To remove nail polish, special liquids have been created that quickly and safely remove decorative paint. However, such a tool is not always available. Especially, ironically, at times when the coating needs to be removed immediately. Resourceful fashionistas come up with many answers to the question of what can replace nail polish remover. They use practical and safe methods for this purpose using home remedies that can be found in every home.
How can I replace nail polish remover?
Thrifty representatives of the fair sex very rarely lack nail polish remover, or rather, not regularly. The best thing to do is buy the liquid and use it. If this is not possible, you can replace the special product with analogues available to everyone.
The safest substitutes are special wet wipes that are soaked in a compound that instantly removes the color coating from the nails. For the same purpose, products that can be found in every home are suitable: toothpaste, peroxide, perfume and even deodorant. To prevent such products from damaging the nail plate and causing damage to the skin of your hands, follow the safety rules when using them:
- Before attempting to remove the coating with a new product, perform a skin sensitivity test. The product is applied to the wrist and left for several minutes. If there is no irritation or discomfort, the product can be used.
- To protect the skin of your fingers from aggressive influences, before the procedure it is recommended to apply a rich cream or oil-based products to the areas near the nail.
- After using available products, you must thoroughly wash your hands and use caring cosmetics, rubbing them into the skin and nail plate.
Homemade versions of store-bought nail polish removers are less effective and remove paint much more slowly. Therefore, the coating removal procedure often has to be carried out 2-3 times. In some cases you have to make an effort. It is important not to overuse pressure on the nail plate, otherwise it will be damaged and require long-term rehabilitation.
How to remove nail polish correctly
To properly remove the varnish, the following steps are required:
- Prepare cotton pads (preferably cut in half) and nail polish remover.
- Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap.
- Wet a cotton pad with liquid and begin removing polish from one finger with smooth movements (the process should be performed from the lunula to the tip of the nail).
- Then wet the new disc again and proceed to another nail (and so remove the polish from all nails one by one).
- Treat the surface of the nail with a special file (buff).
- Apply and rub almond, linseed or argon oil onto the nail surface to soften and strengthen the nails.
Important! When treating the nail with liquid, it is not recommended to let it come into contact with the surface of the skin excessively.
This method of removing nail polish is considered traditional using a special product, but it may happen that it simply is not available. Then you can use other less familiar, but also effective methods.
Toothpaste
A safe and even useful nail polish remover is toothpaste. To make the coating removal process more effective and faster, it is recommended to use a whitening product that does not contain crystals or additional dyes:
- Apply the product to the nail plate and leave for 2-5 minutes.
- Rub the coating vigorously with a napkin, brush or cotton swab.
- If necessary, repeat the procedure, then remove the remaining paste.
Due to the peroxides contained in whitening pastes, nails get rid of not only the coating, but also the yellowness. In addition, the product restores the shine of the plate and strengthens it, making it stronger, stronger, and more resistant to external influences.
If you have a lot of nail polish on your nails and it takes too long or is difficult to remove, add baking soda to the paste. This composition helps to remove the coating even faster and easier.
Lamps
Types of lamps:
1. Ultraviolet lamp (marking – UV). The most common of all types of lamps, equipped with a fluorescent lamp, has an affordable price
It is important to monitor the temperature of the device and not let it overheat; use in a room with a temperature of at least 10 degrees. Gel polish drying time depending on power:
9 W – 4 min;
24 W – 3 min;
36 and 48 W – 2 min.
Rice. 3. Ultraviolet lamp
2. Light-emitting diode (LED) lamp. The advantage is the provision of fast drying and high safety, however, the price increases accordingly. If one LED fails, the lamp will not require urgent replacement and will be able to continue working, but this will affect the power of the device.
Gel polish drying time:
9 W – 1 minute;
18 W – 20-30 seconds;
36 W – 10-20 seconds.
Rice. 4. LED lamp
3. Cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). It just started appearing in stores, so it’s not very popular. The lamp itself is filled with gas, and the light is produced using electricity. It is economical, has great power and can be used safely. The drying time of the varnish is equal to the drying time in the LED lamp.
Figure 5. CCFL lamp
4. Hybrid lamp. It is a combination of two light bulbs (LED and CCFL or LED and UV). Due to its functionality, it has a high drying speed and the ability to work with all types of coatings. It has a high price and is often chosen by professionals.
Drying time:
9 W – 2 minutes;
24 W – 1.5 minutes;
36 and 48 W – 1 minute.
Figure 6. Hybrid lamp
Alcohol-containing products
Products containing alcohol are considered more effective and time-tested nail polish removers. The higher its percentage, the faster and easier the coating is erased. The undisputed leader is pure alcohol. A cotton pad is soaked in it and used to wipe the nails. The remaining varnish is carefully removed with a manicure spatula.
