Nail Glue Harmful?

[Lydia]

Hi all,

I'm considering getting a set of artificial, glue-on, nails. I was bothered by the fact that all the glues used are cyanoacrylates (crazy glue). That is pretty powerful stuff and, in my case, the nail application would be temporary - not much longer than a day or two.
Question 1: How easy or difficult is it to remove such nails?
Question 2: When removed, is there a glue residue left behind?
Question 3: Does nail polish remover (acetone) remove the glue residue?

My real nails are sturdy and healthy, and I don't want to do anything to disfigure them.

I am sure there are sisters out there with experienced in such things, and I'd appreciate any advice.

Hugs,
Lydia

[Karren Hutton]

Well... I don't think the glue is that harmful... Once it sets it shouldn't bleed into the your system.. Now taking them off you have to soak in acetone for a long time to basically eat the fake nails away.. I don't like using something that toxic for that long personally. And the glue never seems to come off completely so I have to scrap the remanants off with a tool.. I perfer either growing my own nails, or stickon nails if its just a short time.. Glue on nails is at the bottom of the list... For me..

I have been playing with doing my own acrylic nails and they are impressive.. I can make them look like real nails and wear them plain and paint them when I want.. Still in the experimenting stage..

[Lydia]

When I said "harmful" I was concerned about the physical effects on the nails when you try to remove the glue. I am looking for something really temporary, lasting a day or a few hours
I googled "stick-on nails" and got a bunch of possibles. It looks like I shall take a walk through CVS or Walgreens and see what they have. Thanks, Karren.

Hugs,
Lydia

[Karren Hutton]

The glue on ones don't do any physical damage they are just a pain and not quick.. I supposed if I soaked longer they would come off more cleanly? I use the First Kiss stick on nails. Product number ending in an 02 has the bigger thumb nails btw. And I use spray enamel paint to paint them doing the whole box right in the trays.. 3 or 4 coats.. Then its just stick on an go.

[Michelle Miller]

Question 1: How easy or difficult is it to remove such nails?

If I want them to stay on for an extended period, I rough up the surface of my nails with a 250-500 grit file, to roughen the surface, and give the glue more surface area to stick to. They don't come off unless I want them off. For a more temporary application, buff your nails out to as smooth as you can get them, they'll still stick, but if you have to pop them off in a hurry, they will come off, but for day to day tasks, such as typing, general around the house-ness, and out and about stuff they'll stick. I wouldn't plan on doing anything that really abused your fingertips though, such as making that blackboard screeching noise across an 8 foot blackboard though.

Question 2: When removed, is there a glue residue left behind?

Good quality, hobby grade cyanoacrylate glue comes cleanly off with an acetone based polish remover, or straight acetone. I keep a nylon bristle toothbrush in my nail care kit, for those stubborn bits that work their way to the sides of the natural nails, but 99% of the time, a cloth and acetone polish/straight acetone will get rid of any residue.

Question 3: Does nail polish remover (acetone) remove the glue residue

See question two's answer.

Personally, I use 'hobby grade' CA, I buy mine online from Tower Hobbies, and I get the medium weight stuff, Tower Hobbies' "Build It". It dries quickly, and isn't runny like most CA sold as specifically 'nail glue' in stores, and at the same time, it's not so thick that you have to spread it on like drywall paste either. It will also last you until the second coming, a couple two ounce bottles are about 8 bucks. Keep it somewhere dry and out of extreme temperatures, and you won't buy glue again for a good while.

[Elizabeth]

Hi Lydia,

About 25 years ago I was working and put a nice slice across the knuckle of my first finger. I immediately pressed the slice back together and sent my apprentice to my car to get the super glue out of my glove box. I had him put a bead of glue right down the slice line then I quickly opened and closed the cut to allow just a small amount of the glue into the cut.

Within a minute it was as if I had never been cut. No pain, no bleeding and by the time the super glue wore off, the cut had healed so perfectly that it didn't even leave a scar. My apprentice and well everyone else I told was worried that I might be poisoning myself with super glue in my blood stream.

Then about a year ago I was watching one of those emergency room shows and they were closing cuts with super glue instead of stitches. Of course I took credit for the idea and pointed out that I was right, it was not harmful.

So knowing that and knowing that every nail salon on the planet uses super glue to hold nails on, tells me it's pretty safe. But of course that comes with my usual disclaimer. I am not a doctor nor do I have a degree in chemical engineering and I am certainly not guaranteeing it's safe. Nor am I recommending anyone do it. Just telling everyone my experience.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[Anne]

I had one of those clean slices on my hand. I went to the urgent care and they used medical grade "super glue" with good results. So I don't think that use is toxic in minor quantities if the medical profession has vetted it.

Now nails, I would not know. Nails can be sensitive.

[Carol Ann]

Hay Lydia,
I find if you use just a drop of glue they will come off easy but you have to be carefull as they will also pop off real easy. I find painting mine a lot easyer and a cotten ball with a little acetone takes it off real quick.

[JoAnnDallas]

Some years ago, I went ahead and got acrylic nails. They now normally stick out about 1/8 inch past my tips. Any time some one has mention them, it has been positive reaction. I also keep 2 coats of Light Pink Polish on them. Mostly no one seems to notice them anyway. LOL So forget the stick ons. Go down and get a acrylic set and then have fun with them.

[SallyWise]

I use an old toothbrush and paper towels to rub the glue off and it works fairly well. Glue on nails is not a 1/2 hour dress up thing...go for the stick on type or just polish. I sliced my hand on some tin the other day and used crazy glue, but wouldn't hold the cut open, just on he skin since enough will seep in to seal the cut. I think you want some blood in the wound to promote healing.