5 DIY Nail Polish Remover Recipe

No matter how good your manicure is, it does not last forever. The damage usually starts with hideous chipping and continues until you remove the polish completely. But what if you run out of your regular nail polish remover? You can definitely not attend your meeting or show up at a party with that horribly chipped polish. So, what is the solution? Try homemade nail polish remover made of handy household items! Yes, there are alternatives to commercial nail polish removers and they would actually get your job done. Here, we give you 5 simple recipes of homemade nail polish remover along with some useful tips to make your polish look impressive.

When it comes to the working procedure of nail polish removers, there is no chemical compounds or chemical reactions involved. A polish remover is a simple organic solvent, which is found in the nail polish itself as an ingredient. Applying it to the hardened polish on the nails actually means putting it back into the form in which it was applied to the nails. So, it dissolves the polish without causing a chemical reaction. Rather, it follows a famous rule of thumb in chemistry i.e. “like dissolves like”. In other words, if the organic solvent (the nail polish remover) likes the organic polymer (the hardened nail polish), the dissolution occurs.

Typically, the solvents used in nail polish removers are acetone, ethyl acetate, etc. When applied to the polished nails, the molecules of these solvents get in between the chains of the polymer and break them down by pushing apart. This converts the hardened polish into a solution that can easily be wiped off with a cotton ball or tissue. Finally, the solution evaporates from it while leaving a hardened residue behind.

* Vinegar and Lemon Juice Mixture

Both vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, which causes the nail enamel to dissolve upon rubbing. To make this nail polish remover, mix equal parts of white vinegar and lemon juice together well. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and squeeze the excess liquid out of it. Place the cotton ball on each of your nails for about 10 seconds and rub it gently on them. Repeat if necessary to remove all the remnants of the nail polish and you are done! If the nail polish is hard to come off, soak your nails in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes before the procedure.

* Rubbing Alcohol

If you have rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet, it can easily double up as a nail polish remover. It is a natural substance that is not as harsh as commercial nail enamel removers. In fact, since rubbing alcohol is antibacterial, it is the best thing you can ever use for taking off your nail polish while suffering from nail infections. Soak your nails in lukewarm water for about 5 minutes and dry them with a clean towel. Dip a cotton ball into the rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess amount. Now, rub it gently on your nails to ease out the nail enamel finely and evenly. Repeat the process if necessary.

* Nail Polish

Nail polish to remove nail polish? Yes, you read it right! This is not exactly a ‘homemade’ solution but a quick fix for times when you are stuck without a nail polish remover. Apply a thin coat of transparent or light-colored nail enamel, also known as ‘top coat’, on your existing nail polish and wipe it off with a cotton ball immediately. Do not let the top coat dry as it is the wet topcoat only that will help soften as well as peel off the old polish.

* Acetone and Glycerin Blend

Acetone is the main ingredient in store-bought nail polish removers. But it can be really harsh and drying for the nails. So, let us make it less harsh by adding some glycerin to it. Simply take 200 ml. of acetone and add 2 teaspoons of glycerin to it. However, glycerin will not mix with acetone easily and hence, you will have to add 2-3 teaspoons of water to the blend and whisk well until it forms a uniform solution. And there you have your own homemade nail polish remover that is gentle to your nails and works well too.

* Deodorant

Do you need to take off your nail polish right now but do not have any of the above supplies? Fret not. Just grab your can of deodorant and spray it on your nails at a close range. Then, wipe it off with a cotton ball immediately. Deodorant also has alcohol in it, which will help you get rid of the old nail polish easily.