BEAUTY
How To Remove Shellac Nail Polish At Home!
Manicure is so popular right now that a lot of people, both women, and men, have their nail polished and decorated. Trendy nail art is spread widely in the online community like Tumblr, Pinterest, and so on. Shellac nail polish has been the hot topic among followers of nail fashion because of its durability. However, there is another concerning problem about how to remove shellac nail polish effectively.
What is shellac nail polish?
Shellac is a popular brand of nail varnish from the Creative Nail Design Company. Since its debut in 2010, the product has been well received by consumers. Shellac is applied like a normal nail polish and cured by the ultraviolet ray.
Shellac nail has an enduring characteristic, which makes it last longer and safe from nail chipping. Also, the long term effect of Shellac on nails is less than that of traditional acrylic gels.
However, the durability of Shellac nails may be quite troublesome if you want to change your nail style. People usually have to make an appointment with the nail salon to have the Shellac remove first, which will cost you time and money.
There are many DIY recipes for nail polish removal using lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. However, the fastest way to eliminate shellac nail is by using acetone. You could either apply one of the two methods below: wrapping or soaking.
How to remove shellac nail polish by acetone wrapping?
Here is the list of things you need to prepare:
- Pure acetone or diluted acetone
- Cuticle oil or coconut oil for hand moisturizing
- An aluminum foil
- Cotton pads or cotton balls
- A manicure cuticle stick, also known as an orange stick
Step 1:
- Cut the cotton pads into small pieces that can wrap up the nail bed in your fingers
- Do the same to the aluminum foil so that the aluminum strips can secure the fingertips and the cotton surrounding the nail bed
Step 2:
- Apply the cuticle oil to the skin near your nail with a nail polish brush or a cotton swab
- This step is essential because the ingredients in the cuticle oil were meant to keep your skin moist from the dehydrating characteristic of the acetone. You also can use coconut oil or olive oil as a substitute.
Step 3:
- Soak the cotton pieces in acetone until they are completely drenched
- Cover your nail with the acetone-soaked cotton pieces
You can either use pure acetone or diluted acetone. Pure acetone is the more potent one, but the excessive use of it may cause your skin to dry. Polish removers without acetone, however, do not work well with the shellac. Therefore, you should adjust the concentration of acetone so that it is suitable for your skin.
Step 4:
- Secure each fingertip of yours with an aluminum foil leaf to keep the pieces of cotton in place
- The aluminum foils will create heat, which will enhance the reaction between acetone and the shellac. Also, you should press the fingertip gently to guarantee that the Shellac will meet the acetone.
Step 5:
- Leave it in for 5-10 minutes so that the Shellac can soften and slough off.
- The less concentrated the acetone, the longer the duration you have to wait. However, if you wait for too long, the cotton will dry out and become difficult to scrape off. Besides, the skin surrounding your nail is also damaged because of excessive contact with acetone.
Step 6:
- Remove the wrapping and peel the shellac away
- Use the flat edge of the manicure stick to scrape off the remaining Shellac. Do it from the bottom of your nail to the fingertip
- Wipe your nail gently with a soft cloth
Step 7:
- Wash your hands with lukewarm water and gentle soap
- Apply lotions and cuticle oil again to moisturize your hands and fingernails
How to remove shellac nail polish by acetone soaking?
Generally, soaking is just the same as the wrapping method. The significant difference is that you will dip your nail directly into the acetone. Therefore, the soaking process will cost you less time and money, but your hands are more prone to dehydration because of the direct contact with acetone.
Here is the list of things you need to prepare:
- Diluted acetone or pure acetone
- Cuticle oil and hand lotion, coconut oil or olive oil could be the substitute
- A manicure cuticle stick or an orange stick
Step 1:
- Rub your nails and fingertips with cuticle oil or olive oil; you may consider using more oil with this method
- The excess oil will become the barrier between your bare skin and the acetone.
Step 2:
- Pour acetone into a big bowl until it reached the level that will submerge your fingertips. Use a bowl made from ceramic or glass instead of plastic bowls because acetone can dissolve plastic
- Pure acetone is not recommended for the soaking method. The best alternative is a solution that has the acetone concentration approximately 60%
Step 3:
- Immerse your shellac nails in the acetone for about 10 minutes, and the Shellac will start to dissolve
- Remember to dip your nail bed only because acetone is harmful to your skin. For this reason, you should minimize the exposure of your finger to acetone
Step 4:
- After 10 minutes, remove the shellac.
- Start with peeling the sloughing off layer then use the manicure stick to scrape off the residue shellac. You may rub the polish while your nails still submerge in the acetone, especially with the stubborn areas
Step 5:
- Wash your hands with lukewarm water and gentle soap
- Apply a considerate amount of lotions and cuticle oil again to moisturize your hands and fingernails
Finally, I hope you have understood how to remove shellac nail polish. Remember that acetone is a very strong nail polish remover, but it will dehydrate and damage your skin. Therefore, you should not change nail styles too often while having shellac nails. Also, take good care of your hands and nails daily with cuticle oil. You may use a buffer kit as well to smooth the asperities on your nails, which makes them shinier and still beautiful without polish.
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