Removal of Artificial Fingernails- When, Where, How and Why

      I was sidetracked on my research on the internet one night when I stumbled across the following article and I thought I'd let you take a look at it before you read my first informational entry on this blog.

http://www.zimbio.com/member/girlwoman/articles/2882940/Life+After+Fake+Nails

     As a conscientious professional I will first state that removing your own artificial nails is always a bad idea. You can use every recommended product on the market by professional and non-professionals alike and it will still come down to the fact that you will do severe damage by forcibly removing acrylic, gel, wraps or even simple nail polish off of your nails. This is because every one of these products are invasive to the porosity of your nails. In your terms, these products adhere to the large pores of your fingernails (they are basically horny tissue !) and when you pull adhered product off they will take one or more layers of your nails off in chunks ! The average fingernail consists of only four layers of tissue !

     If you soak any of these products in acetones or acetone-like liquids you will not cause the product to release from the nail. This cannot be done especially if the overlay or product is fresh to two weeks old. The portion of the product which has adhered to your nail will remain- regardless of how soaking them in an ethylamine product makes them appear. (Usually after soaking in such a product the acrylic or gel will appear as if it has melted off. In addition, it makes a terrible mess which is very difficult to clean up and a nuisance to get off of your nails, cuticles and hands!) 

     In addition, acetone or acetone-like remover has an extreme drying effect on your nails, cuticle and skin which is devastating to your hands. Even if you apply lotions or oils afterward it cannot replace the natural oils that made your skin, cuticle or nails supple. I have seen the effects of clients' artificial nail self-removal and it's not a pretty sight. The nails will be brittle, the cuticle white and your hands react to the damage by appearing red from excessive blood flow.

     I generally refuse to reapply artificial nail product on removal-damaged nails because adhesion is usually poor and causes further damage to the natural nail. What I recommend to clients who come to me in that condition is a series of hot oil manicures giving the cuticle and nails some time to grow and replace the damaged portion which I systematically file down with each manicure. This can take anywhere from 1 to 2 months. The only reason why it would take any longer, like the article on Zimbio suggests, is because damaged and exposed nails tend to become increasingly damaged for a time if they aren't given proper therapeutic treatments. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements taken orally will speed up growth time and the healing process. These are zinc, potassium, Vitamins A, B6, C and D. Vitamin E will bring back lost elasticity to the skin. Do not take vitamins and minerals together and be sure to take them in conjunction with a meal and plenty of water. Water increases fast absorption.

     The proper removal of artificial nail products takes a little bit of time and patience. I never remove artificial nails that I have just applied. Application of artificial products is a guarantee of strong adhesion for two weeks. Weaker adhesion starts after two weeks and, at that point, is always around the cuticle area. (This is why you must do regular maintenance of artificial nails at least every ten days to two weeks after application, if you keep the nails on.) Full removal still cannot be done at that time but they can be trimmed down very short or completely in order to start the removal process. Then they must be buffed all around the loosened area until no white lifting can be seen. A light seal should be done around the area and the nails should be fully polished (four coats-base, two color or neutral shade and top). For the next two weeks I have my client apply topcoat everyday or every other day followed with recommended cuticle oils. When a further two weeks has passed the client comes back and the removal generally takes a matter of minutes. I follow that with the first in a series of hot oil manicures sometimes followed with paraffin treatments. I also give the client a couple of intense therapeutic products for her nails. No other products can be used at that time and certainly no invasive products. Two months after the removal the client can continue with regular manicures or go back to artificial overlays and I generally recommend that she change to silk overlays for a period of time, ultimately.

      The process I just described in the previous paragraph cannot be done with success if any prior interference (i.e. attempted self-removal first) has occurred. By knowing this process before artificial nail application, you can quiz any nail technician you contact about how to go about removing the nails if you choose to not continue having them applied. If she recommends any other process of removal- including that of taking them off yourself - find another technician to apply your nails.

© 2011 Evelyn M. Wallace

9/26/11

       

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