Many wise reasons to make your own nail polish remover at home. My reason for using DIY nail polish remover is because I believe in going green and incorporating whenever I can in form of natural ingredients. A nail polish remover which is totally safe, healthy, and comparatively cheaper to the commercial products available, what else better than it? If not intentionally but sometimes you really want to know safe alternatives to nail polish removers in case you are out of it and badly needed it. Whatever reason compelled you to find out how to make nail polish remover, one thing is for sure, your own made nail polish from natural ingredients would be a safe healthy thing you’re doing for your nails. If you are a nail addict and love painting your nails over and over again then using commercial nail polish remover could cost your nails a lot….the not so good ingredients besides being linked with health issues are also believed to be extremely harsh and bad for nails.
The nail polish itself contains toxic ingredients such as triphenyl phosphate or TPHP, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde, which are all unbelievably dangerous and perilous to your overall health. And using a product to remove nail polish which also contains harsh chemicals is like wreaking havoc. Instead of commercial nail polish remover, you should definitely think about a healthy, safe alternative, a chemical free nail polish remover.
Well before jumping into how to make nail polish remover easily at home, it is important to know that most cheapo commercial nail polish removers contain dangerous ingredients that are really bad for you and people around you, especially babies where you feed them with your hands. So for all the moms, in particular, avoid using chemical based products especially on hands to save yourself and your loved ones from the bad effects.
Let’s have a look at the most commonly used ingredients in some inexpensive nail polish removers that contain harsh chemicals and other dangerous constituents which are a real health threat.
Acetone:
Acetone is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid which is extremely harsh, dry, and toxic to the skin, cuticles, and nails; prolonged use could result in hard, brittle nails and damaged nail plate. Acetone is also believed to cause headaches, dizziness, and lethargy, lack of coordination, irritated eyes, and skin as some of the common side effects.
Butyl acetate:
Butyl acetate, also known as butyl ethanoate, can cause irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, nose, and skin. Ingestion and inhalation of it can cause central nervous system depression, dizziness, and disorientation.
Ethyl acetate:
Ethyl acetate is a colorless liquid which is used as a solvent in nail polish removers. Overexposure to ethyl acetate may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. In the case of severe overexposure, it can cause weakness, drowsiness, and unconsciousness.
Isopropyl alcohol:
Isopropyl alcohol also called isopropanol or dimethyl carbinol is a flammable compound which is a skin irritant. It can also cause dizziness, depression, nausea, headache and dizziness.
Methanol:
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is extremely toxic to humans. If absorbed excessive methanol, it can cause blindness, coma, mental disorder, fainting, and even death.
After knowing this nobody for sure wants to use products with such perilous ingredients.
How to make nail polish remover
Many ways you can make nail polish remover at home and believe it there are some products already in your beauty arsenal or home that could do the job for you and in a safe way.
Table of Contents
Vinegar and lemon juice nail polish remover
Say good-bye to acetone based nail polish removers and try this super amazing DIY vinegar and lemon juice nail polish remover. These ingredients despite the fact that are natural but are great for your nails. Both vinegar and lemon juice are a prodigious fix for yellowed and stained nails and over all nail care.
You will need
- Vinegar 2 tablespoons
- Lemon juice 2 tablespoons
- Cotton
- A bowl of Warm water
Mix equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice in a small bowl and put aside. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm water for at least 10 minutes. Saturate some cotton in the vinegar lemon solution and wipe off nail polish with it. Repeat if necessary.
Perfume
Any perfume or body spray can be used. But the ones you don’t like to wear anymore and can’t throw off too would be a smart strategy to use them in a constructive way. I always use my old rejected one which I don’t like to wear any more.
- Any perfume
- Cotton balls
Spray perfume on your nail directly and wipe off with cotton balls. Do one finger at a time.
Hair spray
Hair spray apart from styling your hair can also help you remove nail polish from your nails. It contains some ingredients that are believed to be effective for the cause.
You will need
- Hair spray
- Paper towel
Generously spritz hair spray one by one to each nail. Rub with a paper towel. Repeat the procedure as needed.
Tooth paste and baking soda nail polish remover
Tooth paste, readily available product; and baking soda is also not rare to found in every house hold. These two simple ingredients can be utilized to make a nail polish remover. Any tooth paste can be used but the white one is considered more effective. The best part of this DIY nail polish remover, both tooth paste, and baking soda are extremely effective to combat yellowed and stained nails.
You will need
- A dollop of toothpaste
- Few pinches of baking soda
- A bowl of warm water
Mix some tooth paste and baking soda in a small bowl. Soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes. Now apply the mixture on each finger nail and start scrubbing with an old brush or paper towel. This may take a bit longer and you need to repeat several times but think of it as pampering your nails. Do one finger at a time.
White vinegar
White vinegar is also thought as an effective ingredient for general nail care and to remove nail polish in particular.
You will need
- White vinegar
- Cotton balls
Saturate cotton balls in white vinegar and rub it on nails to fight off nail polish.
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is an alcohol based product which works wonder for removing nail paint from nails.
You will need
- Hand sanitizer
- Cotton ball
Saturate a cotton ball with hand sanitizer. Now use it to remove nail polish.
Hydrogen peroxide and hot water
Hydrogen peroxide is a quick fix for so many problems. May it be nail polish or grease stains on clothes, or any tooth ailment peroxide really knows how to fix. You can use this super easy DIY nail polish remover any time for the purpose.
You will need
- Hydrogen peroxide 2 parts
- Hot water 1 part
Pour 2 parts of hydrogen peroxide in 1 part of the hot water in a large bowl. Mix well. Now dip your nails in the solution for 10 minutes. If needed use hydrogen peroxide saturated cotton balls to remove nail paint directly from nails. Water should be as hot as bearable; don’t use burning hot water.
Clear nail polish
If you are out of nail polish remover or simply don’t want to use, you can use your top coat polish instead. Good if you use a lighter color and best to use a polish which you don’t feel like wearing any more.
You will need
- Top coat/clear nail polish
- Paper napkin
Brush a generous amount of any clear nail polish or top coat on your skin and nails. Do one finger at a time. Immediately wipe off with a paper napkin. Repeat if some traces of nail polish is left.
Coke
Surprised to find coke here? Well, don’t get stunned and give it a try. Coke contains carbonic and phosphoric acid that remove tough nail polish easily. But patience is required as it will take much longer.
- Coke
- Cotton balls
Pour coke into a small bowl and soak your fingers in for at least 10 minutes. Also, use cotton balls saturated in coke to clean off any remaining traces of nail polish.
Rubbing alcohol
Not a good choice but you can use it in rare situations. Be careful and always use extreme caution and in a well-ventilated area. Wash your hands after use.
You will need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls
Saturate cotton balls in rubbing alcohol and remove nail polish with it. Repeat if needed.
It is true that using a homemade nail polish remover will take longer time than the commercial products which just wipe off the paint like a magic, it may also not work as greatly as the commercial ones but one thing is for sure, natural options for nails are always best as they are free of any ill effects and do great for our nails.
I would love to know what you guys do to remove nail polish; do you use commercial products or depend on natural remedies to fight off polish from nails?
