Need
to get your gel polish off and don't have the time or patience to head
to the salon? We've been there. The temptation to pick/rip/bite off the
polish is strong, but resist it. You can remove gel without damaging your nails. We talked to celebrity manicurists and beauty experts to find out exactly how to remove gel nail polish at home safely, without going to the salon. Follow this guide and your nails will stay strong and healthy!
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1. Find a Well-Ventilated Space
Give
yourself plenty of time for the removal process and most importantly,
do it in a well-ventilated area so you're not breathing in all that
acetone, says nail and beauty expert Jenna Hipp.
The process can't really be done in a rush — you'll need about 30
minutes. It's a perfect time to turn on your favorite sitcom or have a
long chat via speaker phone.
Start
by using a coarse nail file to gently (and slowly) sand down the top
layer of gel. The point is just to remove the very top layer of the gel
polish. "Avoid filing too far into the color. Basically, you just want
to remove the shine," says Hipp.
3. Protect Your Skin
Next,
coat the skin surrounding your nails and fingertips with a cuticle oil
or a thick cream. "This will provide protection from the acetone, which
is very drying to your skin," says celebrity manicurist Tracylee. We like CND Solar Oil Nail & Cuticle Conditioner (and, bonus, this formula smells like an almond cookie).
4. Soak Some Cotton Balls
Tracylee
prefers cotton balls to pads because they're closer to your nails' size
and shape. Plus, cotton balls are able to hold on to the acetone
better. "Cotton pads can absorb the acetone and dry out too quickly,"
she says. Saturate the cotton balls with more acetone than you think you
need, and avoid formulas with moisturizing ingredients, as these will
slow down the soaking process, says Tracylee.
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5. Wrap Your Fingertips with Aluminum Foil
Grab
some Reynolds Wrap and tear the foil into little squares (about 3" by
3"). Then, start wrapping your fingertips in the squares. "Start with
your non-dominant hand — it makes things easier — and place an
acetone-soaked cotton ball on your pinkie. Use the foil to secure the
cotton ball in place," says Tracylee. Repeat this wrapping on all ten
nails, and then leave your foil-covered fingertips alone for about 10 to
15 minutes. (It will get a little tricky by the end of the process.)
6. Apply a Little Elbow Grease
The
wait is over! Pull the foil off of each finger and apply slight
pressure to the nail with the cotton ball. "If there is any gel left
over, gently remove it with a nail stick, working under the gel to lift
it off the nail plate," explains Hipp. "Wooden tools can be a breeding
ground for bacteria, so dispose of them after each use and don't share
with friends."
If
the polish isn't lifting easily as you press the stick into it, it's a
sign you need to soak your nail longer in the acetone, so wrap it back
up and try again in five minutes.
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7. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
After
a long acetone adventure, your nails will likely be a bit dried up.
"Soak your nails in coconut oil for five to seven minutes, then apply a
cuticle oil on your nail beds to rejuvenate and rehydrate them," says
celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi.
However, if you're reapplying gel polish immediately, skip creams or
oils until after the gel polish has been applied, says Tracylee.
It's
so key for the gel enthusiast to know how to remove gel nail polish at
home. Gel polish isn't like regular polish — if you pick or peel at it,
you can end up with white spots, indentations, and chips — plus it
weakens nails to become soft and then brittle overall.
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