Blog Post

Safely Remove Your Gel Polish at Home

proadAccountId-312305 • Feb 24, 2021

If you're currently avoiding the salon but still need to remove your gel manicure, it's important to learn how to do it properly.

It goes without saying that once your gel manicure starts to grow out, it starts to look messy and unappealing. In addition, letting your gel polish grow out too far can actually strain your nails, affecting their health. The imbalanced weight and potentially lifted edges can cause your nails to become frail and damaged. Your best bet is to totally remove your gel polish once it starts to grow out.

 

With a couple key tools, the right process, and a bit of extra care, you can safely and simply strip away your gel nail polish! Keep in mind, the DIY gel nail removal process does require a bit of patience in order to restore your nails in a healthy way.

 

Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary tools to get the job done. You will need:

 

  • A Nail File
  • Nail Polish Remover or Acetone
  • Cotton Balls
  • Tin Foil
  • Cuticle Serum
  • Moisturizing Hand Lotion
  • Wooden Cuticle Stick (optional)

 

To remove your gel polish, follow these steps:

 

  1. File Them Down - No need to overthink it; file your nails the same way they would at a salon. Using a fresh nail file, loosen up the top layer of your gel nail polish. Scratching the surface with a coarse nail file will help the acetone penetrate quickly and effectively.
  2. Soak Them Off - Place an acetone-soaked cotton ball on each of your nails, then wrap the tip of your finger with a small piece of tin foil. The foil will help to hold the cotton ball in place so the acetone can do its job. Leave your nails wrapped for approximately 15 minutes or longer, until the polish begins to slide off.
  3. Gently Remove Them - Using the cotton ball, your nail file, or a wooden cuticle stick, gently slide the gel polish off your nails. If this portion feels like a chore, use a cotton ball to soak your nails for a bit longer.
  4. Wash Up & Moisturize - Acetone can quickly dry out your skin and cuticles. After you’ve removed your gel polish, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to remove any traces of acetone.

 

A couple tips to keep in mind:

 

  • Remove your gel polish on one hand at a time. It will be easier to apply the cotton ball and tin foil, and you will have a free hand to use while you wait!
  • Check your local beauty supply store for gel polish removal sets! Many times, they will include all the products you may need to remove your polish.
  • Consider browsing a couple videos online to actually see the process done. Different videos could include different tricks or tips that you may find helpful.

 

Have further questions? Feel free to contact the Texas College of Cosmetology today! We will do our best to troubleshoot any problems you may be having or we can schedule you for an appointment with an aspiring nail tech.

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