Step 2: Soak your nails for a few minutes in acetone.
Do you want to watch your acrylics fade away? Simply use acetone nail polish remover. To get the greatest results, use 100 percent acetone, which is like kryptonite to artificial nails. You can use one of two techniques to get rid of it:
The acetone soak-off comes first. Place your fingers in a small basin of warm, pure acetone once you’ve removed the top coat of polish. Make sure your nails are thoroughly submerged in the dish and leave them there for at least 30 minutes. Acetone softens the acrylic, Choi explains. It gently melts the acrylic to facilitate removal. Warm the acetone by running it under warm water before pouring it into a basin.
Do not use any other technique to heat it since acetone is very flammable.
The foil technique is another possibility. If you want to limit the harm to your skin, you can use the same approach that your salon’s nail artist uses. It’s exactly the same as soaking your nails in acetone, explains Choi, only you don’t have to submerge your entire fingertip in acetone. The lessened acetone exposure to your skin is worth the effort.
You’ll need cotton balls or cotton pads, 100% acetone, and aluminum foil for this. Soak the cotton ball in acetone before applying it straight on the nail. Wrap the nail with foil to lock it in place and let it there for at least 30 minutes. The foil retains the acetone, concentrating it on the acrylic and preventing it from evaporating while you wait, Choi explains.
