Gel polish can last a long time and you can actually remove it yourself at home. There are two ways to remove this gel polish and both require an acetone nail polish remover. Read on to find out how to remove gel polish without going to the salon.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Soaking
Step 1. Fill a small bowl with acetone
Pure acetone will have a very strong effect but acetone for removing nail polish is also effective as long as the acetone concentration is around 60 percent or more.
- Acetone-free nail polish remover or nail polish remover with a small amount of acetone will not be effective at removing gel polish.
- You can use pure acetone sold by most pharmacies but pure acetone will cause your nails and skin to become very dry. So you should not use it often.
- The bowl to hold the acetone should have a surface that is wide enough so that you can put your hand in it. You can simply pour enough acetone into this bowl until it is about 1.25 cm high.
Step 2. Apply cuticle oil to your cuticles
Rub cuticle oil into the skin around the nails. Do not wipe off excess oil.
Cuticle oil is designed to soften and moisturize the cuticles and can be purchased at well-known pharmacies. By applying it to your cuticles before removing the gel polish, you can protect your skin from harsh, drying acetone
Step 3. Soak nails in acetone
Bend your fingertips so that all five nails fit into the bowl. Hold your hand in this position and dip your fingers in the acetone. Soak for 10 minutes.
- It's a good idea to keep your skin out of acetone as it can make the skin very dry. By holding your hand in this position, you are dipping only your nails and cuticles in the acetone, not the entire tip of your finger or hand.
- Continue to soak your nails in the acetone for a full 10 minutes even if you notice the gel polish starting to come off before the 10 minutes have passed.
Step 4. Scrape off the remaining gel polish
After 10 minutes, remove your fingers from the acetone and scrape off any excess gel polish with a manicure stick.
- You can scrape off any excess gel polish by placing the flat edge of the manicure stick on the bottom nail and gently pushing it along the nail. Repeat until nails are clean of gel polish.
- You can also start scraping off the gel polish after 8 minutes with your hands still soaked in the acetone. This will allow the acetone to work on the tough spots while you start scraping the spots where the nail polish is starting to fall off.
Step 5. Wash your hands
Use warm water and soap to gently remove the acetone and gel polish residue from your hands.
After removing the gel polish, you may notice a white residue on your nails and fingers. This residue is left by the acetone and can be removed by water and soap
Step 6. Apply moisturizer and cuticle oil again
Apply a generous amount of hand moisturizer to both hands when you're done. Don't forget to apply cuticle oil again around your nails.
Even if you're careful, acetone will dry out some areas of your skin. Moisturizer and cuticle oil will help moisturize, and applying it right after you've washed your hands will help
Method 2 of 2: Wrapped
Step 1. Cut out the cotton and aluminum strips
Cut the sterile cotton swab into small squares large enough to cover each fingernail. Cut the foil into squares with sides 7, 6 cm long.
- Prepare ten boxes of cotton and aluminum foil. One finger requires one cotton and one aluminum.
- The foil should be large enough to properly wrap each fingertip.
- Alternatively, you can also use a cotton ball. If you're using a cotton ball, you don't need to cut it out. The aluminum may have to be a little bigger to cover the thickness of this cotton ball.
Step 2. Apply cuticle oil to your cuticles
Rub cuticle oil into the skin around your nails.
Cuticle oil is designed to protect, soften and moisturize cuticles. By applying it before removing the nail polish, the cuticles won't dry out too much
Step 3. Soak a cotton swab in acetone
Dip a cotton swab or cotton ball in the acetone for nail polish remover until everything is submerged.
- Many people think it is better to use pure acetone while others think that melted polish remover acetone is better. While pure acetone is the most effective, it can also cause your nails and skin to become very dehydrated. You should not use pure acetone too often.
- Acetone-free nail polish remover is not strong enough to remove gel polish.
Step 4. Attach the cotton to your nails
Place each piece of cotton just above your nail so that it is completely covered.
Step 5. Wrap all the nails with aluminum Wrap the aluminum around each fingertip so that the cotton that has been soaked in acetone does not move
- Wrap each fingertip tightly enough to keep the cotton from shifting, but not so tightly that the aluminum tears or interferes with the circulation of blood in your finger.
- Aluminum generates heat which makes nail polish remover even more effective.
- Press each nail gently to ensure the acetone adheres to the nail.
Step 6. Wait 2 to 10 minutes
The gel polish will start to wear off after 2 minutes, but it's best to wait 10 minutes for it to be more effective.
- The higher the concentration of acetone, the faster you can remove the cotton from your nails.
- If you wait more than 10 minutes, the cotton may dry out. If this happens, the cotton can stick to your nails making it difficult to remove.
Step 7. Scrape or remove any remaining gel polish
Gently remove any remaining gel polish with a manicure stick.
- Place the flat edge of the stick under the nail. Gently push against the tip of the other nail until all the polish has been removed.
- You can remove any remaining gel polish with another cotton swab soaked in acetone.
Step 8. Buff your nails with a buff if necessary
If there is a sticky or white residue, use a soft cloth or soft buffer to remove it.
Avoid machine polishes or those with rough surfaces, as these can thin your nails
Step 9. Wash your hands
Remove any remaining residue with warm water and soap.
Step 10. Apply moisturizer and cuticle oil
After washing your hands, apply a hand moisturizer to restore moisture. Rub cuticle oil into your cuticles and nails to keep them moist.
Even if you're careful, it's possible that some parts of your hands will become dehydrated. Moisturizers and cuticle oils will help restore lost moisture
Tips
- If you frequently wear gel polish, it's best to have it removed at a salon. If you soak your nails in acetone too often, your nails and skin can suffer long-term damage.
- Use a glass or ceramic bowl. Acetone can melt plastic.
