Nail polish is designed to stick to nails for days without chipping. But removing it can be a chore when you don’t have nail polish remover on hand. This leads some people to try unconventional methods like using toothpaste. But is toothpaste actually effective at removing nail polish?
Read on to learn the science behind what makes nail polish adhere so stubbornly, whether toothpaste can break down those bonds, and tips for the safest DIY removal.
How Nail Polish Bonds to Nails
To understand if toothpaste can remove nail polish, you first need to understand what makes it bond so tightly to your nails in the first place.
Nail polish contains:
- Nitrocellulose – The main film-forming polymer that creates a flexible, durable coating
- Resin – Ingredients like toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resin help polish adhere
- Pigments – Colored particles that provide shade to polish
- Solvents – Such as butyl acetate allow polish to apply smoothly
The nitrocellulose polymers combine with resin to form an extremely tough cross-linked bond with the keratin proteins in your nails. This allows the manicure to resist chipping and peeling for 4-7 days at a time.
To break down this robust bond, you need a strong solvent that can dissolve the nail polish components. Acetone is the most common chemical used in traditional nail polish removers for this task.
Now let’s explore if toothpaste contains any ingredients capable of breaking down nail polish.
Active Ingredients in Toothpaste
Toothpaste contains a mix of abrasives, detergents, solvents, and fluoride:
- Abrasives – Ingredients like silica scrub stains off teeth
- Detergents/Surfactants – Such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) help generate foam
- Solvents – Glycerin and polyethylene glycol can dissolve some compounds
- Fluoride – Protects against cavities and whitens teeth
The abrasives provide mechanical scrubbing action, while solvents chemically dissolve compounds. Do these mechanisms apply to removing nail polish?
Putting Toothpaste to the Test
Here are the steps to attempt removing nail polish with toothpaste:
- Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste directly on each painted nail.
- Let sit for 2-3 minutes so solvents and surfactants can work.
- Use a toothbrush or nail brush to scrub each nail in a circular motion with light pressure.
- Once polish begins flaking off, rinse nail with water while scrubbing to remove.
- Repeat steps until all traces of polish are gone. This may take several rounds.
- Wash hands with soap and water to remove toothpaste residue.
The mild abrasives combined with scrubbing grind away at the nail polish layers. The solvents like glycerin also slowly soften the polish bonds over time.
However, toothpaste solvents are far weaker than pure acetone. Removing polish with toothpaste takes much longer compared to commercial removers.
Toothpaste Performance Depends on These Factors
How well toothpaste works depends on:
- Nail polish color – Sheer, light colors are easiest to remove. Darker pigmented polishes prove more stubborn.
- Manicure duration – Freshly painted nails allow for easier removal vs. polish that has cured for a week.
- Number of coats – Multiple layers create a tougher barrier to break down.
- Nail condition – Rough, textured nails give polish more adhesion power than smooth, healthy nails.
- Toothpaste type – Whitening toothpastes tend to contain more abrasives for extra scrubbing capability.
While toothpaste can eventually remove any nail polish with repeated effort, it works best on light colors and new manicures. Using it on long-wear dark polishes will test your patience.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Using Toothpaste
Before relying solely on toothpaste for all your nail polish removals, consider these pros and cons:
Pros
- Readily available in most household bathrooms
- Less harsh on nails than acetone-based removers
- Strengthens nails more than remover thanks to calcium
- Cost-effective compared to commercial removers
Cons
- Very time consuming and labor intensive
- Can dry out and irritate skin around nails
- May slightly stain nails yellow
- Leaves a sticky residue requiring thorough rinse
- Not very effective at removing dark/glitter polish
Tips for Safely Using Toothpaste on Nails
Follow these tips for the safest DIY removal:
- Use white non-gel toothpaste for extra scrubbing power
- Apply a thick layer on each nail and let sit for 5+ minutes
- Scrub with an old toothbrush, applying firm pressure
- Repeat process until all traces of polish are gone
- Avoid getting toothpaste on your skin or cuticles
- Rinse thoroughly and wash hands with soap after
- Buff nails gently after to remove any staining
With diligence and patience, you can remove nail polish in a pinch with items from your medicine cabinet.
