| How to Take off Fake Nails Posted: 16 Apr 2021 05:00 PM PDT Fake nails, such as acrylics or gel nails, can instantly take your natural nails from drab to glamorous. However, when you are ready to start over with a clean slate, you might not want to pay someone to take off the fake nails. Fortunately, you can remove fake nails at home using similar techniques that a nail technician would use, and your nails will be ready for a new look in no time! [Edit]Using Acetone-Soaked Cotton and Tin Foil - Trim down acrylic nails to reduce the surface area. If you have acrylic nails, trimming them down first will reduce the amount of surface area that the acetone needs to penetrate. This makes it easier for the acetone to loosen your nails. Cut the acrylic nails down to the level of your natural nails.[1]
- Don't trim your natural nails until after you have finished removing the acrylics.
- Use a coarse nail file to thin the acrylic or remove the gel topcoat. Use a back and forth motion on the top of acrylics where they meet your natural nails (near the cuticle bed) or all over the surface of gel nails. File until you expose the adhesive under your acrylics or remove the shiny protective coat of the gel nails.[2]
- Do not skip filing your nails! Taking the time to file will make it easier for the acetone to work and loosen your nails faster.
- Don't file down too far! You may end up removing part of your natural nail and this can put you at risk of a nail infection.
- Cut out 10 foil rectangles to wrap around the ends of your fingers. Use a pair of scissors to cut the foil. Each wrap should be about .[3]
- Check 1 before you make more. Ensure that the wraps are large enough to go all the way around your nails and the cotton ball or gauze. The ends of the foil need to overlap so that you can secure the wraps.
- Soak a cotton ball or gauze with acetone and place it over your nail. Add enough acetone to the cotton ball or gauze so that it is wet, but not dripping. Then, place the cotton directly over your nail.[4]
- For acrylics, make sure the cotton is centered over the area where you filed to expose the adhesive.
- For gel nails, make sure that the acetone-soaked cotton is covering the entire nail.
- Keep in mind that you can also use non-acetone nail polish remover, but it will take longer than using pure acetone.
- Wrap the foil around your nail to secure the acetone-soaked cotton. Place your fingertip onto the center of a foil wrap. Then, wrap the top of the foil over the tip of your nail and bring the sides up over your nail like a tent. Fold the ends over a few times to tighten the foil around your fingertip and the cotton.[5]
- Don't worry if the foil does not look as neat as the way they do it in the salon! As long as the foil is secure around your fingertips, the acetone-soaked cotton will stay put and do its work.
- Repeat this for each of your nails. Continue applying acetone-soaked cotton balls or gauze and wrapping your fingertips in foil until you have wrapped all of your nails. The last few wraps might be hard to apply since you will have tin foil on your other fingertips.[6]
- If possible, ask a friend or family member to help you with the last few wraps.
- Another option is to only process 1 hand or a few nails at a time.
- Wait 20 minutes to remove the wraps. You will not be able to do much while the wraps are in place, so plan to chill out for about 20 minutes. Watch a show, listen to some music, or just sit back and relax.[7]
- Because of the foil, you will probably not be able to interact with the touch screen on your phone for the next 20 minutes, so now's a good time to charge your phone!
- Use a cuticle pusher to scrape off the remaining adhesive or polish. After the time is up, remove 1 of the wraps. Try to pull off an acrylic by gently inserting the tip of a cuticle pusher between the acrylic and your natural nail. For gel nails, try to scrape off some of the polish using a cuticle pusher. If the acrylic or gel nail polish comes off easily, then remove the wraps 1 at a time and use the cuticle pusher to remove the adhesive or polish from each nail.[8]
- If the acrylic or gel polish will not come off easily, redo the wrap you just took off. Leave the rest of the wraps in place for another 5 minutes, and then check again.
- Remember, only remove 1 wrap at a time and scrape away the adhesive or gel polish immediately.
- Buff off any stuck-on bits of adhesive with a small foam buffer. After you have taken off all of the acrylics or gel nail polish, use a foam buffer to remove any remaining bits of adhesive or polish. Rub the buffer over each of your nails using gentle pressure and a back and forth motion.[9]
- You may need to buff a little harder in some spots to remove the adhesive or polish residue.
