According to Boyce, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer are two of the best ways to remove polish without needing an acetone remover. "Apply some to a cotton ball or pad and place it on your nail," Boyce says. "Let it sit for about 10 seconds and gently rub it back-and-forth.
Basically, acetone is stronger (often used as a paint thinner), and alcohol is more often used for cleaning and disinfecting without damage.
Even though both are used as solvent, their applications have differences depending on the industry. In the semiconductor, printed circuit and metal products' industries, acetone is only used to wipe down black ink on copper tubes. For scrubbing, cold rinsing or steam rinsing, IPA solvent is a better option.
DON'T: Use rubbing alcohol.
Acetone and rubbing alcohol are not the same. According to Kandalec—the woman behind the nails on the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That—rubbing alcohol won't do anything to soften an acrylic nail enhancement. She says that it's best avoided.
The Nail Lab Nail Technician Thea Phan added, “In the beauty industry, acetone is great for removing nail polish, gel colour and acrylic nails, and prepping the nail for a new coat of nail polish. Salons normally use a 70- 90 per cent acetone solution during manicures.”
Lemon juice and vinegar
You can make a simple solution from 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and some distilled white vinegar and remove nail polish naturally at home. Dip your fingers in the solution and keep them submerged for about 5 minutes. Then use a cloth to wipe away the nail polish.
No – isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are not the same thing. Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water.
Hot, Soapy Water. Soap and water are another great way to remove acrylics without harsh chemicals or solvents. Simply fill a bowl or sink with hot, soapy water and soak your nails for about 10 minutes. Soaking will help soften the adhesive and make it quicker to remove the false nails.
Sometimes gel will leave a tacky residue after curing, which you can simply wipe off with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Then you're good to go!
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is another way to remove nail polish if you're in a pinch. Since alcohol is a solvent, it can help break things down, or in this case dissolve polish. If you don't have pure rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer or perfume may work, but it will take much longer.
Lemon and vinegar: Pour two tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl, then top it off with distilled white vinegar, deep enough to submerge your nails. Soak for five minutes, then wipe away the polish with a soft cloth.
Non-acetone polish removers contain ethyl acetate or methyl ethyl keytone as their active ingredient. They are gentler on skin and were developed for use with nail extensions because acetone can cause extensions to become brittle and "lift." Non-acetone is less effective for removing nail polish than acetone.
White vinegar also contains acid that can break down nail polish. You can either use vinegar on its own or combine it with lemon juice as a mixture. You'll need to soak your nails for at least 15 minutes in warm water.
Peeling the gel polish off the nail can rip layers off the nail plate and cause the nail to be thinner, brittle, and 'bendy. ' If you are looking for easy ways to remove polish, try the soak off method using acetone.
Keratin granulation
If you remove your nail polish only to find that part of your nail is white and dry underneath, you may have this common condition. It's caused by wearing toenail polish for too long. If you have this, it's best to let your nails heal for a while.
This is because much like removers, toothpastes also contain ethyl acetate that is known to break down the nail polish easily.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Hot Water
To dilute it, mix one-part water with two parts hydrogen peroxide. Stir well before soaking your fingernails to loosen the polish. After around 30 seconds, gently remove the polish using a nail file. Make sure that you file the polish softly to avoid damaging your nail bed.
Methyl acetate is a suitable substitute for acetone due to its lower environmental impact, reduced toxicity, and less flammable nature. It has similar solvency properties as acetone, making it effective in paint, coating, and adhesive production.
Acetone is a much stronger solvent which can remove nail polish faster than non-acetone removers. However, it can also be more damaging to the nails and skin.
Sprays which contain rubbing alcohol is the next best alternative for a nail polish remover. You can use a hairspray to remove the polish by spritzing on your nails. For this hack, you would quickly need to wipe otherwise the cotton pad can stick on your nails.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Hot Water Soak
When you two parts hydrogen peroxide with one-part hot water, you create a solution ideal for removing stubborn nail polish. Try soaking your nails in this mixture (at an acceptable temperature) and watch as it softens your polish before gently wiping it away with a cotton pad.
"Leaving your nail polish on for too long can dry out the nails, leaving them brittle," says Dr. Curry. "Thin, brittle nails pose a health hazard because the nail is a barrier to keep out bacteria and fungus."