How to Remove Fake Nails in 5 Easy, Expert-Approved Steps (2025)

• Hannah Lee is an Atlanta-based licensed manicurist and Sally Hansen partner.
• Pattie Yankee is a celebrity nail artist and Dashing Diva consultant, with over 30 years of experience in the nail industry.

File Down Your Nails

Before you soak your nails, you'll want to take a file to the surface: "Roughing up the surface and removing as much of the top layer as possible helps the fake nails soften quicker in acetone," says Atlanta-based manicurist, Hannah Lee. Celebrity nail artist, Pattie Yankee, adds that it's important to cut down the fake nail as well.

After this, Lee likes to saturate the nail in cuticle oil. "This helps keep the nails and skin moisturized during the removal process since acetone can be very drying," she says.

Soak Your Fingernails in Acetone

Now, it's time to soak. Acetone breaks down acrylics and gels, but unlike regular polish that only requires being wiped down in it to remove the lacquer, gels, gel extensions, and acrylics require time—there are two ways to do this.

Lee recommends dipping your hands into bowls filled halfway with acetone, calling it easier and faster than the alternative technique, but doing so also means you'll have to sit still for up to 30 minutes while the acetone does its job. While this time can be spent catching up on your favorite show and relaxing, we know that some people want to keep running around, and those people can opt to wrap their nails in foil with an acetone-soaked cotton pad. Lee favors the first technique but admits that doing so will expose your surrounding skin to acetone, which is very drying. Both techniques work, so it's all about figuring out which works best for you.

Repeat the Process (if Needed)

On average, Lee says it takes between 20 to 30 minutes for the acetone to break down fake nails. It will be easier to observe how the removal is going if you're soaking your nails, but if you have them wrapped, you can unwrap them at around the 20-minute mark to see how they're doing. "You'll notice them melting throughout the process," says Lee. Once you see this she says you can start to gently push the acrylic/gel off the nail with your orange stick. Depending on how many layers of gel you have or if you have acrylics on, you may need to rinse and repeat until all the gel/acrylic comes off.

Clean Up Your Nail Plate

After you've removed your fake nails, you can push away any loosened product with an orange stick. Then, lightly buff any remaining residue from the nail plates with a fine-grit file or buffing block. "Buff your nails gently after everything is removed," says Lee. "This helps smooth out the surface and remove any leftover product."

Once your nails are totally bare, wash your hands a slather on the cuticle oil and moisturizer. "Acetone is extremely drying on skin and nails, so you can rehydrate and get them back to looking their best by applying this combo a couple of times a day," says Lee.

Give Your Nails Some TLC

In the days after removing your fake nails, it's time to show your real ones some love. Along with the aforementioned cuticle oil and moisturizer, you might want to offer your nails a little PTO before getting a new mani. "If you wear [fake nails] a lot, it's always a good idea to give your nails a little break and focus on caring for your natural nails, even for a few days," says Lee. Yankee does suggest protecting and strengthening your nails with a few layers ofan editor-approved base coat.