[Edit]Soaking Your Nails in Acetone - Cut down acrylic nails so that they are as short as possible. If you have acrylic nails, this will reduce the amount of surface area and make it easier for the acetone to loosen your nails. Trim your acrylic nails down to the level of your natural nails.
- Do not trim your natural nails yet! Wait until after you remove the fake nails to trim them.
- File down the surface of the acrylic or gel nail with a coarse nail file. Take a coarse grit emery board or nail file and rub it back and forth over the top of each of your nails. For acrylics, file the area where the acrylic meets your natural nail (near the cuticle bed) until the adhesive is exposed. For gel nails, file the entire surface of the nail until they are no longer shiny.[10]
- Acrylic nails sit on top of your natural nail, so it will be difficult for the acetone to penetrate the nail unless you file them down first. Likewise, gel nails have a clear topcoat that protects the polish. Filing down the acrylic or gel topcoat before soaking the nail will help to make this process quicker and easier.
- Fill a small dish with pure acetone. Use a shallow glass dish that is big enough to fit all of your fingertips into at 1 time. This size dish will likely have a 2 cup (480 mL) capacity. Fill the dish about halfway with pure acetone.[11]
- You can buy pure acetone in the nail supplies section of a drug or grocery store.
- You may also use a non-acetone nail polish remover if you prefer. It will just take longer than an acetone nail polish remover.
- Place the dish into a larger bowl of hot water. Warming the acetone will help to make it work faster and remove the nails more effectively. Get a dish that is about 2 times the size of your acetone dish and fill it about ¼ of the way full with very hot water from the tap. Then, place the acetone dish into the water-filled bowl.[12]
- Make sure that the water does not overflow into the acetone dish! Set the acetone dish into the water dish slowly. If it looks like the water will overflow, then pour some out and try again.
- Soak your nails in the acetone for 10 minutes. Dip your nails into the acetone up to the level of your cuticles and hold them there for 10 minutes. The acetone will loosen the adhesive holding on acrylic nails or it will dissolve the gel polish if you have gel nails.[13]
- To reduce the amount of acetone that contacts your skin, angle your fingers so that just the nails are immersed in the acetone.
- Remove your nails from the acetone and check to see if they are loose. Once the time is up, take your fingertips out of the acetone and check your nails. Insert the end of a wooden cuticle pusher into the area between your natural nail and acrylic and see if it comes off easily. Use the end of the cuticle pusher to gently scrape off any remaining gel polish. Do this for all of your nails.[14]
- If the acrylics are still hard to budge or if your gel nails are hard to scrape off, put your nails back into the acetone for a few more minutes.
- Scrape away the remaining adhesive or gel polish with a cuticle pusher. After you have finished soaking your nails and you can remove the acrylics or excess polish easily with a cuticle pusher, continue removing them. Remove all of the acrylics or scrape off all of the gel polish.[15]
- If you have acrylics, then you will also need to scrape off the remaining adhesive with a cuticle pusher.
[Edit]Removing Acrylics with Dental Floss - Be aware that this technique may damage your natural nails. This method of removing acrylic nails is not recommended by nail professionals. Using floss to remove your fake nails can result in pulling off part of your natural nail, which can be painful and possibly lead to an infection.
- Purchase dental flossers that are on a stick. These are widely available and they are perfect for removing fake nails. To make the process even easier, you may want to choose a brand that is meant for flossing between tightly-spaced teeth, such as Glide.[16]
- If you don't have or don't want to buy flosser sticks, then you may also use regular floss. However, you might need a friend to help you since you won't be able to keep the floss taut with only 1 hand.
- Use the toothpick part of the flosser to loosen the fake nail. The end of the flosser should be pointed. Stick this end under part of your acrylic to create a gap. Be careful not to pry up too much of the nail as you do this. Only lift the end of the acrylic slightly where it meets your natural nail.[17]
- Press the floss against your natural nail and move it under the acrylic nail. Position the floss against your natural nail where the acrylic nail begins. Then, press down and move the floss under the acrylic.[18]
- If you have someone helping you using regular floss, then have them hold the floss taut and press it against your natural nail.
