on 10/14/2009
thanks so much for that, the last time i got my nails removed they used a fake nail it hurt soooo bad for days!! and this time i have been dreading it as its time for my nails to ahve a break again.. but thanks to you now i dont need to stress thanks!!
on 9/13/2009
I'm going to bookmark this article. I've tried to remove my own acrylic nails and it was a disaster. Thanks for writing this detailed and informative how-to.
on 9/1/2009
You should be cafeful. If your nails can be pried off with another fake nail then they were not put on properly to begin with. I have been getting my nails dont for years at various nail salons, and always had my acrylics removed that way. Then I started to frequent the salon I have been going to for the past 2 years and my nail tech told me that if a nail can be pried off that way then it was not put on properly to begin with or the salon is using cheap products. Also prying can take some of your natural nail with it leaving behind paper thin nails. this happened to me and it was awful and painful. So buyer beware.
on 12/27/2008
I once had a set removed and the tech just took one of those cuticle trimmers and chopped away. It was so painful and my natural nails were purple for days. The only relief was to massage Vaseline into my nails, they were like tissue paper. I didn't know any better but now I would insist on soaking them off.
on 12/16/2008
I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that the 2 bowls should be stacked. The remover bowl on top on the water bowl. I'm sure you all got that but just as an FYI. I would hate any misrepresentation :) I also agree that many nail techs and so called "chop shops" do this task very poorly and most the time, improper removal is reportable. I guess you could call it "Nail Salon Law". Safety and Sanitation come first. Or, well, it should :)
on 12/16/2008
This is all great information but as a nail tech I would like to ad that when using nail polish remover, it is most effective to use 2 bowls. The bottom bowl should be deep enough to hold at least one full cup of boiling water. The top bowl should be just slightly smaller but deep enough for your hands as well as the nail polish remover. The heat from the boiling water creates a steam that aids in quicker softening of the acrylic and nail glue and provides much easier removal. I would also like to ad that attempting to pre-clip your acrylics before softening them is EXTREMELY dangerous and painful. You risk splitting the real nail in all it's vulnerability all the way down to your cuticle if cut incorrectly. You should always consider professional removal first. If they do not soak your nails first, get out of there!
on 10/24/2008
Actually, it wasn't painful at all when the 'tech' pried off the nail with a fake nail...then again, the acrylic nail was almost half-way up my nail bed. So the further up, the less pain?
I will try soaking it and etc...what a pain, don't think I'll ever use acrylic again!
on 3/18/2008
So glad I saw this. Two weeks ago I had my first set removed and the woman took a tiny metal spatula and just dug them out. It was so painful. I thought my entire nails would pop off. Not going back.
on 3/18/2008
I'm so glad I found this. I needed a new acrylic set two weeks ago and the woman just dug them off with a tiny metal spatula. It was very painful. I thought my whole nail would rip off. Not going back there.
on 2/1/2008
Agree with the previous comment. Also be cautious if a nail tech tries to pry the nail off with a metal instrument. This can seriously damage your nail bed and injure your finger. "Professional" is not always safe, many nail salons have horribly damaging practices in the interest of saving time. The only safe way to remove arcylics is to soak them off.
on 10/1/2007
I would add this is safer than going to the salon and having it done, unless you specifically ask them to "soak off." If not, some salons will use a fake nail to get under and PRY the acrylic off. This is VERY painful and you can bleed. I think they do this to save time/acetone. So insist a "soak off" (their electric files go faster w/ the removal) and if they won't do it, just find a place that will. I'd recommend a manicure right after with oil & massage.
sparkleshoes said
on 10/14/2009 thanks so much for that, the last time i got my nails removed they used a fake nail it hurt soooo bad for days!! and this time i have been dreading it as its time for my nails to ahve a break again.. but thanks to you now i dont need to stress thanks!!
How-to Queen said
on 9/13/2009 I'm going to bookmark this article. I've tried to remove my own acrylic nails and it was a disaster. Thanks for writing this detailed and informative how-to.
beachchika945 said
on 9/1/2009 You should be cafeful. If your nails can be pried off with another fake nail then they were not put on properly to begin with. I have been getting my nails dont for years at various nail salons, and always had my acrylics removed that way. Then I started to frequent the salon I have been going to for the past 2 years and my nail tech told me that if a nail can be pried off that way then it was not put on properly to begin with or the salon is using cheap products. Also prying can take some of your natural nail with it leaving behind paper thin nails. this happened to me and it was awful and painful. So buyer beware.
gsds said
on 5/15/2009 I love the Internet! I'm removing my nails this weekend and I am glad I researched this first. Great advice from all...Thank you!!
paycheckdoll said
on 12/27/2008 I once had a set removed and the tech just took one of those cuticle trimmers and chopped away. It was so painful and my natural nails were purple for days. The only relief was to massage Vaseline into my nails, they were like tissue paper. I didn't know any better but now I would insist on soaking them off.
iggysmama said
on 12/16/2008 I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that the 2 bowls should be stacked. The remover bowl on top on the water bowl. I'm sure you all got that but just as an FYI. I would hate any misrepresentation :) I also agree that many nail techs and so called "chop shops" do this task very poorly and most the time, improper removal is reportable. I guess you could call it "Nail Salon Law". Safety and Sanitation come first. Or, well, it should :)
iggysmama said
on 12/16/2008 This is all great information but as a nail tech I would like to ad that when using nail polish remover, it is most effective to use 2 bowls. The bottom bowl should be deep enough to hold at least one full cup of boiling water. The top bowl should be just slightly smaller but deep enough for your hands as well as the nail polish remover. The heat from the boiling water creates a steam that aids in quicker softening of the acrylic and nail glue and provides much easier removal. I would also like to ad that attempting to pre-clip your acrylics before softening them is EXTREMELY dangerous and painful. You risk splitting the real nail in all it's vulnerability all the way down to your cuticle if cut incorrectly. You should always consider professional removal first. If they do not soak your nails first, get out of there!
NihaoDragon said
on 10/24/2008 Actually, it wasn't painful at all when the 'tech' pried off the nail with a fake nail...then again, the acrylic nail was almost half-way up my nail bed. So the further up, the less pain?
I will try soaking it and etc...what a pain, don't think I'll ever use acrylic again!
BookWiseWinCom said
on 3/18/2008 So glad I saw this. Two weeks ago I had my first set removed and the woman took a tiny metal spatula and just dug them out. It was so painful. I thought my entire nails would pop off. Not going back.
BookWiseWinCom said
on 3/18/2008 I'm so glad I found this. I needed a new acrylic set two weeks ago and the woman just dug them off with a tiny metal spatula. It was very painful. I thought my whole nail would rip off. Not going back there.
askerika said
on 2/1/2008 Agree with the previous comment. Also be cautious if a nail tech tries to pry the nail off with a metal instrument. This can seriously damage your nail bed and injure your finger. "Professional" is not always safe, many nail salons have horribly damaging practices in the interest of saving time. The only safe way to remove arcylics is to soak them off.
cmav said
on 10/1/2007 I would add this is safer than going to the salon and having it done, unless you specifically ask them to "soak off." If not, some salons will use a fake nail to get under and PRY the acrylic off. This is VERY painful and you can bleed. I think they do this to save time/acetone. So insist a "soak off" (their electric files go faster w/ the removal) and if they won't do it, just find a place that will. I'd recommend a manicure right after with oil & massage.