Tonight I noticed the polish on my toes was looking chipped and needed to be replaced. I decided that tomorrow I'd treat myself to a mid-summer pedicure at a nail salon, but having the salon remove the old polish is pricy, so I decided to take it off myself. However, when I pulled out the bottle of nail polish remover it was almost empty. There was just enough to saturate a couple of cotton balls, which only removed some of the polish. Most of it remained. What to do?
All of a sudden I had a revelation. One of the main ingredients in the nail polish remover is acetone. I had some acetone paint remover left over from a long-ago decorating project in the basement. I wondered if it would work on my nails?
I pulled the gallon-sized container down from its spot on a shelf and blew off a couple of cobwebs. Because of the strong smell of the industrial strength paint remover I decided to do the job outside on the back patio. I poured a small amount into the cap, then dipped a cotton ball in and touched it to my toenail. The polish melted away immediately! It only took two minutes to complete the entire job. I came in with natural-colored nails, which I washed well with soapy water to remove any remaining chemical.
I can't wait to pick out a new 'piggy' color at the salon tomorrow.
Five years ago today: Garden Update
creative solution, I would've thought it was too strong.
ReplyDeleteIt probably was, but I figured that if I washed it off quickly there wouldn't be too much damage done.
DeleteBrilliant! I'm glad that worked! I wouldn't do it too often though, because apart from any risk of absorbing it through the skin (which I have no idea about, but might be possible) that stuff will strip all the oils out of your nails, too, and leave them brittle.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the salon. :)
I'm NOT planning on using paint remover on a regular basis! Fingernail polish remover is now on my list for the next big grocery shopping.
DeleteI do my own nails. I've never had a pedicure.
ReplyDeleteMy professional pedicures are few and far between-I think the last one I had was in the spring of 2012.
DeleteSmart idea, one I wouldn't have thought of! That surprised me that the salson would charge you extra to remove the polish. I don't often have my nails done, but that's always been included as part of the service.
ReplyDeleteI should probably repolish my nails too.
Maybe there are salons that throw in polish removal, but the one closest to my house charges...or at least they did last time I was there three years ago.
DeleteIt's amazing when we find other things around the house that do the job equally well.
ReplyDeleteIt just proves the old saying 'there's more than one way to do anything'.
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