I loved acrylic nails so much. I started getting them about a year ago because a few of my friends had them and I liked the way they looked. They look good, and they make me feel more put together. I guess it was kind of a look good and feel good type of thing. My nails had never looked better.

Despite it being difficult to complete the most basic tasks like typing on my phone, taking out the trash, or even opening a can, I continued to get acrylics for a while because I liked how they looked. It was actually difficult to really do anything as simple as taking the trash out without fear that a nail would break (depending on how long you get them).

A few months ago, I had them on and they were starting to get too long. Usually getting them removed costs around $20-45, depending on where you go. However, I was not able to get an appointment for the removal of the nails, and so I decided to go solo. I just wanted to get them off because they were getting so annoying, especially when I was trying to type my papers for classes. I would have to type with the outer part of my finger in order to avoid pushing directing on the tip of the long nail.

One night I decided to remove them with the assistance of a Youtube video. I had a pretty good idea of how to remove them based on videos that I had watched online. I bought 100% Acetone from a drug store and foil. I poured the acetone into a cup without realizing that this percentage of acetone ate through plastic… So I had acetone all over my legs and the floor. To make it even worse, I had just done a self-tanner and so the acetone ruined that by making my tan streak down my legs.

Anyway, I wrapped my nails with cotton filled acetone and wrapped the foil around them. I let it sit for about an hour. I removed the foil and according to the video the nails were supposed to come off in their solid form. Instead, the acrylics had become gooey. I used tweezers to scrape them off, which took about 2 hours. When my naked nail was exposed I could see all of the damage.

My nails were destroyed: thin, scratched and split. My cuticles felt like they were on fire. My nails felt so thin and just looked so damaged. Moreover, they were sore and hurt when I would do things with my hands.

With a few months of taking the gummy vitamins that support nail health, I have been able to strengthen my nails again. I have not had acrylics again since that unfortunate incident, and I will never get acrylics again.