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If you’ve ever doubted how good press-on nails can look, please take a moment to appreciate the sleek, graphic set above. Yes, those are press-ons.
Aesthetics aside, one of the biggest draws to temporary tips is their convenience. Application is as easy as laying down some adhesive (be it from sticky tabs or nail glue) and pressing them over your natural nails. Removal isn’t as hard as you’d think either.
“When it comes to removing press-ons, the most important thing to remember is to not remove them by force. You never want to rip them off your nails aggressively, as that’s what damages your natural nails,” says Brittney Boyce, founder of NAILS OF LA and celebrity nail artist. “Improper removal can thin out your nails or even cause splitting,” she cautions.
Don’t worry, we’ve got a step-by-step guide for the safest removal ahead.
To Remove Press-on Nails That Are Attached With Adhesive Tabs:
1. First, apply rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer around the edges of the extensions and wait 30 seconds. “This helps loosen the adhesive tabs,” explains Boyce.
2. Next, gently rock the extensions from side to side to lift them off your nail beds. “You can apply more rubbing alcohol throughout the process until the press-ons come off,” she adds.
3. Once they're off, give the backs of the press-on nails a quick wipe down with rubbing alcohol to make sure you fully remove any remnants of the adhesive. This will keep them in good condition so you can reuse them.
To Remove Press-on Nails That Are Attached With Glue:
“Glue can typically last 2 to 3 weeks. If for whatever reason you want to remove them before that, wait at least a day. Do not try to remove them the same day you've applied them, as that will definitely damage your nails,” warns Boyce.
And if you’re wondering when the ideal time is to remove your press-ons, Boyce says it’s when they’ve started to lift a bit naturally. At this point, you can proceed with the following steps:
1. Start by soaking your hands in warm soapy water for five minutes. This will help loosen the glue.
2. Next, apply any sort of oil you have on hand—like olive or coconut oil. The oils will seep into the spaces between and further loosen the glue. Plus, it gives your nails and cuticles an extra boost of hydration.
3. Last but not least, use the same gentle rocking motion to lift the press-ons from your nail beds. “If needed, you can soak your nails for a while longer or apply more oil, so they slide off more easily,” says Boyce.
Knowing how to remove press on nails is such valuable information to have. Now, most especially, since we cannot go to the salons to have it taken out professionally.
However, as it goes, I got you covered. Here are ways you can remove press nails at home without ruining your real nails.
RELATED: How to Strengthen Brittle Nails | Manicure Tips
Remove Press On Nails Like a Pro
1. Simple Warm Water and Soap Technique
What You’ll Need:
- liquid soap
- warm water
- bowl
Steps:
- The first thing to do to remove the glue is to soften it by soaking your nails in warm water with soap. Soaking the nails for about 15 minutes will effectively loosen the glue in most cases. The warm water method normally works wonders.
- In cases where even after 15 minutes you feel like the glue is still tight, you can try doing the next step.
- Using a wooden nail stick, carefully lift the fake nail until it comes off. This won’t hurt your real nails because when the glue is loose from the soaking process, the press on the nail is easy to pry out from your real ones.
2. Remove Fake Nails Using Acetone
What You’ll Need:
- pure acetone
- cotton rounds or squares
- 1 small bowl
- warm water
Note: It is recommended to use pure acetone for this. Acetone is a volatile chemical. Do not heat this over the fire or on the microwave because it is combustible.
Steps:
- Pour the acetone into a bowl and on a larger bowl put in hot water.
- After this, put the water level to about the same level as the acetone on the smaller bowl.
- Then, place the smaller bowl inside the larger bowl to warm the liquid inside.
- It will take a while but when it is warm, soak your nails for a few minutes using cotton rounds and check if the glue has loosened. Many times it will have done the job. Then it will be easy to take out the fake nails with a nail stick.
3. Foil Method Press On Nails Removal
What You’ll Need:
- aluminum foil
- pure acetone
- cotton rounds or squares
Steps:
- You add acetone on cotton then wrap your fingernails in a foil.
- Wait for 10-15 minutes.
- After this, you simply remove the foil and you’ll see that the fake nails have either dissolved or can easily be removed.
RELATED: How To Properly Care For Your Nails | Makeup Tutorials
4. Safely Remove Press On Nails With Baby Oil
What You’ll Need:
- baby oil or any mineral oil
- pure acetone
- bowl
Steps:
- Mix the baby oil or any mineral oil available with acetone on a small bowl.
- Dip your fingernails on the mixture and wait for about 45 minutes to about an hour. You’ll notice that this process takes longer because this is a gentler way of removing your press on nails.
- As always when the glue is loose, pry out in the same manner as you would after any of the other two options mentioned above.
Protect Your Nails at All Cost!
This is not another way on how to remove press on nails but since it is just as important, I’m giving this as a bonus reminder to always protect your nails after.
- Use moisturizing lotion. Your nails will probably look damaged after being glued for weeks. It might look dry and brittle that’s why it’s best to apply a moisturizing lotion to coat your nails.
- Use conditioning cream. Another way to protect them is to apply a conditioning cream or even natural oils that have a high moisture content. Only after you cut your nails short to prevent chipping and breakage.
- Apply base coat. If you feel you must, you may also apply a base coat to cover the nails. Choose a base coat that has added benefits such as nourishment and moisturization.
Learn more about caring for your nails at home with this video from JauntyJuli:
Nails are part of our identity, how you take care of them is important. Many times nail art makes us feel beautiful and confident so let’s make sure to take care of them as well. For someone like me, learning how to remove press on nails is a must because of certain situations that will prohibit you from going to the nail salon.
It’s definitely a life-saver and I hope I was able to add value to you too.
Do you have a quick nail tip? Let us know how you care for your nails during this lockdown period. We’d love to know about it! Share them in the comments section below.
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*Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.