How to Remove Press‐On Nails

Co-authored by Mia Rubie

Last Updated: January 8, 2023 References Approved

Press-on nails can give you a professional looking manicure in minutes, but it can be a pain to remove press-on nails. However, there are some things that you can do to make removing press-on nails much easier, such as soaking your nails, using a cuticle pusher, and using nail polish remover. After you remove the press-on nails, make sure to treat your nails and hands to help them recover from any damage that was caused by the press-on-nails.

Things You Should Know

After soaking your nails in soapy water, loosen your nails with cuticle oil. Then, use a cuticle pusher to force the nails off of your fingers.
Or, loosen your press-on nails with nail polish remover. Then, peel the nails off of your fingers.
Repair damage by buffing out rougher spots on your nails. Prevent future damage by applying top coat before using press-on nails.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Solvents and a Cuticle Pusher

1
Soak your nails in warm soapy water. Soaking your press-on nails in a bowl of warm soapy water may help to loosen them. Mix some warm water and add a few drops of hand soap in a small dish. Place your fingertips in the water and let your nails soak for about 10 minutes.
- You can try to rock the nails back and forth slightly while they are soaking then the soapy water. This might help to get some water to the adhesive and loosen it.
- After about 10 minutes of soaking your fingertips, remove them from the water and see if you can peel off the nails.
2
Apply some cuticle oil. Cuticle oil may also help to loosen up press-on nails.^{[1]
X
Research source} Apply a few drops of cuticle oil to the areas just under the press-on nails. Then, let the oil soak in for a few minutes.
- After a few minutes, try to rock the nails back and forth to see if they are loose enough to pull off.
- Don’t try to force off the nail if it will not come off easily.
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3
Use a cuticle pusher to loosen the nail. You can also use a cuticle pusher to get underneath the nail and slowly work it off. Use the pointed end of a wooden cuticle pusher to get between your natural nail and the fake nail. Then, slowly start rolling the cuticle pusher back and forth to loosen the nail.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Roll the cuticle pusher down from the cuticle towards the tip of your nail. Don’t start from the tip and work backwards.
4
Peel off the leftover adhesive. After you have taken off all of the nails, go back over your nails and peel off any remaining adhesive. You can also use the cuticle pusher to help you scrape this adhesive off of your nails.^{[3]
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Research source}
- If the adhesive does not seem to budge, then you can try soaking your nails in warm water or applying a bit of nail polish remover with a cotton ball.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Nail Polish Remover

1
Dip your nails in nail polish remover. If you can’t seem to loosen your press-on nails with warm water and cuticle oil, then you can try using nail polish remover. Pour some nail polish remover into a dish and then dip your nails into the liquid, just up to your cuticles.^{[4]
X
Research source} Then, let your nails soak for at least a few minutes. After a few minutes, pull out your fingertips and see if the fake nails are ready to come off.
- Keep in mind that nail polish removers that contain acetone can dissolve adhesives, but the non-acetone kind will not.
2
Dab nail polish remover around edges of the press-on nails. If you don’t want to dip your fingertips in nail polish remover, then you can also apply some of the nail polish remover to your nails with a cotton ball.
- Try to get the nail polish remover under the fake nail to help loosen the adhesive.
3
Peel off nails as they start to loosen. As the nail polish remover starts to work, you should notice that the nails are loosening up. Start pulling of the nails as they loosen up. You can just use your fingers if the press-on nails are loose enough or you can use a cuticle pusher to slowly work at the nail.
- Take your time, even if the nail seems loose. Pulling a press-on off too quickly can cause damage to your nails.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mia Rubie
  Nail Artist
  Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}
4
Wash off acetone and moisturize your hands. The acetone in nail polish remover can dry out your skin, so make sure that you give them some special attention after you get the press-on nails off.^{[6]
X
Research source} Wash your hands and nails with warm water and some mild soap. Then, dry them well and use some hand moisturizer on your hands and nails.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Repairing Damage Caused by Press-On Nails

1
Go polish and press-on free for a few days. Your nails can heal themselves if they get damaged, but it will take a few days. To give them time to heal, do not apply any nail polish or other press-on nails for at least a few days.^{[8]
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Research source}
- Try using a few drops of cuticle oil to give your nails a natural shine while you let them heal.
2
Cut your nails short to prevent breakage. Your nails may be brittle after you remove the press-on nails, so cutting your nails short may help to prevent them from breaking or chipping.^{[9]
X
Research source} Use a nail clipper to trim your nails down so that they are somewhat short.
- You can also use a nail file to smooth out jagged edges if your nails are already short.
3
Buff your nails to even out rough spots. Press-on nails can pull off pieces of your nails and leave them looking rough and jagged. You can repair some of this damage by gently buffing your nails.^{[10]
X
Expert Source

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist
Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}
- Use a small buffing square and gently buff away any rough patches on your nails.
4
Replenish lost moisture. Apply moisturizer to your hands after you take off the press-on nails and reapply it often as your nails recover.^{[11]
X
Research source} Keep a small bottle of hand cream in your purse or on your desk at all times so that you can reapply it often.
5
Apply a top coat before you use press on nails again. Protect your nails before your next press on application by applying a couple of layers of a clear top coat. This will help to ensure that there is a barrier between your nails and the nail adhesive.^{[12]
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Research source}

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Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

What is the easiest way to remove fake nails?

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist
Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.

Mia Rubie

Nail Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

In most cases, it's easy enough to just soak your nails in acetone for a few minutes. Do your best to not use force to peel them off, since this can seriously damage your nails. Another option is to just go to a nail salon and ask a professional to take them off for you. They'll usually do a great job.
Question

Will nail polish remover ruin your press on nails?

Hieveryoneitsme

Community Answer

If your press-ons are good quality, any type of nail polish remover should not ruin them. However, if they are cheap or bad quality (you normally can tell if they are discolored, have snagged edges or have paint chips here), be careful if you are planning on re-using them.
Question

I recently got acrylics, and they completely destroyed my nails. (Thin and crack/break easily.) I was looking into using press-on nails temporarily; is this a good idea, or should I avoid it?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

Avoid. The glue will destroy your nails even more. Just paint your nails with regular polish at home, and keep cutting your nails until the damaged part fully grows out.