How To Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone (4 WAYS)

Wondering how to remove dip powder nails without acetone? Well, you’re not alone.

Lots of people have difficulty removing dip powder nails without damaging their natural nails.

But don’t worry – there are a few methods that can help you get the job done without harming your nails.

This blog post will discuss four different ways to remove dip powder nails without using acetone. So if you’re looking for an alternative to acetone, keep reading!

Can You Take Dip Powder Nails Off Without Acetone?

Yes, you can remove dip powder polish without acetone. 

girl looking at her nails

Plenty of beauty gurus and salons promote using pure acetone to remove dip powder nails quickly.

While acetone does work fast, it will cause more damage to your nails, nail bed, and surrounding skin in the long run.

Inhaling excess acetone can also cause headaches and nausea, so it shouldn’t be your go-to option.  

Acetone sucks moisture from the surrounding skin on your nails and cuticles. It also makes your sensitive nails easily breakable and dry, which doesn’t look or feel good. (2)

While you can still opt for an acetone-free nail polish remover, according to a study by JJ Brown et al. (1), these aren’t safe alternatives either.

Acetone-free removers are still harmful to your nail bed and respiratory system.  

In this video, Dr. Eric Berg DC shares the dangers of Acetone Nail polish remover and why you shouldn’t keep using it.

 So what should you use? Well, I have a couple of safe alternatives you can try in the comfort of your home.

4  Best Ways to Remove Dip Nails Without Acetone

Whether you want to remove dip nails at home or the salon, avoiding acetone is one of the best ways to ensure you don’t damage your nails.

Wondering what is fiberglass nails? Before you start, cut your nails using a nail clipper. Shorter nails make the removal process more straightforward and save time. Here are four ways to remove these nails without acetone to prevent nail damage.

ALSO CHECK: Explaining the Different Types of Fake Nails

1. How to Use Isopropyl Alcohol to Remove Your Dip Nails

Isopropyl Alcohol is a popular alternative to removing dip powder from your nails. This method is safer because it doesn’t dissolve as many compounds as acetone nail polish removers. (3)

Isopropyl Alcohol

It will soften your nails to be filed down or buffed away. Here are the steps to follow to remove dip powder nails using Isopropyl Alcohol:

  1. Slowly dip the cotton balls in Isopropyl Alcohol. 
  2. Take small cotton balls and place them onto your nails. You don’t want to waste the cotton balls before you finish. 
  3. Wrap your nails with aluminum foil. The trick is to cut short strips of foil that can quickly wrap around the finger. 
  4. Let your nails soak in the foil for 15-30 minutes. The time depends on how long you’ve had the dip powder nails. 
  5. Remove the foil, wash, and dry your nails. 

The dip powder on your nails should be mostly gone. If not, you can try the process again with less Isopropyl alcohol.

It would be best if you still were careful because isopropyl alcohol can also dry your skin.

2. How to Remove Your Dip Nails With Mouthwash or Hand Sanitizer

If you don’t have the time to find all these products, you can use products from your kitchen to remove the nails.  These include mouthwash or hand sanitizer. 

a woman holding a cup of mouthwash

While these products have their benefits, you can still use them for this purpose. Below are the steps on how to use mouth wash or sanitizer safely:

  1. Soak cotton pad/balls in the mouthwash or hand sanitizer. 
  2. Rub the hand sanitizer onto your nails with polish. Rub gently on each nail until you are satisfied with the result. 
  3. The amount you use will depend on how many layers of polish you have and the type of hand sanitizer you use.
  4. Wipe your nails with a paper towel until dry. 

You can remove any remaining dip powder with a nail file. 

In this video, Viki Nailbeauty shows how to remove nail polish with hand sanitizer, among other methods.

Hand sanitizer is an excellent alternative if you don’t want to use acetone or other nail polish removers. 

3. How to Remove Your Dip Nails With Hot Water and a Nail File

Using a nail file to remove dip powder nails may not surprise you if you’ve searched for DIY hacks on the internet to remove nail polish quickly.

 Nail files work to remove polish when used carefully. 

You can either use a standard 100/180 nail file or go for an electric nail file which works much faster.

Since electric nail files are powerful, you should only use the electric nail file(e-file) to remove the bulky dip powder on the top. 

In this video, KC Nails shows how to remove dip nails with an e-file, and she does a good job.

