Acetone-free nail polish removers or those that contain very little acetone will not be effective for removing shellac nail polish. [2] X Research source You can use pure acetone, which is available at most drugstores, but pure acetone will cause your nails and skin to become extremely dry. As a result, it is best if you do not use it frequently. The dish you pour the acetone in should have a mouth that is wide enough for you to fit your balled-up hand in. You only need to pour enough acetone into the dish to fill up about 1/2-inch (1. 25-cm).
Cuticle oil is a product designed to soften and moisturize your cuticles, and it can be found at any major drugstore. Applying it to your cuticles before removing the shellac nail polish will provide your skin with a protective layer against the harsh, drying acetone needed for this process.
It is important that you expose as little skin as possible to the acetone since it can severely dehydrate your skin. By holding your hand in this position, you end up dipping your nails and cuticles into the acetone instead of your entire fingertip or hand. Keep your nails submerged in the acetone for the full 10 minutes, even if you see the shellac nail polish flaking off before the full amount of time passes.
To scrape the shellac polish off, place the flat edge of the orange stick at the bottom of the nail and gently push it along the length of the nail, beneath the shellac. Repeat this gesture until all the polish has been scraped off each nail. You could also begin scraping the shellac nail polish off after 8 minutes with your hand still submerged in the acetone. This will allow the acetone to continue working on more stubborn spots while you begin stripping away spots that are already ready to come off. [6] X Research source
After removing the shellac nail polish, you may see a chalky white residue on your nails and fingers. This is residue left behind by the acetone and will wash away with soap and water.
No matter how careful you are, the acetone will dry out at least some of your skin. Lotion and cuticle oil will help restore some of this lost moisture, and applying them immediately after washing your hands will produce the strongest effect.
You should have ten cotton squares and ten aluminum foil squares. You will need one of each for each finger. The aluminum foil squares need to be large enough to wrap securely around each fingertip. You could also use cotton balls instead of cotton pads. If using cotton balls, there is no need to trim them down to size. The aluminum foil strips may need to be slightly larger to accommodate the larger thickness of the cotton balls, though.
Cuticle oil is designed to protect, soften, and moisturize your cuticles. Applying it before stripping the nail polish will help to prevent your cuticles from drying out more than absolutely necessary.
There is some debate over whether to use pure acetone or a diluted acetone nail polish remover. Pure acetone is most effective, but it can also cause your nails and skin to become extremely dehydrated. At the very least, you should not use pure acetone frequently. [11] X Research source Acetone-free polish removers are not powerful enough to work on shellac nails.
Wrap each fingertip tight enough to secure the cotton but not so tight that you tear the aluminum foil or cause circulation problems. Aluminum foil creates heat, which actually improves the effectiveness of the nail polish remover. Give each nail a gentle press to make sure that the acetone comes into contact with the nail.
The more highly-concentrated the acetone is, the sooner you can remove the cotton. If you wait much longer than 10 minutes, the cotton can dry out. If this happens, it can get stuck to your nail, making it more difficult to remove.
Place the flat edge of the tool against the bottom of your nail. Gently scrape the length of the nail until all the nail polish is removed. You might be able to wipe the remaining polish away with another cotton pad soaked in more acetone remover.
Avoid buffing tools that use a motor or have a rough texture since these can weaken your nails.
No matter how careful you are, some dehydration is likely to occur. Lotion and cuticle oil will help restore some of the lost moisture.
