How to Remove Gel Polish Without Going Into the Salon
There are no two ways to this: Gel nail polish is simply amazing. To be able to leave the salon with dry nails, you don’t have to worry about accidental smudges, dents, or raised condition as the polish hardens and then takes on a color strong enough to withstand multiple showers, countless dishes, baby baths, and still look decent. three weeks later is a wonderful relief for people who don’t have time to go to the salon every week.
But the removal of the said miraculous varnish – well, that’s another story. While it is tempting to strip it all off with your teeth or the nearest coin during one boring Zoom meeting, this method is not recommended as it can trap the layers of your nail bed and lead to cracking. So what’s the best way to do this at home?
What you need to remove gel polish from nails
The fastest and most effective way to remove gel is to use a nail polish remover with 100% acetone (this is different from regular nail polish remover, which is 90% acetone and 10% water). But you will need a few more supplies. Collect a nail file, cotton balls, aluminum foil or plastic wrap, an orange stick, and some kind of moisturizer ( cuticle oil or thick hand cream). You will also want to protect your surface with plastic wrap and / or a towel, as acetone can damage furniture and countertops.
Sand and protect every nail
For all methods, start by carefully buffing each nail with a file to remove the top shiny coat. Apply a generous amount to each cuticle and surrounding skin for protection (if you don’t have one, petroleum jelly will also work). Then decide on your method of choice.
Renal method
To do this, first pull out ten nail-sized pieces of cotton pad and cut ten strips of aluminum foil or plastic wrap that wrap completely around each finger. While aluminum foil does the job, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using plastic wrap because “plastic creates a tighter fit than foil, so acetone is less likely to drain.” The AAD also notes the importance of cotton balls no larger than the surface of each nail (most nails require half a cotton ball, pinky about a quarter ball) so that they do not cover the surrounding skin, which can lead to irritation. …
Then soak each cotton swab in acetone. Cover each nail with a piece of cotton and cover with small strips of aluminum foil or plastic wrap for a snug fit. Remove after ten minutes. The remaining varnish should flake off and be easily removed with an orange stick or warm cloth.
Steamer soaking method
Alternatively, place a bowl of acetone over a bowl of hot or nearly boiling water and soak for 10 minutes. This saves you the hassle of wrapping around each nail, but it will keep you stationary as you will need to keep your hand in balance like a perfect eagle claw, with bent fingers and nails pointing straight down.
This method may require more remover, and it definitely brings more acetone into contact with your skin. Plus, it can feel a little unpleasantly hot and smelling halfway through. The tops of my fingers felt like they were being dipped in Krazy Glue after ten minutes and the acetone was not focused enough to work (my immersion skills obviously left a lot to be desired).
Natural method
Acetone is tough and can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and white, so we tried the natural method. EverAfterGuide says it ‘s enough to soak your nails in a bowl of warm water, dish soap and a teaspoon of salt. They recommend soaking for 20 minutes. Well, we didn’t have 20 minutes, we had 10, after which the varnish hardly moved. Would it be if we left him for the entire proposed time? Perhaps, but we prefer the faster nail-by-nail acetone technique.
With either method, some gel base may remain. According to nail technician and salon owner Henry Fam of NailsFAQ , “Adding cuticle oil or vegetable oil to your nails will loosen the small remaining patches of the gel base so you can push them off more easily.” And don’t forget to moisturize because your nails just went through this.