How to Get Hair Dye Off Acrylic Nails

Having beautifully done acrylic nails can make you feel pampered and stylish. But when your fresh manicure gets stained by hair dye, it can quickly go from fabulous to frustrating. Don’t despair! Removing hair dye from acrylic nails is possible with some tried and true techniques.

What Causes Hair Dye Stains on Acrylic Nails?

When you get your hair colored, droplets of dye can splatter onto your skin and nails. Acrylic nails are porous, so the dye soaks in and leaves a stubborn stain. All artificial and natural nails are prone to staining from hair dye chemicals, including:

• Acrylic nails
• Gel nails
• Dip powder nails
• Regular nail polish
• Bare natural nails

Acrylic and gel polish tends to show stains more noticeably because of their light opacity. Darker polish colors can also get stained over time as the dye penetrates the layers.

How to Remove Hair Dye from Acrylic Nails

Don’t lose hope if your nails get stained by hair dye! Here are some simple methods you can use at home to remove hair dye from acrylic nails:

File the Nails

Use a coarse nail file or buffer to gently rough up the stained surface of the acrylics. This helps lift and break down the pigment molecules. Avoid filing too aggressively, which could thin out the acrylic.

Finish by buffing to smooth and even out the nail. Then apply a fresh glossy top coat to seal and protect the acrylic.

Use Alcohol or Nail Polish Remover

Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Gently rub it over the stained areas of the acrylic nails to dissolve the hair dye pigment.

Rinse your hands with warm water when finished. The alcohol or acetone can dry out your nails and skin, so apply cuticle oil or moisturizing lotion after removing the stains.

Try Baby Oil

For fresh stains, baby oil can lift out hair dye effectively. Simply apply a liberal amount onto the stained nails and let it soak in for a few hours or overnight.

Then wash your hands with soap and water to rinse off the baby oil and dissolved dye. Finish up with a nail strengthener or hardening top coat.

Use Toothpaste

The abrasive particles in toothpaste can act as a gentle scrub to lift hair dye off acrylic nails. Dab a small amount of white toothpaste onto a soft toothbrush. Gently brush back and forth over the stained areas until the color fades.

Rinse with water and apply a protective topcoat. This works best on light stains.

DIY Bleach Paste

For stubborn hair dye stains, make a bleaching paste by mixing a small amount of bleach powder with a few drops of water or lemon juice. Apply the paste only on the stained parts of the nails with a cotton swab or toothpick.

Let it sit for 1-2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Finish by moisturizing the nails and cuticles. This is effective but can dry out the nails, so use sparingly.

Visit Your Nail Salon

If you’ve tried at-home methods without success, take your stained nails to your nail technician. They have professional strength stain removers and tools to gently buff off stubborn hair dye.

As a last resort, the nail tech may recommend removing the acrylic and starting fresh with a new set if the stains are very deep.

How to Prevent Hair Dye Stains on Acrylic Nails

While hair dye stains can’t always be prevented, you can take some precautions to avoid or minimize the chance of acrylic nails getting stained:

• Wear gloves during the hair coloring process. Opt for gloves that are long enough to cover your nails and palms.

• Apply petroleum jelly or cuticle oil on nails before coloring hair. This creates a protective barrier.

• Immediately wipe any hair dye splatters off the skin or nails. The quicker you act, the less likely it’ll leave a stubborn stain.

• Wash your hands and scrub nails with soap after you’re done coloring. Rinse thoroughly.

• Get a clear acrylic overlay or gel top coat applied at the salon. This helps protect the real nail underneath even if stains develop.

• Avoid light colored acrylic powders or polishes, which show stains more obviously. Go for a medium to dark shade.

• Apply a fresh top coat every few days to maintain a protective seal on the nails.

The Takeaway

Getting hair dye stains on your nicely done acrylic or gel nails can be upsetting. But don’t worry – you can tackle those stubborn stains at home with items you probably have on hand already – alcohol, baby oil, toothpaste, and more. Just be gentle and take your time removing the dye.

Be proactive by wearing gloves during hair coloring sessions to keep the chemicals off your hands. And get stains taken care of promptly for easier removal. With some patience and the right techniques, you can get those acrylics looking pristine again.