A celebrity nail artist wants you to stop doing this ONE common thing to your nails

Think of any wild celebrity nail art and Britney Tokyo is probably behind it. The LA-based nail artist has created works of zany nail art for everyone from Kim Kardashian to Rita Ora to Kylie Jenner, so she knows a thing or two about flashy finger looks.

However, all of that nail art can do a number on your nails. So Britney also knows plenty about how to keep your nails healthy and strong — which is exactly why she’s warning us all to stop wreaking havoc on our nails by doing one common thing.

Speaking with Racked, Britney explained that it’s extremely important to remove any nail art safely. “I never want anyone to peel off their gel or acrylic nails!” she said.

Sure, it may be ultra tempting to just rip it off in the shower when it’s starting to look stale, but this seemingly innocent act can totally damage your nails, she explained. “By peeling off, the original nails can get severely damaged, and very thin,” she told Racked. “Having nails done are not bad for your nails, but incorrectly removing them can lead to damage.”

So what’s a gal to do? How do you correctly remove gel nail polish or acrylics? “Please always remove by soaking into nail removal acetone,” she said, adding that you should never, ever bite your nails.

You heard Britney! Before you go to town on your nails, be kind to them, ladies, and invest in some acetone, stat.