When removing gel nail polish at home on your own, are you concerned that you won’t harm your nails? You’re not alone. This guide will teach you how to remove gel manicure easily at home.
People frequently whine that their gel manicures damaged their nails, but the peeling is actually to blame.
You remove layers of the nail plate each time you choose to remove your gel nail polish.
To save both your nails and your relationship with your nail tech, here’s everything you need to know about gel polish removal at home, including a step-by-step guide.
Preparations Before Removing Remove Gel Manicure
Here are some tips to consider before removing gel nail polish.
- It is simpler to work on one hand at a time when removing gel nail polish.
- A well-ventilated area should be set aside for this. Acetone has a potent aroma.
- As acetone can leave stains, cover your work surface with a towel.
- 10 squares of aluminum foil that are large enough to wrap around each fingertip should be cut out.
- If you’re using cotton balls, cut them into ten pieces that are large enough to cover each nail’s nail bed.
How to Remove Gel Manicure?
Here is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to remove your own gel nails at home.
1. File Your Nail Bed With a Nail File
The gel top coat layer should be filed down until it is no longer shiny and smooth using a coarse nail file. File down every nail.
Initially, use your non-dominant hand to file the gel top coat. Instead of going back and forth, gently file your nail from the cuticle to the edge using the flat face of a nail filer. Avoid concentrating on a single area.
Your nail polish becomes visible when you file down the gel top coat. This will make using the acetone you’ll be using later to remove the gel polish simpler.
Related Post: Can You Get a Gel Manicure While Pregnant?
2. Soak Acetone to a Cotton Ball Or Cotton Pad
If you plan to use cotton balls, cut them into 1.5×1.5 cm-sized balls, making sure they are both thin and large enough to cover the nail bed.
The cotton ball shouldn’t be so large that it touches the skin and cuticles around it and hangs over.
Following that, dunk a cotton ball in acetone until it is damp but not dripping. To accomplish this, typically 5 to 10 drops of acetone are required.
A cotton ball that has been saturated with too much acetone may mildly irritate the skin, leaving it red, dry, or cracked.
Apply acetone directly to the cotton pad if you’re using one, making sure it’s damp but not dripping.
On top of a fingernail, place the cotton that has been soaked in acetone before continuing.
Also Read: How to Repair Nails After Gel Manicure?
3. Wrap the Tip of the Finger in Aluminum Foil
Start encircling the fingertip with the 3×3-inch pre-cut aluminum foil to hold the wet cotton ball in place.
To finish wrapping cotton balls and aluminum foil around every fingernail, repeat steps 2 and 3 for each nail.
Allow the acetone to permeate the gel polish for 10 minutes after wrapping each nail.
The gel nail polish should have a bubbly or curled appearance after ten minutes. The foil and cotton ball can now be pulled away from the nail using a pinch.
4. Use a Cuticle Stick to Remove Gel Polish
Use a metal cuticle pusher or a stick made of orangewood to gently push the gel polish off each nail.
Continue soaking the nail in acetone for another five minutes if the gel polish isn’t coming off easily.
5. Buff Your Nails
Remove any ridges or uneven edges from your nails by gently buffing them to create a smooth surface.
Excessive visible gel polish flecks should be buff off.
Remember that over-buffing your nails can thin the nail plate, weakening your nails and reducing the gel polish’s adhesion. The gel polish becomes easily removable from the nail plate when nails are excessively buff, which causes the nails to bend excessively.
6. Rehydrate
Once all of the gel has been removed, gently buff your nails with a soft buffer (220 grit is ideal) and generously coat them in cuticle oil.
Once your cuticles are completely covered, massage in the cuticle oil.
No amount of cuticle oil is ever too much. If you think it’s worth it to keep your skin and nails in top condition, apply cuticle oil up to three times per day.
That’s it!
Read More: How to Remove Lipstick?
Common Mistakes When Removing Gel Nail Polish
Avoid below things when you remove gel manicure.
Soaking Your Nails in An Acetone Bath
The excessive exposure to acetone on your skin and nails when you fully submerge your nails in a bowl of 100% pure acetone will dry out the nail plate, the cuticles, and the surrounding skin.
Nails damaged by this method frequently become dry and brittle. Dry, flaky, irritated, and red skin and cuticles are possible side effects.
To avoid getting acetone on your skin, our method involves using cotton balls soaked in acetone to pinpoint the specific area of your nail that needs acetone.
Your nails and skin will need more time to heal after an acetone bath because there is a chance that damage could have been done. After that, you can reapply gel polish. This advice is often given, but ignore it.
Also Read: Are Gel Manicures Bad for Your Nails?
Using An Electric Nail Drill is Not Recommended
It’s not advisable for a beginner to use a drill to remove gel nail polish because you run the risk of damaging your nail plate if you grind past the gel polish coat.
Your nail bed will be more sensitive to pain as a result of the damage to your nail plate. Your nails will become frail and brittle.
If this happens, you’ll have to wait for the entire nail to grow out before a fresh, sound nail can be substituted.’
It’s Not Ok to Pick and Peel Off Your Gel Polish
Without using acetone, you can damage the top layer of your nails by picking and peeling off the gel polish, which can result in weak, easily breakable nails.
Your next gel manicure may not be as soon as you’d like if your nails are weak because it can take them weeks, and occasionally even longer, to recover from this condition.
Does Gel Polish Ruin Your Nails?
When applied too frequently, gel nail polish has the potential to weaken your nails overtime.
We advise taking a break between gel applications and using essentials like cuticle oil and nail strengthener to keep your natural nails firm and prevent damage.
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Summary: How to Remove Gel Manicure
If you follow these steps then you’ll be able to remove your gel manicure at home with no damage. Just be careful and patient while doing it.
Never attempt to pull or force any gel away from the nail plate as this could harm the gel.
Related Post: How Long Does a Gel Manicure Last?
FAQs
How to Remove UV Gel Nails?
The best method for removing gel nail polish at home is acetone.
Are Gel Nails Easy to Remove?
The initial few coats will start to peel off easily if you’ve soaked for a sufficient amount of time.
Is It OK to Peel Off Gel Nail Polish?
While applying acetone to your nails may sound harsh, picking or filing off gel nail polish can significantly damage your nails.
