How to take off acrylic nails with hot water?

Acrylic nails are the go-to if you want that instant pretty and fabulous long nails.

But while acrylic nails are easy to apply, the removal process can be a little challenging.

Having it removed in a nail salon can be quite costly. Most salons will charge you from $10 to $15.

So if you’re tight on budget, this article is for you. Fortunately, there are other alternatives available which won’t require you to spend that much.

Follow along as we look into cheap and effective ways in removing acrylic nails.

Can you get acrylic nails off with hot water?

Yes. In fact, the safest way of removing acrylic nails is with hot water.

The skin around the nail cuticle is softer and is more sensitive to damage and corrosion.

It is recommended to get acrylic nails off with hot water since it does not contain harsh chemicals which could harm the skin in any way.

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How do you get acrylic nails off quickly?

If you want instant acrylic nail removal, acetone does the job.

The fastest way in taking off acrylic nails is with acetone. Simply pour the acetone in a bowl and dip your nails there for about five minutes.

Using a metal cuticle pusher, remove the acrylic nails off. Do this gently as possible.

Again, soak your nails in the bowl of acetone for another five minutes and keep pushing. Do these steps until you’ve fully removed the acrylics.

Aside from this method, you can also soak a cotton ball filled with acetone and cover your nails with it. Wrap the fingertips with tin foil afterward and leave it for about 15-30 minutes.

While it is true that acetone instantly removes acrylic nails, regular use of acetone may lead to skin problems.

So what do you do then?

Thankfully, there are other techniques available in removing acrylic nails without using acetone.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, plain hot water is the safest way of removing acrylic nails since it is a natural ingredient.

Hence, here are five easy steps you can follow in removing acrylic nails using hot water:

1. Fill a bowl with hot water. Be careful so that you won’t burn your hands.
2. Once the water is lukewarm, soak our hands in the bowl.
3. Do this for 20 minutes.
4. Look out for any bulges. This indicates that the acrylics are falling off.
5. Using a sharp object, carefully separate the acrylic nails from the real nails.

When doing this method, never pull your nails forcefully or you might rip off your real nails.

How to take off acrylic nails with hot water and soap

Acrylic nails are extremely attached to your real nails. Gentle soap and hot water won’t dissolve the glue holding them.

However, the exception is dish soaps.

Compared to regular and skin-friendly soaps, dish soaps contain strong chemicals such as surfactants, making it viable for acrylic nail removal.

How do you remove acrylic nails with hot water and dish soap?

The process is simple. Just mix the dish soap with warm water.

A grease-fighting dish soap is a top choice when it comes to removing acrylic nails. It can be very effective in breaking down the bond in the acrylic’s adhesive.

Simply follow these 4 easy steps:

1. Dip your nails in a bowl of warm water mixed with dish soap for about 10 minutes.
2. Use a nail tip in removing your acrylic nails from your real nails. Be very careful in this step.
3. Move the nail tip around the nail cuticle and wait until the fake nails pop off. If it does not pop off, soak your nails in the bowl of soapy water.
4. Repeat step 2 until your acrylic nails completely come off.
5. For final touches, use a manicure brush in removing the dust and a cuticle pusher in pushing the nail cuticle back.

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How to take off acrylic nails with hot water and oil without acetone

Hot water softens the nails, making it easy to remove acrylic nails. But what about removing it with oil?

This may be a little surprising but oil can remove acrylic nails.

Yes, you’ve heard that right! You can take off acrylic nails with hot water and oil without the use of acetone.

Here’s a step by step tutorial:

1. Fill a bowl with hot water and soap.
2. Pour a few drops of argan oil into the bowl of warm soapy water.
3. Soak your nails in the bowl for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Gently remove the acrylic nails from your original nails.

This mixture loosens up the glue that holds the acrylic nails, making it easy to remove them.

How to take off acrylic nails with hot water and olive oil

But what about virgin olive oil?

Well, olive oil can be a good substitute for cuticle oil. Aside from promoting nail growth, virgin olive oil also helps loosen up the adhesive holding the acrylics.

All you need is a bowl of warm water and olive oil and you’re good to go!

Follow these steps I’ve listed down below:

1. Apply olive oil onto your nail cuticle
2. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water and leave it there for 10-15 minutes.
3. Pat your fingers dry
4. Push underneath the nails with the use of a cuticle stick.
5. Repeat the process until the acrylic nails pop off.

This method requires a little bit of pressure so be very careful not to rip your nails off.

How to take off acrylic nails with hot water and acetone

This method is also known as the “double boiler.” When doing this, you’ll be needing a large bowl filled with warm water and a small bowl filled with acetone.

The steps are quite simple and easy to follow:

1. Pour the acetone in a small bowl and pour the hot water on a large shallow bowl.
2. Put the small bowl filled with acetone inside the large bowl filled with hot water. This heats up the acetone, thereby speeding up the removal process.
3. Cover the skin around your nails with petroleum jelly to avoid hand dryness due to the acetone.
4. Soak your hands in the acetone bowl for 30 minutes with 10 minute breaks in between.
5. Scrape off the adhesive nails with a cuticle stick or any pointed object.
6. Repeat the entire step until the acrylic nails are completely removed.

After doing all the steps, wash your hands with water and soap and moisturize them.

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Final thoughts

There are several ways of removing acrylic nails without heading to a nail salon.

Luckily, there are techniques which can be done in the comfort of your own homes. You can either use acetone for faster removal or hot water for less damage.

These two alternatives will surely save you a lot of money.

However, make sure that you’re doing these DIY methods properly. Removing acrylic nails incorrectly could damage your natural nails. Hence, you should carefully follow the steps listed above and come up with a nail care routine.

Also, moisturizing and buffing your natural nails is a must right after scraping off the acrylics. This keeps your real nails smooth and healthy.

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