If pure alcohol is not available, you can use vodka or other strong alcohol.
The drink is poured into a convenient container, where the fingertips are kept for 5-10 minutes. After such a bath, the varnish is easily removed with a napkin or cotton wool.
White Spirit paint solvent will remove the coating from nails aggressively but effectively. The product degreases and cleans a variety of surfaces, making it widely used for household purposes. It can handle such a simple task as removing nail polish.
Good news for car enthusiasts - the coating can be removed with gasoline. The liquid must be applied to the fabric and rubbed on the nail, getting rid of the imperfect manicure.
Remember that solvents, alcohol or gasoline are aggressive agents that negatively affect nails and skin. Therefore, you can resort to such methods of removing varnish only in extreme cases.
Negative consequences of using aggressive nail polish removers
Before choosing aggressive means, you should think about the consequences. Gasoline, kerosene and white spirit can negatively affect the skin and provoke the development of skin diseases , which will then have to be treated for a very long time, spending serious money. These substances are considered toxic and can cause poisoning of the body, in some cases an allergic reaction and suffocation may occur.
It must be remembered that before using aggressive substances, you should carefully protect the skin from their harmful effects. Hands should be wrapped in cling film or a cloth towel. The result can be yellowing of the skin, which is not easy to get rid of.
Negative effects of improper nail care
Another negative point is that volatile compounds can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, and, as a result, severe shortness of breath. To prevent this from happening, use respirators. If these are not available in the house, then open windows will help.
The use of aggressive substances by pregnant women is strictly prohibited. Also, you should not carry out such procedures in a room where there are elderly people, small children, as well as those who suffer from respiratory diseases and allergic reactions.
Acetone
Another remedy that will help out those who do not want to use gasoline is acetone, but only diluted! This product instantly removes even the toughest coating, including gel polish, which is why it is included in many manicure removal liquids. However, concentrated acetone can corrode not only the paint, but also the nail itself. When using it, follow some rules:
- It is important to apply a small amount of acetone to cotton wool or a napkin.
- You should not overexpose the product on the nail - as soon as the coating begins to come off, the acetone is immediately washed off along with the paint.
- After using the product, you must wash your hands thoroughly, and then treat the skin and plate with nourishing cosmetics.
To remove the gel coating, acetone is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. The resulting solution is moistened with cotton wool, which is fixed on the nail with foil. After 3-5 minutes, the varnish is cut off using a manicure tool with a hard surface. If itching, burning or other unpleasant sensations occur, the compress should be immediately removed, the composition should be washed off the skin and hand cream should be applied.
Removing gel polish using remover and foil
The described method is usually practiced in salons. It allows you to remove a manicure quickly enough and causes minimal damage to your nails. But it also has a drawback - the tools will cost you more than when removed by other methods.
To carry out the procedure you will need the following arsenal of available tools:
- cotton sponges (discs);
- nail spatula (pusher) or orange stick;
- a special product for dissolving gel polish – remover;
- foil;
- abrasive file;
- restorative agent for nails and cuticles.
Necessary arsenal
Removing the coating takes place in several steps:
- Using a file, remove the glossy layer - it is very dense and can prevent the remover from penetrating into the lower layers.
- Cotton pads should be divided into small parts (2 or 3).
- Soak cotton pads generously in the remover and apply to your nails.
- Wrap with foil as tightly as possible so that no air remains inside. You don’t have to buy any special foil - regular baking foil or chocolate wrapper will do. After waiting 15 minutes, check how easily the varnish comes off. If necessary, keep the compresses for another 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the foil and use a spatula to remove any cracked coating.
- After washing your hands with soap, treat your nails and cuticles with a regenerating agent.
Hydrogen peroxide and wine vinegar
If a special product is not available, you should try a different coating remover - a homemade mixture will remove nail polish from your nails in a matter of minutes. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are mixed in equal proportions, diluted with water (in a 1:2 ratio with respect to the active ingredients) or combined as follows:
- peroxide - 1 tbsp. l.;
- lemon juice, squeezed from a large wedge;
- vinegar - 1 tbsp. l.
All ingredients are mixed in a convenient container. You need to dip your fingers into the resulting solution, hold for 4-6 minutes, and then quickly remove the varnish with a cotton pad.
The products will help you get rid of nail polish individually. If one of the main components is missing, you can wipe off the coating using cotton wool soaked only in peroxide or wine vinegar (it is allowed to replace it with table vinegar).