When You Should Avoid Toothpaste
There are certain situations when toothpaste is not recommended:
- If you have sensitive nails or conditions like brittle nails
- Right before reapplying polish (residue can cause poor adherence)
- With broken skin or hangnails around your cuticles
- If you wear acrylics or gel polish (won’t effectively remove these enhancements)
- If you’re short on removal time
The gritty texture of toothpaste could further exacerbate fragile nails. And leftover residue will interfere with freshly painted polish laying smoothly across your nails.
Exploring Other Household Nail Polish Removers
If toothpaste doesn’t seem like the right solution, consider these other household alternatives:
- Acetone nail polish remover – The most effective option but very drying
- Non-acetone remover – Uses plant oils and takes more rubbing but is gentle
- Pure acetone – Found at hardware stores and removes polish quickly
- Rubbing alcohol – Can break down polish bonds with enough scrubbing
- Cooking oil – Helps soften polish so it can be rubbed away
- Petroleum jelly – Creates a protective layer so polish slides off easier
- Dental floss – Helps lift polish from the edges of your nail after softening
No matter what homemade remover you test out, always do a patch test on one nail first to ensure it doesn’t cause damage or irritation. Start gently then increase pressure as needed.
Step-by-Step Guide for Removing Polish with Toothpaste
Follow these steps for smooth removal using items from your bathroom:
Supplies Needed
- White non-gel toothpaste
- Toothbrush or nail brush
- Bowl of warm water
- Nail file
- Cuticle stick
- Nail oil or moisturizer
Removal Directions
- File nails to remove shine so toothpaste adheres better. Push back cuticles if desired.
- Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto each nail. Spread over entire nail.
- Let toothpaste sit for 5 minutes minimum to allow solvents time to work.
- Dip toothbrush in warm water then scrub each nail in a circular motion with moderate pressure.
- Once polish begins flaking off, rinse nail with water while scrubbing to remove.
- Check for any leftover traces of polish near cuticles or underside of nail.
- Repeat steps 2-6 until all nails are completely polish-free. May take a few rounds.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and wash hands with soap to remove all toothpaste.
- Pat nails dry. Apply nail strengthener or moisturizer to condition after scrubbing.
With some perseverance, toothpaste can tackle nail polish removal without the use of harsh acetone. Just be sure to moisturize after to avoid dryness.
FAQs About Using Toothpaste on Nails
Can I remove gel manicures or acrylics with toothpaste?
No, toothpaste will not effectively or safely remove gel polish or acrylics/dip powders. These require soaking in pure acetone to fully dissolve the polymers. Attempting removal with toothpaste can damage your natural nails beneath enhancements.
Does toothpaste work better on certain nail polish colors?
Yes, lighter sheer polishes are easiest to remove with toothpaste. Opaque dark colors and glitter polishes prove much more stubborn to completely remove using just toothpaste. You’ll need to repeat the process many times.
Is it safe to use toothpaste on natural nails?
Using toothpaste occasionally won’t damage nails as long as you rinse thoroughly after. But overuse can cause dryness long-term. Always moisturize nails after removing polish with toothpaste.
Can I reuse an old toothbrush for nail polish removal?
Yes, a used toothbrush is the perfect nail scrubbing tool when using toothpaste. Just be sure to label it so you don’t accidentally use it in your mouth again later.
What kind of toothpaste works best?
Aim for a white non-gel toothpaste with higher abrasive content like baking soda or silica. Whitening toothpastes also tend to work better than standard ones. Avoid gel toothpastes.
Why does toothpaste work to remove nail polish?
The combination of abrasives and solvents in toothpaste slowly break down the nail polish bonds over time with vigorous scrubbing. It’s not as quick or effective as acetone, but can work in a pinch.
Conclusion
While using toothpaste to remove nail polish is possible, it requires much more time and elbow grease compared to commercial nail polish removers containing acetone. The mild abrasives gradually grind away the polish layers while solvents like glycerin slowly soften the bonds over several minutes. Light, sheer polishes on freshly painted nails come off the easiest. Darker polishes usually require multiple applications and lots of patience.
Always moisturize nails after removing polish with toothpaste to avoid dryness and damage. For quicker, more effective removal, use an acetone-based nail polish remover. But for an improvised polish removal in a pinch without harsh chemicals, toothpaste can get the job done even if it tests your perseverance.
