Take off acrylics at home with an acetone soak instead of prying, so your natural nails stay intact.
Trim the extended tips down with nail clippers so there is less material to dissolve. Less acrylic means a shorter soak.
Use a coarse 100/180-grit file to remove the shiny surface and thin the acrylic. Stop when you see dust turning fine and even — you want to break the seal, not reach the natural nail.
Pour 100 percent acetone into a glass bowl and submerge your fingertips, or use acetone-soaked cotton balls wrapped in foil on each nail. Coat the surrounding skin with petroleum jelly first to limit drying.
When the acrylic looks gluey, gently push it off with a wooden cuticle stick, working from the cuticle toward the tip. If a spot will not budge, soak 5 more minutes — never pry acrylic off dry, which rips the nail plate.
Smooth any leftover residue with a soft buffer, wash your hands, and massage in cuticle oil. If your nails are painful or badly thinned, let a salon or dermatologist look before applying a new set.