Yes, super glue is bad for your nails.
Using super glue to fix a broken nail or add fake nails is unsafe for your natural nail bed, skin, and cuticles.
We get it.
Super glue has become the go-to quick and easy fix for many needs.
But you should not use super glue to fix your natural or fake nails.
Keep reading to learn more about glues and nails.
Can You Use Super Glue For Fake Nails
You could use super glue for fake nails, but it isn’t recommended.
Super glue is a very strong adhesive. It isn’t designed to get in contact with your nails or skin, and if it does, it could be damaging.
Here is why you should not use super glue on your nails.
Most brands of Super Glue contain etching elements.
These elements are added into super glue to cause the surface it comes in contact with to roughen up.
The reason why the formula of super glue has this feature is that it creates a better adhesion.
The better the adhesion, the stronger the bond will be.
The stronger the bond, the more resilient and lasting it will be.
Super glue works best on rougher surfaces.
So if you add super glue to your nail, it will roughen up its surface, degrading the top layer of your nails, leaving them damaged and weak.
Super Glue is usually hard to remove.
Because super glue creates a very strong bond, removing it from your nails can be hard.
You can use household items, such as acetone or rubbing alcohol, to soak the adhesive in, but this usually can take a while. And in this process, you can cause a significant amount of dehydration to your nails.
If you don’t soak your nails long enough to loosen up the glue properly, you risk damaging your nails very badly.
Super glue is very concentrated. It is not made to be used on any part of your body.
If you apply super glue to your nails, you may risk more serious skin irritations or remove your natural nail.
What Glue Is Best For Nails
The only recommended type of glue for nails is nail glue.
Nail glue contains additives that make it safer and milder in comparison.
When you remove nail glue correctly, it won’t damage your nails or the surrounding skin.
Nail glue has a significantly lower cyanoacrylate concentration than super glue does; plus, it:
- Handles moisture better
- Prevents skin irritation if it accidentally comes in contact with the skin
- It is less brittle
- It is more flexible
How To Remove Nail Glue
Thankfully, many household items can help you remove nail glue (or super glue) more easily and efficiently.
So let’s dive into these methods to remove nail glue.
Method 1: Warm Water And Soap
Depending on the quantity and strength of the nail glue, you may be able to remove it using soap and water.
What you’ll need:
- Bowl
- Warm water
- Soap
- Hand lotion
Follow these steps:
- Warm up water (just enough that it feels comfortable for your skin and it isn’t burning it)
- Add the water into the bowl and mix soap into it
- Place your hand/ foot into the warm soapy water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes
- If the glue has dissolved enough so that you can easily rub it off without pulling it, then you can use your hands, a cotton swab, or a toothbrush to remove the nail glue from your skin
- Once the nail glue is off your nails, wash the area off with clean water and soap
- Apply a coat of hydrating nail polish to your nails
You may need to repeat these steps a few times until all the glue comes off.
Method 2: Acetone
To remove nail glue from your nails with acetone, you will need the following:
- Acetone (acetone-based nail polish remover)
- Cotton swabs (or cotton balls)
- Water and soap
- Hand lotion
It may take some time to get nail glue off your nails easily. Re-apply multiple times if necessary.
Follow these steps:
- Dab your cotton swab (or cotton ball) in acetone and saturate the nail glue with it
- Wait for about 20 minutes
- If the glue isn’t dissolving ye, re-apply acetone to it
- Once the nail glue starts to dissolve, wipe it off using a cotton ball or swab
- Wash your hands in soapy water to remove any glue residue
- Apply a coating of hydrating nail polish to your nails
We only recommend this method if there are no irritations, cuts, or open wounds on the skin in the surrounding area.
Method 3: Petroleum Jelly
Besides helping in softening the glue, petroleum jelly also provides moisturizing qualities.
You will need the following:
- Petroleum jelly
- Water
- Soap
- Cotton swab
Follow these steps:
- Get a good quantity of petroleum jelly onto the cotton swab
- With gentle and circular motions, apply the petroleum jelly to the glue
- Keep massaging it onto the nail glue until it softens and it can be easily removed
- Once the nail glue has been easily removed, wash your nails and hands with warm soapy water
You may need to re-apply petroleum jelly a few times until the nail glue softens. Be patient.
Method 4: Lemon Juice And Water
You need to mix 1:1 lemon juice and water in a bowl.
You need:
- Bowl
- Lemon juice
- Water
- Hand lotion
Follow these steps:
- Mix the same amount of lemon juice and water in a bowl
- You can soak your nails in this mixture or use a cotton swab or cotton ball
- Soak it with the lemon juice and water mixture, then apply it to the glue. Keep re-applying until the glue softens and comes off easily
- Once the glue is removed, wash the affected area with water and soap
If there is an open wound, cut, or irritation on the surrounding skin, lemon juice may sting the area of the skin where there are cuts or open wounds.
Method 5: Apple Cider Vinegar
This may be surprising as it isn’t a well-known method, but apple cider vinegar can help remove nail glue.
For this, you will need the following:
- Apple cider vinegar
- A cotton swab or cotton ball
- Water and soap
- Hand lotion
Follow these steps:
- Soak the cotton swab or cotton ball with apple cider vinegar
- Place it over the glue and let it soak it
- If the nail glue isn’t yet softening, keep re-applying until it is easily removed, without pulling it off.
- Once the nail glue is well loosened, wipe it down with the cotton ball
- When the nail glue is easily removed, wash the affected area with clean water and soap to ensure no residue is left behind
Method 6: Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a commonly used method to remove nail glue.
What you’ll need:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
- Toothbrush
- Water and soap
- Hand lotion
Follow these steps:
- Soak the cotton swab or cotton ball in the rubbing alcohol
- Hold the cotton swab/ ball on the glue and keep it there for a few minutes
- Re-apply if the nail glue isn’t yet loosening
- Use a cotton swab to remove the nail glue gently
- Wash the skin with clean water and soap to get rid of any glue residue
The process may take a while, but keep re-applying until the nail glue is soft enough or has broken down enough to remove it easily.
Conclusion
Super glue is bad for your nails.
If you need to fix your broken natural nail, or you want to add fake nails, use nail glue and not super glue.
Super glue can significantly damage your natural nails and the surrounding skin.
Plus, it can be difficult to remove it.