- Use a back and forth motion to work the floss under the acrylic. Move the flosser back and forth like you would to floss your teeth. Hold the acrylic nail down with 1 finger to keep it still as you do this. Continue working the floss forward until you reach the end of your natural nail and the acrylic nail comes off.[19]
- Make sure that you go slow! If you go too quickly, then you may pull off part of your natural nail.
- Repeat the process to remove all of your acrylic nails. Continue to take 1 nail off at a time until you have removed all of them. After you are finished, trim, file, and buff your nails to clean them up. Then, do your nails as desired![20]
[Edit]Warnings - Pure acetone is flammable! Keep it away from heat and open flame.
- Pure acetone can stain or discolor surfaces and clothing. Cover your work surface with a towel before you get started and put on an old t-shirt.
- Never try to pull or peel off acrylic or gel nails without loosening them with acetone first! You may end up pulling off part of your natural nail, which can be extremely painful and may lead to an infection.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using Acetone Soaked Cotton and Tin Foil - Coarse nail file
- Pure acetone
- Tin foil
- Scissors
- Cotton balls or gauze
- Cuticle pusher
- Foam nail buffer
[Edit]Soaking Your Nails in Acetone - Coarse nail file
- Small shallow 2 cup (480 mL) capacity bowl
- Large 4 cup (960 mL) or more capacity bowl
- Pure acetone
- Warm water
- Baby oil (optional)
- Cuticle pusher
[Edit]Removing Acrylics With Dental Floss - Dental floss sticks OR regular floss and someone to help you
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Improve Math Skills Posted: 16 Apr 2021 09:00 AM PDT There's no doubt about it: math is tough. As a result, a lot of kids (and adults!) struggle with math at some point in their lives. By building up your skills and practicing every day, you can make math a little less frustrating and have a higher chance of success. Use these tips and tricks during school, while you're studying, and when you're out and about to break down and complete math problems easily. [Edit]Play math games. - Build up your skills while having some fun! Look for online games that match your age and education level for the best experience. You can get computer games online or download apps on your phone to play games on the go. Try sites like:[1]
- DragonBox 5+ which lets you gradually build your algebra skills until you're able to master more and more advanced equations.
- Prodigy, a game targeted at elementary-school students, that integrates math practice into a role-playing game that allows players to use math to make their way through an appealing fantasy world.
- Polyup, a calculator-based math game for more advanced high school and college students.
[Edit]Practice math in everyday scenarios. - Make math part of your daily life to practice it without even thinking. For example, if a sweater that's regularly $38 is on sale for 30% off, what is the sale price? ($26.60). Or if you need to double a recipe that calls for 3/4 cup of flour, how much flour will you need? (1.5 cups).[2]
- Or, if you plan to hike a new trail that's 7 miles long and it takes you 20 minutes to walk a mile, how long should you plan for your hike to take? (2 hours and 36 minutes).
[Edit]Use mental math if you can. - Doing math in your head can help you remember key concepts. Some problems, like geometry or calculus, require a pencil and paper to get started; however, math basics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are ones you can do in your head. If you come across an easy problem, do it in your mind first before resorting to a calculator.[3]
- If you're worried about your mental math skills, you can always double check your answer on your phone or computer.
[Edit]Review math concepts every day. - Practice makes perfect, and math is no exception. Set a study schedule for yourself and try to review your math problems for 15 to 20 minutes per day (or more if a test is coming up). Your skills will build up over time with not much effort on your part![4]
- Make note cards. Write out important concepts and formulas on note cards so that you can easily refer to them while doing problems and use them for study guides before exams.
- Study in a quiet place. Distractions, whether aural or visual, will detract both from your ability to pay attention and to retain information.
- Study when you're alert and rested. Don't try to force yourself to study late at night or when you're sleep-deprived.
[Edit]Show your work, not just your answers. - Writing it all out can help you spot mistakes. As you work through a problem, use a pencil to write out what you did and how you did it. Some teachers require you to show your work anyway, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.[5]
- Showing your work can also help you check your answers on homework and test problems.
- Don't solve math problems with a pen! Use a pencil so you can erase and correct mistakes if they happen.
