Q&A for How to Remove Nail Polish Without Using Remover

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  • Question
    What’s the healthiest nail polish remover?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Most solvent-based nail polish removers are somewhat irritating or drying to your skin and nails. Household alternatives like vinegar, toothpaste, or lemon juice are all relatively gentle.
  • Question
    Is acetone nail polish remover bad for your nails?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Acetone can dry out your skin and nails, eventually causing your nails to split or your skin to flake and peel. For this reason, it’s best to avoid using it too often. You can also get acetone-based polish removers that include moisturizing ingredients.
  • Question
    What if I drop a nail polish bottle and it breaks? How will I clean it?
    Padma Balaji
    Padma Balaji
    Community Answer
    You could take sugar and drop it on the nail polish while it's still wet. This will allow you to scrape it off, leaving no residue.
  • Question
    What do you do if the nail polish is all over your hand?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Soak it in warm water for a good 5 minutes first, then just use soap to clean or use rubbing alcohol.
  • Question
    What can I use if I don't have cotton balls?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You could use cotton swabs or paper towels.
  • Question
    What is the best type of glue for glue-based nail polish?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The best type of glue for the nail polish base is home and school glue, which is white.
  • Question
    Can it be any type of alcohol?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    As long as it won't burn your skin, any type of alcohol including drinking alcohol (spirits) or just alcohol based products should work. However, avoid alcohol with high sugar content (such as liqueurs) and low-alcohol content (such as beer or wine) as they won't work or will leave sticky residue.
  • Question
    How do I get gel nail varnish off?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Wet the surface, add toothpaste (anything white but not gel) letting it sit, then wipe it off.
  • Question
    Can I try to use alcohol mixed with other liquids?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I would not recommend doing so, as the alcohol is flammable, and there could be a dangerous reaction if you mix it with other substances.
  • Question
    What's the quickest way to remove nail polish?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Store bought nail polish remover works fastest, but a cotton ball and alcohol should also work fairly quickly.
  • Question
    How can I remove non-peel off green glitter nail polish without using remover or alcohol?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can put some hand-sanitizer on a cotton ball and wipe the paint off. If that doesn't work you can always go to a salon and they can take the nail polish off with their remover.
  • Question
    Can you use baby wipes for method 2?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It only works if you are trying to get the nail polish off while your fingers are still wet.
  • Question
    How do I remove clear nail polish?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You use the same process as with regular polish.
  • Question
    I had my nails done in a salon and now I cannot remove the polish with nail polish remover. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Soak your nails in acetone for several minutes in order to break down the hardened polish. Then, gently scrape it off with a flat wooden stick, like a Popsicle stick.
  • Question
    I can never paint my right hand, why?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It is hard to paint a dominant hand with your non-dominant hand. The more you practice, the better you'll get, but in the meantime, you could go to a salon or having a friend paint your nails.
  • Question
    Will the toothpaste method work if I have fluoride free toothpaste?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes! It doesn't matter if the toothpaste contains fluoride or not.
  • Question
    How can I remove it from my skin?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Let your nails dry completely, then take a shower. Do your normal shower routine, such as washing your body and hair. This will help rub the nail polish off your skin.
  • Question
    How do I remove nail polish from my hair?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you can scrape it off with your fingernails, mix nail polish remover into some shampoo and massage into you hair.
  • Question
    How do I get the yellow stain off my fingernails after removing polish?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Soak your hands in lemon juice for 10-15 minutes each day until the color disappears.
  • Question
    Is it okay to use methylated spirits?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    While you could, it has several drawbacks -- it smells bad, it will dry your nails and skin out terribly and it will be slow going. It's not recommended unless you're really pushed for anything else and if you do use it, be sure to do so in a well ventilated place and add plenty of lotion/moisturizer afterward.
  • Question
    Can I use alcohol wipes, like the kind for disinfecting cuts?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You could, but only for the surrounding skin. Just open a pad or two, and rub on the affected skin, just like you would when cleaning up a cut!
  • Question
    Is it ok to use perfume?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Perfume will not remove nail polish. Nail polish remover is not expensive.
  • Question
    I've tried all of these techniques and none of them work. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Ask a professional! Go to your nearest nail salon and ask for help. They should offer to either sell you something or remove the polish for you.
  • Question
    My nail polish is too strong and doesn't even come off with regular polish remover. What product should I buy?
    Cecilia Flores
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    It's not too strong unless you have gel polish, acrylics, or dip powder nails. If you're just using regular polish and you claim it's too strong, it means the polish stained your nails. You can only get stains off your nails by buffing them, but buffing takes off the layers of your natural nails that have been stained, making your nails weaker.
  • Question
    What can I use to remove nail polish from metal? Is there something that won't corrode the metal?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try warmish liquid coconut oil, it might take a little bit more time than nail polish remover, but it still works well for me. Soak it in the coconut oil for around 10-15 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water. if it's too big to soak, then cover it thoroughly with the coconut oil.
  • Question
    How do I get nail polish off plastic plates?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try gently chipping it off with a butter knife. Avoid using nail polish remover, as it could melt the plastic and leave a very toxic residue that is hard to get rid of.
  • Question
    What's good about filing my nails?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Filing is an easy way to keep your nails neat and at the proper length. Cutting your nail can sometimes cause unevenness or cracks, but filing will not.
  • Question
    What do I do if none of these methods work?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Keep using a lot of toothpaste. If it still doesn't come out, your unique nails would unfortunately need nail polish.
  • Question
    How do I get nail polish off the sides of my nail?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try putting your nails in hot water (not so hot that it boils your fingers) for about 10 minutes, and then use your nails and pick it off.
  • Question
    How do I do chores when my nails are long? I'm scared of breaking them.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Don't! Trim your nails. It keeps them sanitary and prevents breaking. You can even try purchasing false nails for when you won't be doing chores.
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