How do YOU do it?
Apr 29 '01
The Bottom Line Shop around and try all the different kinds of nail polish remover, then find which is easiest and most convenient for you to use.
How to Apply Nail Polish Remover
Of course, this may be a big “DUH” to some people; perhaps a frat boy will be in need of this if he gets his tootsies painted by his friends while “unconscious”! I once got a call from someone saying “This stuff won’t wash off!!”. Or perhaps some are unable to read the instructions on the back of the bottle, or are unsure of which kind to use and the best way to use it.
First and Foremost
Safety always comes first in whatever you do, and of course there are precautions when removing polish from your nails. Remember that this stuff is very potent and harmful if swallowed. Make sure to work in a well-ventilated area, not a teeny tiny bathroom, and keep away from children. Also, this stuff can do some serious damage to clothing and many surfaces. It can “eat” holes through clothes and do wonders to carpet. Always try to stay away from material and wood surfaces as they can be easily ruined with a little spill of remover. So get a nice workspace, put on a not so important shirt and lay out newspaper if you think your surface could be ruined.
Plain Remover From A Bottle
This is by far, the cheapest way to go when shopping for nail polish remover. You can find generic bottles for under $1. You can get acetone and non-acetone to fit your needs. If you have acrylic nails on and want to remove them, you want the acetone nail polish remover. If you have acrylic nails on and just want to remove the polish to change the color, you want non-acetone. If the bottle doesn’t say, you can look in the ingredient lists. You can also buy polish remover for different needs, such as dry cuticles and brittle nails. They have polish remover that is added with vitamins to stimulate growth and healthy nails. I never notice much of a difference no matter which kind I buy.
How to use this type of polish:
Since these plain nail polish removers don’t usually come with a sponge or anything to aid in removing, you will want to buy cotton balls or pads and possibly Q-tips if you want. Unscrew the lid, cover the entire opening with a cotton ball or pad and turn to the side until the cotton gets saturated. Now you are in business! Take the cotton ball/pad and gently move along the surface of the nails. I like to go in all different directions since your nails usually have a “grain” or groves in them and polish can be difficult to remove when going just one direction. Now, if you can’t get the nail polish removed from the sides of the nails or near your cuticles, this is where the Q-tips come in. I find it easiest to pour a little remover in the lid of the bottle and then dip Q-tips as necessary. Once you have a lightly saturated Q-tip you can get all those areas that you missed with the cotton ball/pad. Remember to wash hands thoroughly after doing this as it can cause them to dry out and polish will be less likely to “stick” well on nails with polish remover residue.
Removers With Applicators
Some nail polish removers have a large bulge at the neck of the bottle, which is occupied by a sponge. These can save a lot of time and sometimes a lot of mess. Usually the instructions for these are to turn the bottle upside down (with the cap on!!) and allow the sponge to saturate. Then you can stick one finger in at a time and twist your finger while moving it in an up and down motion. This will help aid in getting all the side polish off. While these are a little pricier than the plain bottles of polish remover, you are saving the money you would have spent on cotton balls/pads and Q-tips, so it really isn’t a matter of cost, mostly a matter of preference. One other nice thing about this kind is you can take out the sponge, wash it out and dump out the dirty liquid. Then return the sponge and turn the bottle upside down to get fresh polish remover. So within minutes it can seem brand new!
Jars of Polish Remover
Nail polish remover sometimes comes in a jar type container with a sponge inside. This is a lot like the last type I talked about, except the fact that you don’t have to turn the bottle upside down to get the remover in the chamber with the sponge. With this type, the sponge is constantly in the polish remover. These are easy to use also, just remove the lid, insert finger and wiggle around until the polish is gone. This type can be more difficult to use since if you take the sponge out to clean you may realize how mucky the pool of liquid is and never want to stick your finger in it again. But, there is still hope, you don’t have to go out and buy a new one just yet. If an ordinary bottle of polish is cheaper than a new jar, just buy that. Then you can just clean the sponge, empty the dirty liquid and then add the new!
On the Go
Never, and I mean never travel with a bottle of nail polish remover! You wouldn’t believe the stench it will cause if it spills and not to mention can ruin all of your clothing before you notice it is leaking. But what will you do? Stuck on vacation in a hotel with chipped nail polish, EGAD! That is where these on the go wipes come in. They are individual wrapped baby wipe looking things that are saturated in polish remover. Just open the package and wipe the polish away. These work great when traveling or at the office. Remember to forewarn anyone in the office of what you will be doing!
Acrylic Nails
Like I said before, acetone nail polish remover will remove your fake nails, so if you don’t want this make sure to read the label before using or you will have some ugly acrylic nails. But, since prying off fake nails can be very damaging to your nails and might I add, very painful, you will want to get some acetone. The best way to remove your nails it to soak them, get a little dish that you won’t need again and pour some acetone polish remover into the bowl. Put enough so that when you rest your fingers in it your entire nail is covered. Now, have patience, this may take while. Soaking for 5 minutes may be enough but usually won’t get all the residue. If you are getting impatient, take a cotton ball/pad and rub on them while they are soaking, this can speed up the process.
I hope these tips have helped you understand how to remove your nail polish and possibly what kind is best for you.
**Added Tip brought to my attention from a commenter: Pour a little polish remover into the lid and soak each nail before rubbing with a cotton ball/pad. This makes the polish remove easier especially if you have multiple coats.
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