Buzz
Loving your gel manicure is one thing, but knowing how to remove gel nail polish properly is crucial to keep your nails safe from damage. Here’s the truth: peeling is a no-go! Although gel polish has a reputation for being tough, the key to healthy nails lies in the removal process. Skip the salon visit and follow these expert-approved steps for safe at-home gel polish removal.
The Importance of Safe Gel Nail Polish Removal
Gel polish provides a stunning shine and lasts for weeks, but removing it can be a real struggle and if done improperly, it can cause significant harm to your nails. While gel polish often gets the blame, celebrity nail artist Tracy Lee Percival clarifies that nail damage actually occurs from incorrect removal techniques, not from the gel itself.
"Never buff, file, push, pick, or peel off gel polish," warns Percival. "These actions strip away the protective keratin layers of your nails, weakening them. Nails don't regenerate like skin, so once damaged, it takes months for the nail to grow back with all its layers intact—often three to four months."
Barbara DonninelliWhat You Will Need
Required Items
- Aluminum foil
- Cotton pads or cotton balls
- Cuticle oil or moisturizing lotion
- 100% pure acetone
- Cuticle stick
- Glass bowl
Guidelines
How to Safely Remove Gel Nail Polish Using Acetone and Foil
Get Your Nails and Hands Ready
- Begin by washing your hands to ensure they are clean, removing any dirt or debris from your nails.
- Use a buffing block or a gentle grit nail file to lightly buff your nails. This step will help break the seal of the top coat, making it easier to remove the gel polish. Your nails may still have some polish on them, but they should no longer have a shiny surface.
- Apply cuticle oil or a rich moisturizer around your cuticles and surrounding skin to protect them from the drying effects of acetone. Acetone can lead to dryness and irritation when it touches the skin.
Avoid buffing the polish off completely. Over-buffing can damage your nails and cause harm to their health.
Prepare Foil and Cotton
Cut small squares of foil to wrap around the tips of your fingers. Then, cut cotton pads or cotton balls into pieces large enough to cover each nail completely.
Submerge Nails in Acetone
Pour acetone into a glass bowl and immerse your fingers in the solution for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, check your nails. If any gel polish remains, continue soaking in five-minute intervals until all the polish is removed.
If you happen to spill acetone, open a window to allow fresh air to circulate and help the acetone evaporate more quickly.
Use aluminum foil to cover your nails and eliminate stubborn polish.
Drench cotton balls in acetone, place them on the nail surface, and wrap each finger with small foil pieces to secure the cotton in place.
Monitor the progress.
Wait for 10 to 15 minutes, then check one nail. If some gel polish remains, wrap it back with cotton and foil, soaking for another five minutes until the polish is fully removed.
Use a scraper to remove any leftover polish.
Remove any remaining polish by gently scraping it off with a cuticle stick. It should come off easily now.
How to treat your nails to a rejuvenating manicure post-removal.
After the gel nail polish is removed, treat your nails to a fresh manicure to keep them strong and healthy.
Shape your nails.
Gently file your nails to your desired length. It’s best to file in one direction, starting from the edges and working towards the center of each nail.
Gently push back your cuticles.
Using a cuticle stick, gently push back the overgrown skin around your nails. Avoid cutting the cuticles to prevent bleeding or infection.
Apply a nail strengthening treatment.
After filing your nails and caring for the cuticles, apply a nail strengthener. Consider using CND RescueRXx Daily Keratin Treatment, which restores damaged nails with keratin and hydrating jojoba oil.
Moisturize your cuticles.
Lastly, massage oil into your cuticles for 10 seconds to hydrate and strengthen them. Try OPI ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil, which comes with a brush-on applicator to avoid getting your hands greasy.