[Edit]Sketch out word problems to give yourself a visual. - Word problems are usually tougher than straight math problems. If you're struggling with picturing the problem on the page, grab a pencil and get to drawing. You don't have to be an artist—make a few circles to represent pies or some stick figures to stand in for people. Use your visuals to help you solve the problem as you work through it.[6]
- For example, a problem might say, "If you have 4 pieces of candy split evenly into 2 bags, how many pieces of candy are in each bag?" You could draw 2 squares to represent the bags, then fill in 4 circles split between them to represent the candy.
[Edit]Practice with example problems. - You can find tons of example problems online. If you're going over a concept, look it up and try 2 to 3 problems on your own. Check the answers to figure out if you got them right, and study the concept again if you didn't.[7]
- Your teacher might also be able to give you some extra example problems if you ask for them.
- Using example problems is a great way to practice for a test.
- Identify which skills and concepts you'll need to solve the problem. This will give you an overall sense of what you'll need to do to find the solution.[8]
[Edit]Look up lessons online. - Sometimes you need a little more explanation to really understand. If you're having trouble and you don't have class for a few days, try looking up a math lesson online. There are tons of resources for math students out there, including:[9]
- PatrickJMT on YouTube, a college math professor
- Khan Academy, a website with video lessons and interactive study guides
- Breaking Math, a podcast for math concepts
[Edit]Master one concept before moving onto the next. - In math, each topic builds upon the last one. It's super hard to move forward if you don't understand the previous lesson. If there's something you aren't quite getting, spend some extra time studying it or doing homework problems to really cement it into your mind.[10]
- If you're struggling with a particular idea or concept, don't skip it and move ahead. Instead, seek help from the instructor or a tutor until you've mastered the idea.[11]
[Edit]Teach math problem or concept to someone else. - Learning by teaching someone is a great way to solidify concepts. Invite a friend or family member over and explain to them what you're doing and how you're doing it. If you get stuck, review your notes or textbook again until you can explain it clearly and concisely.[12]
- Have your friend or family member ask you questions, too. Try to answer them as best you can to really practice.
- Try not to fall behind in your homework or schoolwork. The more you keep up in class, the easier it will be.
- Relate the math concepts that you're learning to real-world examples to make the work meaningful to you.[13]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Defrost a Freezer Posted: 16 Apr 2021 01:00 AM PDT Over time, a thick layer of ice can build up on the inside of your freezer if you have one without an automatic defrosting system. Modern freezers usually have a mechanism to remove the frost without your help, but older freezers and some cheaper models may need you to defrost them. Frost in your freezer reduces the efficiency of the appliance, adds to your electricity bill, and makes it tricky to get things in and out. Defrosting is fairly simple, but it will take you an hour or two to do it. [Edit]Preparing the Freezer for Defrosting - Eat as much food as you can ahead of time. Clearing out your freezer as much as you can will make the process go easier. In the week or so leading up to defrosting your freezer, try to cook and eat what you can.[1]
- Plus, it's a good way to use up food that may be on the edge of getting too old.
- Move the food in the freezer to a cool location. If you can, ask a neighbor if you can move some food to their freezer for a little while. Your next best option is to stick it in a cooler surrounded by ice or frozen cooling packs.[2]
- If all else fails, wrap it up with cooling packs in a blanket and set it in a cool part of your home.
- Turn the freezer off and/or unplug it. It's a good idea to unplug it completely if you can, as you don't want to be standing in water while working around the appliance. If it's a freezer/refrigerator combination, the refrigerator food should be fine for 1-2 hours as long as you leave the door closed.[3]
- Some freezers have a switch you can use to turn off the freezer instead of unplugging it.
- Place old towels and baking trays around the bottom of the freezer. There's going to be lots of water as you defrost your freezer, so it's best to just be prepared. Put several layers of towels on the floor, gathered around the base of the freezer. Put baking trays on top of the towels but under the edge of the freezer to catch extra water.[4]
- Find the drainage hose if yours has one and place the end in a bucket. Some freezers have a drainage hose on the bottom of the freezer that will help carry the water away. If yours has one, put the end in a low basin or bucket so the water can drain out into it.[5]
- You also might want to place shims under the front feet of the freezer to help encourage the water to flow toward the drain.
