14/11/2011
Acetone versus Acetone-free!
Q: Are acetone-free nail polish removers really more gentle on nails than the acetone based ones?
A: Acetone free nail polish removers are just as drying as those that use acetone. In essence, if a nail polish remover can cut through polish, it can work away at the nail, too. The longer remover is on the nail the more drying it is to the nail plate.
Simple answers often create more questions. It is true that any solvent capable of removing nail enamel will also remove oils and moisture from the surface of the nail plate. But is this "drying"? That depends entirely on your definition of "drying". Removing surface oils and moisture on normal, healthy nails is not a problem. We do it every time we wash and dry our hands. Problems arise when this is done to an extreme. If I washed my hands dozens of times every day, after a while... I'm gonna have a problem. I over did it!
The same can happen when we over do anything. If we remove and reapply our nail polish too often, that can cause the natural nail plate to become damaged and look "dried out". This will happen with any type of nail polish remover. Remember non acetone polish removers are NOT better or safer for the natural nail, as they are often promoted. I prefer acetone, myself. It is an extremely safe solvent. In fact, it is one of the safest solvents nail techs can use.
My daughter has worked in laboratories and chemical production areas and like many chemists, she has washed her hands in acetone THOUSANDS of times, and she has never observed acetone (or any other solvents) "eating" her nails. It just doesn't happen!! Nail damage is caused by overfilling, buffing or by impatiently tearing off nail enhancements -- not by solvents.
However, it is true that both acetone and the common acetone substitutes (such as ethyl acetate, also known as non-acetone), are very DRYING to the nails and skin. To avoid this drying effect, both acetone and non-acetone removers ought to have some moisturizing ingredients added.
Remember non-acetone removers were developed for artificial enhancements not for the natural nail!! When using acetone based removers on the natural nail the polish is removed FAR quicker than non-acetone removers and thus the former is better for the natural nail. Don’t use remover more than once a week!
