How to Remove Nail Polish Without Nail Polish Remover

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If you are in dire need of nail polish remover and don’t have a special solution, don’t worry. You can use some common household products to remove old nail polish .

Table of Contents

Use household products

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Use alcohol and alcohol-based products to remove nail polish. The higher the alcohol concentration, the more effective it is. Of course, the first thing you should use is isopropyl alcohol, also known as medical alcohol, but there are other products that contain alcohol (ethyl glycp). ^{[1] X Research Source} If you find the substances listed below in the ingredients of household products, the product may remove nail polish:

Perfume
Hairspray
Hand washing liquid
Deodorant spray
Alcohol ^{[2] X Research Source}
- Although alcohol is the first choice, colorless spirits with a high alcohol content such as vodka, grappa, or gin will remove nail polish. You may need to soak your nails in alcohol for 10-20 minutes for best results. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Use white vinegar or a solution of vinegar mixed with lemon juice to remove nail polish. Vinegar is an acid and an all-natural all-purpose cleaner. Therefore, it makes sense for vinegar to remove nail polish. For more effect, squeeze in half a lemon or a little orange juice to take advantage of the cleansing power of this fruit.

Soak your nails for 10-15 minutes before removing them. However, do not use your fingernails to scrape other nails as this may weaken the nails. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use regular toothpaste to remove nail polish. All you need is a little toothpaste. Next, use an old toothbrush or paper towel to scrub your nails. In general, white toothpaste works best because it can remove the color layer on the nails.

Also, toothpastes that incorporate baking soda, a natural cleanser, often have the best results. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part hot water and soak for 10 minutes. That means for every 1 cup of hot water you need 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide. Soak in the hottest water possible, scrub your nails with your fingers, then use a nail file to scrub away the nail polish. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Alternatively, you can use a strong solvent or paint remover, although this is not recommended. This is not an everyday solution because these chemicals can be dangerous. The nail polish remover of these substances is as fast as nail polish remover. The following products should be used as a last resort, and should be used in a well-ventilated area:

Aceton
Paint thinner
Liquid Diluent ^{[7] X Research Source}

Use detergent

Use a cotton ball to apply the product of your choice to the nail. Once you find a product that can be used as an alternative to nail polish remover, dip a cotton ball or tissue into the solution and apply it to your nails. Add more solution if necessary. If the cotton ball or tissue is soaked with color, replace it with another one. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Leave the solution on the nail for about 1 minute. Since this is not a nail polish remover, you will have to let it soak into your nails. You need to let it sit for about 1 minute. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Leave the solution on your nails for as long as possible.
If you’ve tried this before or need a stronger cleaner, pre-soak your nails directly in the solution for 4-5 minutes, then continue with the following steps. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Scrub off the solution on your nails. After letting the solution stay on your nails for about 1 minute, dry your nails. Also use cotton balls or paper towels to wipe. You need a little more force than you would with a normal nail polish remover. Thick coats or glitter may take longer. You may have to repeat it again if the paint is not completely removed the first time. ^{[11] X Research Source}

An old toothbrush can help with cleaning.
Paper towels are generally harder than cotton balls and can help remove paint that is more difficult to remove. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Soak your hands in hot water, scrub and brush the paint, scrubbing back and forth. The hot water will loosen the paint, allowing you to treat the nail underneath and remove the paint. This is a great way to clean up any remaining stains or soften the polish to support other homemade nail polish removers. ^{[13] X Research Source}

For best results, you should use water as hot as you can tolerate without burning.
Soaking can take 20-25 minutes, so it’s a good idea to soak your nails while you’re watching TV and wipe them off after the show is over. Change hot water if necessary. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Use another nail polish to remove the old polish

