Acrylic nails have conquered the fashion world in the past several years. Their unique ability to give the illusion of length is what women crave. Who doesn’t love long nails? They look elegant and sophisticated. But like all makeup, you need to remove them as well eventually. How to remove acrylic nails with hot water? And is that possible?
We know the fastest and easiest method of acrylic nail removal is acetone. But some women want to avoid acetone because it can be harsh on the skin.
So, that bears the question, can you remove nail extensions with hot water? Of course. Read on!
What Are Acrylic Nails?
Before we go over how to remove acrylic nails with hot water, let’s talk a bit about the nails. You have to understand their composition first. Here is a quick science lesson.
Acrylics are a combination of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer. These two ingredients form a paste that is bonded to the natural nail.
After the paste bonds with your natural nail, you can give it the desired shape, and it hardens in place to add strength, length, and thickness to the nail.
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Are They Different Than Gel Nails?
Both acrylic nails and gel nails will add a strengthening layer to the natural nails. But the main difference is that a gel nail manicure requires a UV light in order to set.
Acrylics are much stronger, and they are more durable than gel fake nails. And acrylics are the way to go if you want to extend your nails. A gel false nail is better when you want to achieve a more natural look.
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Are Acrylics Safe?
While they are getting more and more popular, acrylics also receive some bad rap. They are not worse for your nails than any other artificial nail product. Yes, there are some possible side effects, but mostly if you do not apply them properly and do not take the right steps for care and maintenance.
The removal process is the tricky part. It can weaken your nails’ natural state. This is why it is important to remove acrylic nails properly. And with that in mind, today, we will talk about how to get them off with the help of hot water.
How Long Do They Last?
It is always a good idea to take a break from artificial nails every 3 to 6 months. Speaking of lasting effect, acrylics can last between 6 and 8 weeks, with a fill needed about 2 to 3 weeks. It depends on your nail growth, to be honest.
Fills are important because your nails start to grow, and this is when lifting begins to happen. So, with proper care, they can last almost two months. And here is a fun fact: filling costs less and can be done quicker than a full set of acrylic nails.
Can You Make Acrylics Last Longer?
Contrary to popular belief, you can use your hands when you have nail extensions like acrylic nails. But if you are doing some heavy cleaning, you should wear gloves.
To keep your hands and nails healthy, use natural moisturizers like olive oil and/or cuticle oil. As with any other treatment, with proper care, you can make them last longer.
How To Remove Acrylic Nails With Hot Water
Now, let’s talk about the proper removal method. We said before that removing the acrylic nails is the tricky part. If you are not careful, you can damage your real nail. Yes, the acetone nail polish remover method is faster and easier but carries more potential risks and side effects.
For this method, you will only need a bowl of hot water and cuticle oil. Any other moisturizer will do if you do not have cuticle oil. Here is a step-by-step process explained.
- First off, you need to fill a bowl with water and heat it. Any bowl will do it as long as it is deep enough to soak your fingers
- Heat up the water, and once it is warm enough, soak your hands in it
- Soak the nails in the water for 15 to 20 minutes
- You will notice your nails start swelling. This is a clear sign the acrylic nail is coming off and it is time to get your hands out of the hot water
- Use any pointed object to separate the acrylic nail from your original nail
- Finish off with a moisturizer. Apply it to your cuticle. You can use cuticle oil or any other moisturizer that suits your skin, for example, hand cream
Combine Hot Water And Acetone
We said before that acetone nail polish remover is the fastest method. Let’s mention how it works, and it is your choice to use the one that suits you. This method is still safe for your nails, the problem is your skin around the nails might suffer from dryness.
For this method, you need acetone, hot water, two bowls, orange sticks, petroleum jelly, and tweezers.
- Start by trimming your nails as short as possible. Once you trim your nails, pry your cuticles using the orange sticks
- Get two bowls, one large and one medium. Fill the medium bowl with acetone and the large bowl with hot water. Put the medium one inside the large bowl so that the acetone warms a bit
- Cover the skin around your cuticles with petroleum jelly to protect it
- Soak your nails in acetone for 30 minutes. Once they are soft, you can remove them with tweezers
Why Is Hot Water Better?
Why should you use hot water without acetone to remove nails? Simply put, water is a natural ingredient that causes no harm to your skin.
We have to remember, that the skin around the cuticle is soft and tender. If you use harsh chemicals, like pure acetone, regularly, it will result in dryness, hypersensitivity, and itching. Acetone can also cause corrosion of the skin.
Now, using acetone and hot water is almost as safe as using only hot water. Using only acetone is the fastest method to remove acrylic nails. It quickly dissolves the chemicals in it.
But hot water alone is a harmless way to take off your acrylic nails. A few minutes more will not cause a disturbance in your schedule, right? Here are three more reasons why you need to use hot water:
- Healthy and safe way of removing acrylic nails
- Great way to save money, a nail salon would charge you extra money for nails removal
- Easy process that you can do in the comfort of your home
How To Remove The Glue That’s Left Behind?
Once you remove your acrylic nails, you will notice an excess of glue on your nails. This is glue residue you have to take care of.
To remove the glue, fill a bowl with warm water and add some gentle soap. Apply cuticle oil on your nails, and then soak them in soapy water for 15 minutes to soften the glue. Gently scrape off the leftover glue.
Alternatively, use a nail buffer to buff away any excess glue. Or scrape the excess glue with a nail file. In any case, rinse away and moisturize after you remove the glue.
Remember, never, EVER, yank the glue or try to forcefully remove acrylic nails. That can cause damage to your natural nails. Always use cuticle oil or any other moisturizer after you remove acrylic nails. This will restore your nail bed.
Wait one week after you remove acrylic nails to apply your new acrylic nails.