[Edit]Removing the Frost Layer - Take out the shelves and leave the door or lid to the freezer open. The warm air is your first tool to defrost the ice layer. Prop the door or lid open if you need to, as some freezers have doors that automatically close. Now is also a good time to take out shelves, drawers, and any other removable parts if your freezer has them.
- If some shelves won't come out, leave them in until the ice melts some more.
- If you just let the freezer sit open without doing anything else, it will likely take 2-3 hours to defrost completely, depending on how thick the ice is.
- Scrape the worst of the ice out with a spatula to thin out the ice layer. If you have layers and layers of ice, it will melt faster if you scrape some of it out. Use the edge of a spatula to scrape the ice into a basin or bucket so it can melt away from the freezer.
- You can also use an ice scraper, but be careful as you could damage the lining of your freezer.
- Add a bowl of hot water to the freezer to easily speed up the process. Place the bowl in the bottom of the freezer. You can even add several bowls of water if you have room. Use boiling water if you can, but be careful not to burn yourself as you move the bowls.[6]
- The steam will help melt the ice. Change out the bowls as they get cold, every 5 minutes or so.
- Use a blow dryer to melt the ice faster. Set the dryer on the hottest setting and hold it about away from the ice. Blow it towards the ice layer in the freezer. This will speed up the process considerably but make sure to keep the cord and blow dryer well away from the water for safety's sake. Also, move the blow dryer over the ice constantly so you don't make any one area too hot.[7]
- Some vacuum cleaners will also do this. You have to attach the hose to the exhaust, and it will blow out hot air. Use the hot air from the hose to melt the ice.
- You could also try a steamer used for cleaning or taking wrinkles out of clothes. Set the steamer on high and move it over the ice.
- Continue to scrape out the ice as it melts. The pieces of ice will start to slide down the walls as it melts. Use the spatula to pull them out into a bucket or basin so the freezer can melt faster.
- Also, mop up any water from the ice with a dry towel.
[Edit]Returning the Freezer to Working Order - Wash any shelves and drawers in a sink full of soapy water once they warm up. Fill the sink with warm water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid. Once these parts come to room temperature, drop them in the water to soak.
- After they've soaked for a few minutes, scrub them down with a dishcloth in the warm, soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water and shake off any excess water you can.
- You should wait for them to come to room temperature because glass shelves could crack if you move them from a freezing environment to a warm one too quickly.
- Wipe the inside of the freezer down with baking soda and water once the ice is gone. Add 1 tablespoon (18 g) of baking soda to of water. Dip a rag in the water and wring it out. Use the rag to wipe down the interior of the freezer, including the walls, the door/lid, and the bottom of the freezer.[8]
- The baking soda will help clean and deodorize the freezer.
- Dry the removable parts and the inside of the freezer with a towel. Get up as much excess moisture in the freezer as you can with a fresh, dry towel. Wipe down the shelves and drawers, too, using a new towel as needed.
- Let the freezer air dry for 10-15 minutes. Leave the door open and walk away for a little while. When you come back, the freezer and shelves should be completely moisture-free.
- Any moisture left in the freezer will just turn back into frost.
- Put everything back in the freezer and turn it back on. Slide the shelves and drawers back into place if you have them. Turn the freezer back on or plug it back in if you need to. Place any food you saved on the shelves and in the drawers.
- Throw out any food that you think might have thawed and reached an unsafe temperature, particularly foods like fish.
- Ice build-up can be a sign your freezer isn't working properly. If ice frequently builds up in your freezer, have a technician take a look at it.[9]
- Put a desk fan on a chair or other suitable stand and set it to full power to blow warm air into the freezer.
- A wet/dry shop vacuum works well to speed up the removal of both water and ice.
- To avoid another ice buildup in your freezer, dip a paper towel in some vegetable oil or glycerin (found at most drugstores) and lightly coat the inside of your freezer with it. This will slow the buildup of ice in your freezer, and it won't be as hard to remove.
[Edit]Warnings - When using a hairdryer, keep the plug and hairdryer well away from any water.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Old towels
- Baking sheet
- Basins or buckets
- Hot water
- Dishcloths
- Dishwashing soap
- Baking soda
- Spatula, optional
- Hair dryer or vacuum cleaner, optional
- Cooler, optional
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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