. This process often takes several cotton balls to complete, particularly if you wear numerous coats of polish.

5. Push each cuticle back very slightly using the orange stick or a toothpick. Hold the instrument at a 30-degree angle to keep it from sliding beneath the cuticle. Be careful not to shove the cuticle too far or you can damage it. Push just far enough back for a thin line of clinging nail polish to appear. Wipe away with a cotton swab dipped in remover.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have polish trapped in crevices on the sides of your nail beds or beneath the nail tips, use cotton swabs instead of balls to remove it. You can also wrap a bit of cotton ball soaked in remover around the orange stick or toothpick, and carefully slide it around the area. (This technique also works to clean spills once your manicure or pedicure is complete.)