QuestionI am trying to get my acrylic nails off and I did a few just peeling them off (i know i know it's bad) now I want to fix the ones I damaged by doing that and I also just got 100% acetone to take off the rest. Is 100% acetone safe?? What precautions should I use when taking my nails off with it?
AnswerOK, now that you know its BAD to peel enhancements off ;)...
You cannot "fix" what you damaged, but you can certainly help them out.
Use a nail strengthener like Creative Nail Designs Toughen Up (R), it costs about $6 USD, and does not use either formaldehyde or toluene- it works to build up cross links of keratin in your own nail, without doing so excessively. Excessively cross linking keratin can cause nails to become brittle, as it does not allow for oils to penetrate the nail plate. Also use a good quality cuticle oil with jojoba, to deeply penetrate the nail plate and the nail bed, not to mention the new keratin growth in the matrix ( root of the nail).
TO get the rest of your product off, 100% acetone is pretty harsh, and not recommended. You are better off doing 1 of 2 things:
Book an appointment with a professional, and let them service you with a soak off and a hydrating manicure. They should use a professional product remover, these solvents are designed not to be quite as harsh, and won't dry out the skin and nail bed so severely.
or-
If you are going to use your acetone ANYWAY lol- file down your existing "acrylic" about 50-75%, coat each nail with cuticle oil, then soak a cotton ball with your solvent, place on top of the nail, and wrap it in some aluminum foil. Leave them alone for a good 20-30 minutes ( I tell clients to go watch a movie lol), then remove. The natural nail should be all that's left- scrub with soap and water and a clean nail brush, apply clear nail toughener, oil, and then LEAVE THEM ALONE! ;)
Your nails will seem very soft, flexible, and weak- the moisture content of the nail plate is higher than normal right now, as it has been preserved and protected under your enhancements for a time.
Biggest precautions? Don't get impatient and start peeling your enhancements off! This is where a big portion of the damage comes from when people claim "acrylic is damaging." That combined with a tech over filing the natural nail with incorrect filing techniques is a recipe for a very sad nail plate! Good luck! Let me know how it turns out :)