SEVERINA De Lacroix
The liquid has a super-strong formula. Removes any type of manicure, even gel polish. It does not contain acetone, so it is gentle on the coating without causing damage to the plate. The pink consistency pleasantly cools your fingers and effectively cleans your nails. It is used quite economically. Combined with the price, this fact sets SEVERINA De Lakrua apart from other similar products. Girls use it on a regular basis and are satisfied with the results.
The original composition of cleansing water makes it possible not only to get rid of old manicure, but also to bring benefits. Medical oil moisturizes the plate and nourishes it with vitamins. With constant use of SEVERINA De Lakrua, its structure will become stronger and your nails will look healthy and shiny. Ladies, for the most part, comment favorably on the effect of the product in reviews. They like the quick effect - the gel polish is removed in 10 minutes. The disadvantages include the not very good dispenser.
Additional layer of varnish
To remove colored manicure, you can resort to an effective but troublesome method. All that is required is to apply another coat of polish to your nails. The fact is that such products contain solvents that evaporate as the decorative paint dries. Due to this component in the composition, the old coating is softened:
- apply a thick layer of new nail polish;
- quickly remove the coating using a lint-free cloth;
- remove the remaining varnish with a nail file or a stick with a blunt end;
- If necessary, repeat the procedure until the coating is completely removed.
For the procedure to be effective, follow some rules:
- The varnish intended to dissolve the old layer must be liquid and long-drying. Otherwise, the composition will instantly fix on the plate, and it will be even more difficult to remove the manicure.
- It is important that the bottle does not contain glitter or other decorative additions, which also complicate the process of removing the coating.
Each finger is treated separately, since even varnishes that take a long time to dry quickly lose their solvent. Therefore, the longer the time passes from the moment of applying a new varnish, the less effective the method of removing the old coating becomes.
Paint solvents
To dissolve paint at home, instead of acetone, you can use:
- dimethyl ketone;
- methanol;
- antifreeze;
- windshield washers;
- kerosene;
- Surfasolve, Bio-Solve, Replacetone.
Acetone is a common household and industrial solvent. It can be used to remove paint and varnish. If you need to find a replacement for it, you can use the above means. They will be no less effective because they have characteristics similar to acetone.
other methods
Any coating, even the most durable one, can be removed using a nail file. Available products containing solvents or alcohol are also suitable:
- deodorant spray;
- hairspray;
- perfume or cologne;
- lemon juice or acid;
- liquids with a disinfectant effect.
It is safe and even useful to remove color coating using baths of any vegetable oils. Hands should be kept in the product heated to a temperature of +40...+45°C for half an hour, and then wipe off the coating with a lint-free cloth.
Pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as women with thin or damaged nails, are not recommended to resort to aggressive nail polish removal methods, which negatively affect the plate. The best and most effective methods for correcting manicure remain special wipes for removing the coating, cosmetics with oils, nail polish remover and other specialized products intended for this purpose.
Peroxide
Another quick and safe way to remove nail polish without acetone is to use hydrogen peroxide mixed with water.
This method is less harmless than the previous one, so it should be used last. The peroxide solution itself does not threaten the nails in any way with a single use, but subsequent removal of the nail polish with a nail file is painful.
So, first you need to find a container that will fit all the fingers of one hand. Add a quarter cup of hot water and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to this container. Before you wipe off the varnish, you need to soften it. To do this, place the fingers of one hand in the resulting liquid so that the solution completely covers the nails, and hold them in it for some time.
After the specified time has passed, take a nail file and file away the product until you are satisfied with the result. If the polish comes off easily in the middle of the nail plate, but remains on the edges, you should dip your nails in the liquid and repeat the manipulations with the nail file.
Often, after this method, an unpleasant yellowness remains on the nails, which is very easy to remove without liquid. To do this, cut half a fresh lemon and soak your nails in it for a while.
However, keep in mind that if there are wounds or hangnails on your fingers, this will cause pain.
Spray deodorant or perfume
Almost every girl has deodorant or eau de parfum based on alcohol, so finding them won’t be difficult. So, if you've been wondering how to refresh your nails without acetone, this tip should help you. Spray a generous amount of perfume or deodorant spray onto the cotton wool and begin wiping off the polish.
Important! Ventilate the room if you want to use this method. It is also necessary to handle deodorant carefully, since it is intended to be used at a distance from the skin.
Varnish or its fixatives
As they say, we knock out wedges with wedges. To remove nail polish without having a modern and safe solvent on hand, you just need to apply a new layer of your nail cosmetics or any fixer or base on top, and then quickly start wiping it off with cotton pads. Along with the new layer, the old one will also go away. But the procedure will have to be repeated several times if the manicure was applied in a thick layer.
Important! Use light shades so that they pick up the pigment.
