How To Get Nail Glue Off Your Nails: 3 Ways to Remove Nail Glue from Nails

LuxeLuminous is reader supported. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

If you love press-ons, gel extensions, or acrylics, then you’re well-acquainted with nail glue. The powerful adhesive helps you create nails that last for ages. But what happens when you want to get the glue off your natural nails?

If your nails are now popping off and looking like a mess, then you need to remove your manicure. It’s important that you break this bond in the right way so as not to damage the quality of your natural nails. 

In this article, I’ll go over how to get nail glue off your nails.


Contents

How To Get Nail Glue Off Your Nails

Nail Glue

It’s really annoying when your manicure starts lifting from your natural nail bed. You’ll now have to go through the process of restoring your nails to tip-top condition, ready for your next manicure.

But you don’t want to damage your natural nails due to the nail glue residue removal process. To protect your nails, you’ll need to take some simple steps to ensure that they stay healthy and strong.

You don’t want to damage your natural nails due to the nail glue residue removal process. To protect your nails, you’ll need to take some simple steps to ensure that they stay healthy and strong.

It shouldn’t be difficult to do this, even though it may seem like a real pain to take the time needed to do it properly. 

Still, the three tips for removing nail glue off nails will save you both time and money on having to take a trip to the nail salon, because you can easily do these yourself at home.

1. Water Works

The first thing you should try in order to remove nail glue from your nails is to soak them in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes. All you need to do is grab a bowl, and add some water that’s warm enough to sit your fingers in, but not so hot that it’s uncomfortable.

The first thing you should try in order to remove nail glue from your nails is to soak them in some soapy warm water for about 10-15 minutes. 

You can use a normal liquid hand soap to make the bubbles.

Once you place your hands in the bowl, aim to keep them in for at least 10 minutes, so you might need to turn off your phone to avoid any distractions.

Meditate. Ommmm. 10 minutes.

After you’ve soaked your nails to soften up the glue, you can gently remove any residual leftover glue residue by buffing it away. You can use something like this Soft 'N Style 4-Way Buffing Block , which has four sides offering your nails the ability to file, remove ridges, buff, and polish.

4 Way Shiny Block / 4 Step Buffing Block Shine Nail Buffer
  • Function: 4-Ways sponge buffer blocks,...
  • This nail buffer is made of professional...
  • The buffer block can be used for both...
  • This sanding falls in the category of...
  • This sanding block dimension is 3.5" x...

2. File It Down

Another way to remove nail glue from your nails is to use an emery board to help detach your fake nails if they’re still attached to your nail beds. However, you should only do this if your natural nails are strong enough, and the glue has already softened. 

You can ease the emery board into the space where your press-on or acrylic nail is already lifting to gently pry it off. After doing this, you can use a buffer to carefully remove any remaining glue residue on your natural nail bed.

The Soft ‘N Style buffing block mentioned above will do this.

3. Acetone At Home

Acetone

As long as you’re not allergic or have sensitive skin, then you can also use an acetone nail polish remover bath to remove any nail glue residue from your natural nails. 

But you should know that acetone is a harsh chemical that will dry out both your nails and skin if you use it regularly. Even though it will work to get rid of any nail glue that’s left on your nails, you will have to moisturize your cuticles and nails afterward.

To keep your fingertips moisturized after using acetone to remove nail glue, use a high-quality cuticle oil.

You can pick up a cuticle oil pen, make an at-home DIY cuticle oil, or simply use some extra virgin olive oil to boost the surrounding skin’s moisture, give the skin and nails some hydration, and strengthen your nail beds. 

All you need to do is place your nails in a bowl of oil for 15 minutes, which will allow the oil to really soak in. And if your natural nails need a bit of whitening after using nail glue, then you can add a couple of tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the olive oil, which will help to brighten their appearance. 

See also: How To Use Cuticle Oil For Healthier Nails

If you’re in a rush and don’t have time for an olive oil soak, then you can use US brand ” link_text=”Pura D’Or’s Organic Nail & Cuticle Oil” link_icon=”amazon” /], which contains a nourishing blend of biotin, jojoba and sunflower oils, honey, almond milk, and vitamin E.

The combination of these ingredients helps promote healthier and stronger nail growth and soaks so well into the skin that they can even reduce the potential of hangnails. Just one or two drops worked into clean nails and left overnight will soften skin and keep your nails strong.

Sale
PURA D'OR Organic Nail & Cuticle Oil (4oz) - Enriched with Biotin, Vitamin E, Natural Ingredients - Nourishing Treatment for Nail Growth & Healthy Beds
  • NOURISH and STRENGTHEN: Certified USDA...
  • SAFE FOR ACRYLIC NAILS: Our nail cuticle...
  • KEEPS MANICURES FRESH: As a great...
  • SMOOTHS UNEVEN NAIL SURFACES: With...

Final Thoughts: Glue Removal At Your Fingertips

Getting rid of residual nail glue residue from your nails after removing a press-on, acrylic, or gel extension manicure needn’t be a painful, tedious, or expensive process, especially when you know what you’re doing.

Getting rid of nail glue residue from your nails after removing a press-on, acrylic, or gel extension manicure needn’t be a painful, tedious, or expensive process, especially when you know what you’re doing.

By following the tips that I’ve shared above, you now know how to get nail glue off your nails, as well as how to keep them moisturized and healthy so that they’re ready for action when you decide to rock your next manicure.

See also:

Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).