Bright colors on nails can never go out of style, and neither can beautiful nail patterns to show off your personality. One of the most popular ways of decorating nails is SNS or dip powder manicure. This manicure can last for up to a month. But during this time, you can remove SNS nails at home if you have adequate information about how to do it without harming your nails.
Since SNS lasts for weeks, your nails start to outgrow them and become visible between the SNS layer and the cuticle. That’s not a pretty look, is it? Besides, what if you get bored of the current look on your nails? Why should you stick to the same color or pattern if you can choose to change the look and give your nails a new touch of glamor?
To overcome these problems and ensure that your nails always look their best, you must first master the safe and painless method of SNS nail removal. So, let’s learn a little more about SNS nails, and explore the best ways to remove them at home.
What are SNS nails?
The SNS, or Signature Nail Systems, is a manicure method that transforms your fingers in about half an hour. The nails are covered in powder and super glue, creating a thick and sturdy yet lightweight layer on the nails. No more exposing your fingers to the strange UV lights, no more heaviness weighing the nails down. They also don’t stain your original nails as the other nail manicures do.
They also stick to the nails for a really long time. You can expect them to stick to your nails for 3-4 weeks easily! They don’t chip or peel off. They don’t lift, either, like acrylic or Shellac nails that take off a layer of your nail and leave your fingers vulnerable and prone to bleeding and injuries. If you’re talented enough, you can even try it at home! No wonder SNS nails are so popular!
SNS nail removal – What not to do
While SNS nails don’t chip or lift, it’s not possible for them to grow with your nails. So, by the time you reach the third or fourth week, you’ll notice a white patch of the natural nail at the bottom of the manicure coating. Of course, you might just want to remove it because you are bored with it and want a new look – or simply because your first attempt at home did not go too well.
Don’t worry – you don’t need to run to the nail salon right away! It’s easy to remove SNS nails at home. But before we tell you how, here’s a word of warning. Don’t start peeling it off like a cavewoman! Pulling the glue off your nails will take away the top layer of the nails and leave them damaged, dry, and lacklustre. Plus, you have no idea how painful it will be!
Acetone SNS nails removal step-by-step guide
You can remove dip powder manicure easily at home, without hurting your nails. All you’ll need is acetone, besides things that you already have at home, like clippers, coarse file and buffing file, cotton wool. The rest will be done in just five simple steps.
1. Sand off the topcoat
The final step of getting your nails done is the top layer that protects the layer and prevents it from losing lustre. So, you will begin by removing this top layer. You just have to file this layer off with a coarse nail file. Thus, the SNS nail will become permeable and quicker and easier to remove.
2. Shorten the nails
If you shorten the length of the nails, you will have less of the glue coating to remove. Obviously, the process will take less time. You’ll need large clippers so they are strong enough to cut the thick manicure layer. Trim off everything beyond the end of your natural nails. You don’t have to make it perfect.
3. Soak cotton in acetone.
Take a zip-lock bag or a container with a large mouth and fill it with cotton. Then, add acetone to it so that the cotton wool is soaked in the liquid. Your manicurist will probably place acetone-soaked cotton wool on the nail and wrap it with foil. But, if you do it at home with one hand, there will be spillage.
4. Placing fingers in acetone.
The next thing to do is soak your hands inside the acetone-doused cotton inside the bag or container. Don’t worry; acetone is not toxic or dangerous in any way. Next, place the bag or the container with your hand inside in a bowl of warm water. Now, you’ll have to wait for 10-15 minutes.
5. Rub your fingers.
While taking the fingers out of the cotton, wriggle them so that cotton rubs against the nails. Or, you can rub some of the wet cotton wool on the nails with your other hand. Acetone will dissolve most of the SNS layers, but rubbing the nails will entirely remove the stubborn bits left behind.
By this time, your natural nails will be fully visible. Don’t forget to rinse and wash your hands to remove the acetone. Finally, file your nails gently and shape them nicely. If there are jagged edges, smoothen them out. Finally, buff the top of the nails and give them a smooth and shiny finish.
