What is Nail Polish Remover?
A nail polish remover is an organic solvent that is used to remove previously applied nail polish from nails. There are many different types of nail polish removers in the market and different brands may have different chemical compositions. The principle ingredients in most, however, are acetone, ethyl acetate or butyl acetate and alcohol.
These chemicals are known to dehydrate the skin, cause irritation to eyes and make nails dry and brittle. They also have a distinct chemical smell and are highly flammable. To counter the dehydration and brittleness effects, many removers also contain conditioning ingredients like castor oil, cetyl palmitate or lanolin.
Some removers may have an acetone-free label. This indicates an absence of acetone, but does not necessarily amount to a product without side effects, so screen the ingredients list carefully. Instead of acetone, the nail polish remover may contain the more toxic methanol. Consumers wishing for safer and less-toxic types of nail polish removers can opt for water-based products.
Nail polish remover is also available as individual felt pads saturated with remover, in foam and remover containers and in bottled liquid form. The saturated pads are pressed on to the nail to remove the polish. A foam and removal container has a hole through which fingers are dipped into the foam inside to remove the polish.
With liquid removers, the remover is taken on a cotton ball or tissue and wiped over the nail to strip away the fingernail polish on it. Depending on the type of fingernail polish, the number of applied coats and the type of remover, one application may suffice for removal or several applications may be necessary.
To understand how nail polish remover works, it is necessary to know that a fingernail polish remover and a fingernail polish both contain similar organic solvents; the nail polish also contains drying agents, thickeners, hardening agents and coloring agents. The organic solvent in a nail polish is what keeps it in a liquid state. The organic solvent in a nail polish remover is what dissolves the hardened polish and returns it back into its liquid form.
When the nail polish remover is applied to the nail polish that is to be removed, the solvent molecules of the remover interrupt, loosen and break the polymer chains of the polish. This dissolves the hardened polish and transforms it back into its original liquid form. It can then be wiped off from the nail.
Written by Sonal Panse