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Choose a different nail polish that doesn’t dry too quickly. Nail polish dries because of the evaporation of the solvent in it. When you apply another coat of nail polish, the new coat softens these solvents. This will help the nail polish return to a liquid and wipeable state. The best nail polish to use in this method is a thin and long-lasting nail polish. Glossy paint can work because it usually takes a long time to dry. Avoid using nail polish that dries quickly, and avoid using sprays or drops that will dry your nails faster. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Some people think that paint that is darker than the color you need to remove is usually more effective. As mentioned, the ability of the paint to dry quickly is the most important factor. You need to use a long-lasting paint. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Paint each nail one by one. Paint a new coat of paint on top of the old one. You don’t have to spend time painting as carefully as you would with normal nail polish because you’ll wipe it off anyway. Do not let the new paint dry. If the new polish dries, your nails will be more difficult to remove and will take longer.

Quickly wipe the paint off. Wipe off both new and old polish immediately after applying new nail polish. Wipe with a paper towel for best results.

Many people often use cotton balls to remove nail polish, but you should avoid using cotton balls when using this method. The cotton wool can disintegrate or stick to the wet paint and cause the paint to stick.
It takes a little effort to get the best results. While it is possible to use new polish to remove old paint, this method requires more effort than using a regular nail polish remover.

Continue painting and wiping until the nail polish is clean. This method may have to be repeated several times to be effective. You need to keep painting and wiping. Sometimes you have to repeat 2-3 times to completely remove the paint. Hard-to-remove paints like glitter require more patience. ^{[17] X Research Source}

This method is usually a good start to removing the main paint patch. You can then use the DIY methods above to finish the nail polish remover.

Take precautions with glitter paint

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Create a base coat with glue and water. If you find it difficult to remove glitter nail polish, you can take precautions to make it easier to remove. This method needs to be done before applying nail polish, but is a great way to avoid the hassle of removing it. You can make a paste of glue and water to paint before applying glitter.

You will need white craft glue, an empty bottle of nail polish, and water. Fill the jar one-third full with glue, Then pour in water and stir until the mixture is thin enough to be able to apply nail polish. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Apply primer before applying nail polish. Apply a coat of glue before normal nail polish. Wait 5 minutes for it to dry completely before applying nail polish. ^{[19] X Research Source} If you normally apply a stain-resistant base coat, you should apply this layer after applying the glue. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Apply glitter as usual after applying glue and base coat. The glue will harden on the nail, and the nail polish will harden on the glue. With a little effort, the glue will come off more easily from the nail, making it much easier to remove.

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Soak your nails as you prepare to remove the nail polish. Soak your nails in warm soapy water for a few minutes. You can catch your hands under the faucet when applying soap. This will soften the paint and make it much easier to remove without damaging the nail. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Peel off the old nail polish. You can use your fingers to peel off the nail polish. You can also use a nail pusher, toothpick, or something thin and blunt if that’s difficult. Gently push under the nail polish at the base of the nail. This will make it easier to peel off the entire layer of paint. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Advice

Acetone or pure nail polish remover is always more effective than the above alternatives. These methods should only be used if you are in a hurry or cannot afford nail polish remover.
Applying a coat of a popular quick-drying polish on top of a dry nail polish can help you peel off the entire coat. However, this does not always work, and forceful peeling can damage the nail.
You can choose different base coats to dilute the glue instead of water. However, it should never be replaced with acetone or nail polish thinner. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
Using a lot of nail polish remover (high in acetone) can weaken your nails, so use a base coat to keep the nail polish from sticking.
You should soak your nails in baking soda, lemon juice and warm water so that the nail polish will come off on its own after applying moisturizer or lotion to your hands to avoid drying out your hands from lemon.
Use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol-based products (such as hand sanitizer) to rub on your nails, continuing to rub until the polish is completely removed.
Prying nail polish is not a good option as nails can become weak and scratched if you plan to repaint them. If you’ve accidentally picked and scratched your nails, you can use a buffered file, which is a combination of filing and rubbing that buffer on your nail to make it shine.

Warning

Always test the solution before use. Apply a small amount of cleanser to the face in the arm and wait 10 minutes. If there is no irritation, you can continue to use it.

Steps