How to Remove & Reuse Press on Nails Without Damage?
Share
Table of Contents
Quick Video Tutorial
Watch our concise video tutorial below to see the step-by-step process for safely removing and reusing press-on nails without damaging your natural nails. This quick guide demonstrates the use of warm soapy water, a cuticle pusher, and proper storage techniques to keep your fake nails ready for multiple wears.
Remove
Once you master professional techniques, whether you use glue or adhesive to apply press-on nails, they’re easy on, easy off, and the nails can be reused. This is one of the charms of press-on nails. If you use adhesive tabs, soaking in water makes removal easy. For press-on nails applied with glue, the longer you’ve worn them, the easier they are to remove due to loosened adhesive. Below is a step-by-step removal process.
1. Prepare Warm Soapy Water
Fill a small bowl with about two to three inches of warm water, add a generous squirt of liquid dish soap, and mix in any oil (olive oil, jojoba oil, etc., work equally well). Soak your nails for about 10 minutes. If your fake nails are already loosening from your natural nail, they may pop off easily.
2. Spritz Rubbing Alcohol
Check if the nails feel loose. If not, spritz some rubbing alcohol around the edges to weaken the glue. Spray more alcohol if needed. Be patient—gently pop off the nail. If it’s stubborn, dab a tiny bit of nail polish remover to further loosen the adhesive, but avoid overusing it as it can damage your press-ons. After soaking, use the nail polish remover from a Luwanery tool kit. Don’t force them off. The best way is to wait until they start lifting.
3. Gently Use Cuticle Pusher
Once the nails start to loosen and shift, use a plastic cuticle pusher to gently slide under the edges of the press-ons from the base near the cuticle. Spritz alcohol into the gap. If the adhesive doesn’t release easily, let nail polish remover seep into the gap again, wait a few minutes, and then use the cuticle pusher to pry the edges. Be sure to start gently and slowly from the cuticle to prevent cracking or damaging your natural nail, ensuring the press-on nails remain reusable.
4. Buff Off Any Residual Adhesive
After removing all nails, use a nail file to gently buff the nail bed or use nail polish remover to wipe away residual adhesive until your natural nail is clean.
5. Clean and Trim Nails
Clean your nails with an alcohol pad or a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. If your nails have grown out, use nail clippers or scissors to trim them, which may help prevent breaking or splitting.
6. Apply Cuticle Oil
Finish with a drop of cuticle oil to nourish your nail bed and add a polished look. Regularly applying cuticle oil and hand cream will keep your nails very healthy.
Reuse
Luwanery handmade press-on nails are made from advanced PMMA material, which is high-quality, thinner, and lighter, with an initial C-curve that fits your natural nail for a more comfortable fit and can be worn repeatedly. You can 100% reuse press-on nails as long as you apply/remove them properly. Let’s dive into tips for caring for press-on nails to make your next application flawless!
1. Never Use Acetone
Don’t use 100% acetone, as it can break down the press-on nails, making them unsuitable for reuse. We strongly recommend using the warm soapy water method above to pop them off.
2. Remove Residual Adhesive
Use a cuticle pusher to ensure any excess adhesive residue is removed from the back of the press-on nails. This will make your nails ready for seamless reapplication. Apply nail polish remover to the back and wait for the adhesive to dissolve. If using a nail file to remove adhesive, be careful to avoid damaging the press-on nails.
3. Clean and Disinfect
Wipe your fake nails with rubbing alcohol to remove oils, dust, or debris. If you’re concerned about bacteria on the press-on nails, soak them in 91% rubbing alcohol for 5 minutes and let them air dry.
4. Store
If you’re not using them immediately, arrange the cleaned and dried nails in their application order and place them back in the packaging card and box for easy reuse. Keeping the original press-on nail packaging prevents loss, crushing, warping, or deformation in less-than-ideal storage conditions, and our clear packaging makes it easy to see your selection next time.
5. Reapply
If you want to reapply press-on nails immediately after soaking, wait for the alcohol/moisture to evaporate and dry completely. The reapplication process is the same as the initial application; you can use adhesive tabs or nail glue. Sticky tabs are the most reuse-friendly option. Refer to this guide for details.
FAQs
What if I can’t take off press-on nails without acetone?
Be patient and soak in warmer soapy water or add more oil for a longer soak. Usually, press-ons pop off easily. We don’t recommend acetone, not only because it prevents reuse but also because it causes irreversible damage to skin and cuticles. Our method allows you to pop off press-on nails without harming your natural nails.
How Many Times Can You Reuse Press-On Nails?
It depends on how you remove and treat them. As long as you carefully remove the press-on nails and keep them in good condition, you can reuse them indefinitely! In practice, most people can wear a set of press-on nails about 2–3 times. If you wear them for just a few days at a time, you’ll enjoy even more reuses.
Is Reusing Press-On Nails Hygienic?
As long as the nails are kept dry during wear, bacteria won’t grow. You can also soak them in alcohol for 5–10 minutes after each removal for extra peace of mind.