Nail polish sparkled on my fingers and toes for many years. And where’s there’s nail polish there’s a need for nail polish remover. When I was working as an attorney I allowed myself a weekly escape from the office for an hour or so for some needed pampering-a manicure was generally the pampering of choice. Looking back at those weekly appointments it’s hard to forget the smell of that nail salon. The fumes literally took my breath away each time I walked in. I also remember the salon employees wearing surgical masks as they removed the old polish and applied the new. In hindsight that probably should have been a red flag, but I never really gave it much thought.
Once I started a family I stopped wearing nail polish altogether. I was a new mom of three and barely had time to comb my hair, let alone apply nail polish. A few years have passed and now I’m enjoying wearing nail polish again-mostly on my toes. However I like to think I’m a bit wiser and now pay closer attention to what goes on my little piggies. I’ve discovered that not all nail polish removers are created equal.
The good news
Most major nail polish companies no longer use the “toxic trio”, toluene, formaldehyde or phthalates, which have been linked to asthma, cancer and reproductive problems. Thankfully there are also safer alternatives to conventional nail polish. I made the switch to non-toxic nail polish and nail polish remover. I now bring my own when I go for a mani-pedi
What about nail polish remover?
When the time comes to take off the polish, either at home or in the salon, the smell of conventional nail polish remover can knock your socks off-and not in a good way.
Many polish removers and artificial nail products contain a host of toxic chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, reproductive harm, asthma and other negative health effects. Many conventional nail polish removers use acetone and other chemical liquid solvents (ethyl acetate or butyl acetate, and alcohol) to dissolve your polish. Acetone is a clear, strong-smelling and highly flammable liquid solvent. This stuff is so strong that it can even disintegrate plastic and other solid materials. Hearing “liquid solvent” is enough to make me run the other way. Should we be putting this stuff on our bodies? I think not.
A safer option to acetone in nail polish remover
If you’re in the market for a safe nail polish remover use these tips to help:
- Don’t use nail polish remover that contains acetone.
- Exposure to high levels of acetone can cause death, coma, unconsciousness, seizures, and respiratory distress. It can damage your kidneys and the skin in your mouth. Breathing moderate-to-high levels of acetone for short periods of time can cause nose, throat, lung, and eye irritation. It can also cause intoxication, headaches, fatigue, stupor, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, increased pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, and shortening of the menstrual cycle in women.
- If your nail polish remover doesn’t contain acetone read the label and make sure the other ingredients are safe. Generally non-acetone removers usually contain ethyl acetate. Made from ethanol and acetic acid, ethyl acetate is colorless and also flammable. Not a great alternative.
- Find a nail polish remover that’s water based, not solvent based.
- BYOP-bring your own polish and nail polish remover to the salon.
A few safe nail polish removers options
- Hopscotch Kids Soy Nail Polish Remover
- Acquarella Nail Polish Remover
- Soy Nail Polish Remover by Priti
- No Miss Almost Natural Vegan Polish Remover
Remember: Traditional nail polish removers take the polish right off. Be prepared with a water- based nail polish remover to spend a bit more time and a lot more muscle to dissolve the polish. It’s worth it.
Do you wear nail polish and use nail polish remover? What brands are your favorite?
photo credit: Joe Mud via photopin cc
I love Scotch Naturals! At first I didn’t, but then I discovered the trick is to use their base coat and top coat and then it lasts a long time without chipping. And soy nail polish remover is amazing stuff–instead of drying out my nails after using it, it leaves them moisturized.
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Did this post come alive because of the glue on your hands? 🙂 🙂
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Thanks for this information, Lori! When I first started worrying about the ingredients in polish and polish remover, I stopped using them cold turkey, then never got around to doing the research and finding safer alternatives. Now I know what to look out for!
What kind of reaction do you get when you bring your own products to the salon? Has anyone ever been reluctant to use what you brought rather than their own products?
I often bring my own polish and supplies. I have never found anyone to be offended. I don’t make a big deal of it, just hand them my polish bottles and enjoy my pedicure. Try it! Thanks Lori for the polish remover post! (Oh, and my favorite is Butter London).
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I’ll have to check out Butter London Lisa. Thanks!
Thanks for the great info!! I’ve been using a non acetone one that has Methyl Acetate, you mentioned Ethyl Acetate, same thing??
Good question Jaqueline. I wasn’t sure so I looked up if they are the same and here’s what I found: “Methyl acetate is occasionally used as a solvent, being weakly polar and lipophilic, but its close relative ethyl acetate is a more common solvent being less toxic and less soluble in water.” Hope that helps!