Here are the steps to using a standard nail file and hot water to remove dip powder nails:

  1. Fill a small bowl with hot water. It shouldn’t be too hot to burn you. 
  2. Dip your nails in the water bowl for 10-15  minutes to soften the dip powder. 
  3. After the relaxing soak in hot water, use a 100grit nail file to remove the bulk of the dip powder from your nails. 
  4. Once you file away all the colored dip powder, you can now file again to smooth your nails. 
  5. Moisturizing your nails helps improve the appearance after filling all the dip powder. 

Note that you shouldn’t use an electric nail file if you are a beginner. You require some training to handle an e-file without damaging your nails.

ALSO READ: Best Nail Sticker Subscription Box

4. How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Using Oil and Soapy Water

Acetone is a harsh chemical that drys your nails and irritates the skin around your nails. (2) But if you’re removing your nails at home, you can use soap or water. 

a person washing her hand

Yes, as simple as it sounds, soap water can remove your dip nails as long as they are worn out. Old dip nails require less time to soak in soap water to get it off. 

If your dip nails are a couple of days old, you will need to file them down first before soaking them in soap water. Note that filing can cause nail damage and brittle nails. 

What do you need? You only need water, oil, a cuticle pusher, and soap for this method. You can use dish soap or body wash. With that in hand, you can use these simple steps below to remove dip powder nails:

  1. Use a cuticle pusher to push underneath your nails. Doing this helps the water seep into your nails better. 
  2. Apply the oil onto your nails. Ensure you massage it into the sides of your nails. 
  3. Mix hot water, soap, and oil into a bowl. 
  4. Now soak your nails for between 15-30 minutes, depending on how long you’ve had them. 
  5. After soaking, use the cuticle pusher to lift the dip nails off your nails. Remember to be gentle. 
  6.  Soak your fingers as many times as needed to get them off completely. 

Here is a video tutorial on removing nail dip powder with soapy water.

How to Take Care of Nails After Removing Dip Powder Without Acetone?

Now that your dip nails are gone, you can give your nails the TLC they need. It would be best if you took good care of your nails before your next salon appointment.  

You can lightly buff the nail surface to make them smooth. At this point, your nails could be sensitive.  You can give them a break and strengthen them using a gel base coat. 

While there are different fake nails, it is hard to determine which ones can damage your nails. Preventing damage depends on maintenance, the removal process, and aftercare. 

The best way to take care of your natural nails is to wash and moisturize them frequently. Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer that keeps your nails shining while protecting against infections. 

You can choose from the best press on nails review if you’re looking to try good quality and different fake nails this time around.

Giving your nails a break from dip powder can also help them stay healthy and strong. 

READ MORE: Nail Designs Leaves

FAQs

How do you get dip nails off quickly?

The fastest way to get rid of dip nails is using a nail file to remove the top dip powder layer. It may be fast but not the healthiest if you want strong nails. 

How do you remove dip nails naturally?

You can remove dip nails naturally by soaking your nails in soap water. It is natural and doesn’t damage your nails. 

Will rubbing alcohol remove dip nails?

Rubbing any alcohol will not remove dip nails. Rubbing Isopropyl alcohol, however, helps soften the dip nails so you can file them down for easy removal. 

Conclusion

If you want to remove your dip nails without using acetone, you can try many safer alternatives. Some of the ingredients are even available in your home. 

To remove dip powder nails, you can soak your nails in soap water, use a nail file, or mouthwash. While most of the methods listed above need time to work, they are much safer than acetone. 

You can safely remove your dip nails without damaging your nails and nail bed with these steps. 

Can You Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone

Please let us know your thoughts below now that you know how to remove dip powder nails without acetone!

Sources

  • 1. Brown, J. J., & Nanayakkara, C. S. (2005). Acetone-free nail polish removers: Are they safe? Clinical Toxicology, 43(4), 297–299. https://doi.org/10.1081/clt-66081
  • 2. Acetone – toxfaqs. (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts21.pdf
  • 3. Bhagavan NV, Ha C-E. Case Studies and Enrichment References [Internet]. Elsevier; 2011 [cited 2022 May 20]. p. 527–62. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/isopropyl-alcohol#:~:text=Ethyl%20alcohol%2C%20iso%2Dpropyl%20alcohol
About Sylvia K

Sylvia is one of the most joyful people you’ll ever meet. She is a high advocate of self-love and encourages women to take care of themselves both mentally and physically. She loves girly talks especially salon talks (a little gossip doesn’t hurt) and spends most of her free time on skincare or hair care. READ HER LATEST ARTICLES. Find her on LINKEDIN. Learn more about her HERE.

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