How To Remove Fake Nails Without Ruining Your Real Ones - Byrdie

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How to Remove Fake Nails in 5 Easy, Expert-Approved Steps By Eden Stuart

Eden Stuart Eden Stuart is an editor at Byrdie. She covers all beauty and wellness topics, with a special emphasis on makeup, skincare, and haircare. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 17, 2025 01:41PM Reviewed by Evelyn Lim

Reviewed by Evelyn Lim Evelyn Lim is a nail expert with more than 18 years of experience. She currently serves as the chief educator of Paintbox, a top nail studio in NYC. About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board Nail Educator

woman holding up fake nail manicure to chin — @chillhouse / Instagram

Whether you get gel, Gel-X, or acrylic, you know that removing them properly takes time—and it's well worth it for the health of your nails. Of course, going to the salon to get them professionally removed is always a choice, but if you're in a time crunch or just need your tips off ASAP, you have the option of DIYing the removal process yourself. It's pretty much the same for all types of fake nails, but you want to ensure that you're doing everything right to keep your nail health in tip-top shape and damage-free. We tapped two professional manicurists to tell us exactly how to remove fake nails at home in five easy steps. Read on for their professional tips and tricks.

Meet the Experts

Hannah Lee is an Atlanta-based licensed manicurist and Sally Hansen partner.
Pattie Yankee is a celebrity nail artist and Dashing Diva consultant, with over 30 years of experience in the nail industry.

How Do You Take Off Fake Nails at Home?

How to Remove Fake Nails Without Ruining Your Real Ones — Byrdie | Design by Zackary Angeline

What You'll Need

Nail file
Nail buffer
Nail clippers
Acetone
10 pieces of cotton and 10 squares of aluminum foil or two bowls
Orange stick
Cuticle oil
Moisturizer

01 of 05

File Down Your Nails

Woman files down a fake nail — D Mills / Byrdie

Before you soak your nails, you'll want to take a file to the surface: "Roughing up the surface and removing as much of the top layer as possible helps the fake nails soften quicker in acetone," says Atlanta-based manicurist, Hannah Lee. Celebrity nail artist, Pattie Yankee, adds that it's important to cut down the fake nail as well.

After this, Lee likes to saturate the nail in cuticle oil. "This helps keep the nails and skin moisturized during the removal process since acetone can be very drying," she says.

02 of 05

Soak Your Fingernails in Acetone

Woman wraps nail in foil with acetone-soaked cotton — D Mills / Byrdie

Now, it's time to soak. Acetone breaks down acrylics and gels, but unlike regular polish that only requires being wiped down in it to remove the lacquer, gels, gel extensions, and acrylics require time—there are two ways to do this.

Lee recommends dipping your hands into bowls filled halfway with acetone, calling it easier and faster than the alternative technique, but doing so also means you'll have to sit still for up to 30 minutes while the acetone does its job. While this time can be spent catching up on your favorite show and relaxing, we know that some people want to keep running around, and those people can opt to wrap their nails in foil with an acetone-soaked cotton pad. Lee favors the first technique but admits that doing so will expose your surrounding skin to acetone, which is very drying. Both techniques work, so it's all about figuring out which works best for you.

03 of 05

Repeat the Process (if Needed)

Woman removes foil and acetone cotton from a fingernail — D Mills / Byrdie

On average, Lee says it takes between 20 to 30 minutes for the acetone to break down fake nails. It will be easier to observe how the removal is going if you're soaking your nails, but if you have them wrapped, you can unwrap them at around the 20-minute mark to see how they're doing. "You'll notice them melting throughout the process," says Lee. Once you see this she says you can start to gently push the acrylic/gel off the nail with your orange stick. Depending on how many layers of gel you have or if you have acrylics on, you may need to rinse and repeat until all the gel/acrylic comes off.

04 of 05

Clean Up Your Nail Plate

Woman chips away at remaining polish on her fingernail — D Mills / Byrdie

After you've removed your fake nails, you can push away any loosened product with an orange stick. Then, lightly buff any remaining residue from the nail plates with a fine-grit file or buffing block. "Buff your nails gently after everything is removed," says Lee. "This helps smooth out the surface and remove any leftover product."

Once your nails are totally bare, wash your hands a slather on the cuticle oil and moisturizer. "Acetone is extremely drying on skin and nails, so you can rehydrate and get them back to looking their best by applying this combo a couple of times a day," says Lee.

05 of 05

Give Your Nails Some TLC

Final view of a woman's hand, free of fake nails — D Mills / Byrdie

In the days after removing your fake nails, it's time to show your real ones some love. Along with the aforementioned cuticle oil and moisturizer, you might want to offer your nails a little PTO before getting a new mani. "If you wear [fake nails] a lot, it's always a good idea to give your nails a little break and focus on caring for your natural nails, even for a few days," says Lee. Yankee does suggest protecting and strengthening your nails with a few layers of an editor-approved base coat.

FAQ

Can I just quickly remove my acrylic nails at home?
While you can remove faux nails at home, it will take some time (you'll want to file them down, soak them, and gently remove them), so don't try to rip them off quickly because this will damage your natural nails.
How long can I go in between acrylic nail sets?
There's no definite timeline, though it's best to wait until your nails are healthy again (which could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months).
How should I care for my natural nails after removing my acrylics?
First off, you'll want to keep nails short and healthy, as they will likely be weak from the acrylics. Moisturize with oils often, and apply a strengthening treatment as necessary.
How do you remove glued on fake fingernails?
To remove press-on nails applied with nail glue, you can soak your nails in warm water with dish soap and oil—this will help break down the glue so the nails pop off without tugging or damage.