This process is similar to the method used at a nail salon. It’s quick, effective, and good for your nails. But you may not enjoy the smell of acetone, and the fumes can give you a headache and using it too long can dry your nails. Plus, acetone isn’t as easily available in stores as regular nail polish removers.
Removing SNS nails With rubbing alcohol
Another method of removing SNS nails at home is by using rubbing alcohol. It is a go-to method that women use if they want to avoid using acetone. But if you don’t have any at home, you can simply use hand sanitizer or a little vodka will also work well.
Remember that when it comes to removing SNS nails, nothing’s quite as efficient as acetone. If you want to use an alcoholic liquid instead, make sure to find something that has a high concentration of alcohol in it to get the best results. Even then, it will not exactly match the strength of acetone.
The steps of removing the manicure using an alcoholic liquid will be the same as that of using acetone. Start by sanding off the top layer; then, place your trimmed nails in alcohol-soaked cotton inside a bag or container. Wait for some time before wriggling your hands out of the alcohol-soaked cotton.
At this point, you will notice that the SNS nails haven’t completely dissolved. So, you must rinse your hands and put your fingers back into the alcohol-soaked cotton. Chances are, you will need to repeat this process of placing your hand in the cotton and rinsing it off, several times.
SNS nail removal with nail polish remover
If you don’t have access to rubbing alcohol or highly concentrated alcoholic liquid and do not want to waste any hand sanitizer, you can also try following the same steps as above with some nail polish remover. One advantage of using nail polish remover is that it will prevent your nails from drying out. Besides, most nail polish removers have perfumes and oils. So, there will be no fume.
The steps of removing the SNS nails using nail polish remover are the same as the other methods. Nail polish removers may contain acetone, though that will not be in its pristine form. Plus, it contains other compounds. So let your fingers sit in cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover for at least 20 minutes to allow the nails to start dissolving. You might have to repeat the steps.
Removing SNS nails with distilled white vinegar
Another method of removing SNS nails is with the help of distilled white vinegar. You probably know that vinegar can be quite a reliable cleaner because of its strong acidic nature. The acid content in vinegar can affect the SNS nails and help to remove them. The steps aren’t too different from the other methods that we have mentioned. You just don’t need cotton wool when you’re using vinegar.
Start by filing off the topcoat and trimming the nails. Next, fill a bowl with distilled white vinegar and put your fingers in the bowl. Let the SNS nails soak in the acidic vinegar for 20 minutes, at least, and then rub the nails with a paper towel. You may need to repeat the process a couple of times to let vinegar show its magic. But remember that prolonged exposure to vinegar can hurt your nails.
Other methods of removing SNS nails
The next alternative for the removal of SNS nails is hydrogen peroxide. For that, take two parts of hydrogen peroxide and one part warm water and mix them. Then, place your hands in the mix and soak the sanded and trimmed nails for 25 minutes before cleaning the nails with some paper towel.
You can also try other home remedies like a mix of toothpaste and baking soda, turpentine, mineral spirits, etc. to remove SNS nails. But none of these methods will be too useful, and none will come close to the results that you will get by using acetone. Simply put, acetone is your best bet!
Nail care after removing SNS nails
Once you have removed the SNS nails, it’s essential to put some effort into caring for those bare nails. They need nourishment and love to battle the drying effects of the chemicals. So massage your fingers and nails with a mix of coconut oil and tea tree oil. This will not only moisturize the fingertips but also ward off fungal infections and reduce inflammation.
Final words
Dip powder manicures can make your nails look beautiful and durable. But the removal of SNS nails can affect them harshly. After the removal, it’s good to let your nails rest for a while. Take good care of them during this rebound period, so that they are completely strong and ready for the next manicure that comes along.
Marli has spent the last 26 years designing the most creative nail designs and has now decided to focus her effort on passing that knowledge on to you.