Removing nail polish, if you have the right tools, is a relatively easy process. What is important for you to have are the following:

• A nail polish remover (this can be store bought or you can use an alternative method. We’ll talk about those in a little bit)
• Cotton balls or cotton swabs
• A well ventilated room
• Warm soapy water (for afterwards)

Now it’s important to recognize that there are actually two different types of nail polish removers out there: acetone and ethyl acetate. You can also find a variety of different formulations of these, them both most commonly promising to leave your nails hydrated or to help strengthen them. Ethyl acetate is the most popular kind of nail polish remover for any type of nails – both real and fake – since it is thought to be less damaging to the keratin that our nails are made up of. Acetone is a great option if you are trying to remove your artificial nails on your own (though this is generally not recommended).

To remove your nail polish properly, be sure to sit in a well ventilated room as the fumes of both the nail polish and the remover can be quite potent and even make you feel ill. Take a cotton ball or pad and douse it in the nail polish remover. Be sure to squeeze out any excess nail polish remover. Now take the cotton ball and rub it from bottom to top of the nail, being sure to follow the natural grain of your nail (this will help keep you from doing more damage to your fingernails). Avoid going in circles or making “back and forth” motions with the cotton ball.

Once you have removed the nail polish from each of your fingers, simply give your hands a short soak in warm, soapy water. Rinse them off, and follow up with a deep moisturizing hand lotion.

So what happens when you’re on the run and perhaps do not have some nail polish remover on hand? There are actually a few different ways you can remove nail polish without using a nail polish remover. One of the most popular is taking a hand sanitizing gel product and rubbing it onto your nails. Grab a cotton ball, piece of tissue, or any material that will be able to withstand some rough rubbing on your nail and stroke your nail. You will see that your nail polish will come off almost as easily as if you were to use regular nail polish remover! The reason for this is because it contains acetone or methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK), which is an ingredient that is in nail polish remover. Some other products that have this in them and, in a desperate pinch can be used, include:

• Any products that can be used to thin paint
• Paint removal products

Another neat way to remove your nail polish is to try to use even MORE nail polish to remove it. Apply wet nail polish (preferably clear polish) to one finger at a time, and then rub the nail polish off with a cotton swab. Do be sure that you do this when the polish is first applied and still very wet; otherwise you will have a real mess on your hands!