How to Remove

Every order includes an application kit, which includes a sample of our exclusive scent of Press Off Removal Serum by Color Me Carole. You can purchase a full-size bottle and/or refillable remover pen at any time!

Create a Gap

Step One

If you don't already have natural lifting around the seal of your nail, you can take the cuticle stick and gently (very gently!) create a gap by prying up the press-on. Try to find spots where the adhesive has already loosened up.

Tip: If you soak your nails in warm water with either gentle dish soap or cuticle oil, it can soften the tips enough to help create the gap

Apply Removal Serum

Step Two

Underneath the gap, apply sparing drops of the Press Off serum. A little bit goes a long way, and especially if you have a set that has isolated chrome or matte top coat, lesser is better!

Let these drops sit and do their thing for five minutes. Afterwards, take the cuticle stick and gently pry up in the same spot. You should feel more give than before.

If you're using a more viscous air-dry glue like SOFbond™, this will take longer than five minutes and may require multiple rounds of serum application. Because the glue is thicker and fills the gaps between your press-ons and your natural nails, it takes more removal serum to dissolve the glue.

Pro Tip: If you used a lot of glue, you may need to pause after initially trying to create a gap - take a hot shower, wash your hair, do some dishes. Then try again another day with more removal serum. The Alda SOFBond especially requires extra care when removing due to the viscosity.

Pop Them Off!

Step Three

Remember that it is very important that you don't force the press-ons off. This will damage your natural nails and potentially your press-ons as well, and we don't want that! The most important thing is to be patient 🫶🏻

Multiple rounds of serum application may be required. Removal can often be sped up by using the pen instead of the dropper bottle, due to the pen tip allowing you to get into the center of your nail plate, underneath the press ons.

Clean & Reuse

Step Four

Your press-ons are reusable!

If you've applied using glue, there's a few ways you can remove the residue:

E-File

  • If you are comfortable using an e-file, you can use a smaller mandrel and sanding band to remove the residue from the underside of your press-ons. This is the fastest way to clean up your press-ons. I highly recommend Color Me Carole's tools for this!
  • This is the e-file I use to prep and clean press ons. You don't need anything particularly fancy!

Soap & Water

  • If you don't own an e-file, you can soak the press-ons in warm water and soap. After a good bath, you can take a nail brush and scrub off the residue; feel free to use the cuticle stick to help pick off the adhesive if there are stubborn chunks

Acetone

  • As a last resort, you can take a brush and a tiny amount of acetone to scrub away the residue. Be very careful with this as too much acetone will eat away at your press-ons.

We also offer a Revival Service, where you can mail us back your press ons and we'll clean up and/or refresh the top coat for you!

The Coffin image 1

Store for next time

Step Five

Once your press-ons are nice and clean, they are ready to be stored in the provided display box that came with your order!

Video: How to Remove

FAQ

I've applied so much removal serum and they're still not coming off!

If you've used a lot of glue, or have especially sculpted nail beds that make it difficult for the serum to spread across your natural nail, removal can take over an hour or more - especially if you don't have a gap.

Don't get frustrated and force the tips off! This will cause damage to your natural nail and we never want that.

We'd recommend trying to get serum up and under the press ons by creating a gap. Then, after a few rounds of serum application, take a break!

Live your life and wash some dishes, take a shower and wash your hair - even better, take a bath and let that water do its thing. Then, try more removal serum. The gap should be enough to pop them right off!

The removal serum ruined my matte/chrome nails :(

Matte and chrome nails are naturally more at-risk of wearing down - especially if your lifestyle requires using the tips of your nails and/or exposure to harsh chemicals, like cleaning solutions.

While Press Off is gentle enough to usually not eat away at top coats, it can happen with matte or chrome nails if you apply too much and/or let it sit on the surface of your nails for too long.

We recommend using the Press Off Removal pen, since the tip can get up and under the press-ons instead of dispensing liquid over them like the dropper bottle. You can also gently wipe the top surface of your nails on a paper towel or soft towel during removal, that way the serum isn't sitting on top of your top coat for too long.

We do offer a Revival Service where you can mail in your old sets and we can refinish them for you ~ If they're too far gone, however, it may be time for a fresh set of claws!

What's in the serum? I have sensitive skin and have concerns

Great question - I have sensitive skin, too, and totally understand the concern.

Press Off Removal Serum is formulated by Color Me Carole here in the USA, and contains linalool, limonene, cyclic propylene carbonate, and essential oils for scent.

'Blood Moon', our exclusive scent, contains blood orange, birch, and wintermint scent derivatives. If you need a full ingredients list due to sensitivities, please contact us and we can provide that.