In this article, we will discuss the best ways to remove gel polish. Gel polish is basically a nail lacquer set with Ultra Violet (UV) light in order to harden it. Gel polish is known for being durable for a period of ten days to three weeks. You can get gel polished removed from the salons that give gel manicures. However, you can also easily remove it at home. Salon methods are expensive so you can remove the gel polish at home by using the nail polish removers provided in this article.
Remove Gel Polish With Acetone
1.) Filing to Remove Gel Polish
It is always suggested to file your nails before using nail polish remover unlike peeling or picking your nails. The filing is quite important as it helps remove the shiny layer of coat that keeps your gel intact for many days. You can consider using an emery board to lightly buff each nail said by the Skyy Hadley, a celebrity manicurist and prime owner of “As U Wish Nail Salon.” Filing easily removes the shiny top coat from the nails, leaving the nails with a powdery finish.
You need to be careful while filing your nails and make sure you do not hit your nail bed in the process. Over-buffing the nails can leave them scratched and damaged said by celebrity manicurist, Elle Gerstein. A proper filing is a must as it breaks the topcoat layer so that the acetone remover can work effectively and naturally. According to Gerstein “When filing, you should not touch the nail bed as you only have to break the first top layer coat so that the acetone can penetrate the gel easily.
2.) Soak to Remove Gel Polish
Once filing process is successfully accomplished it’s time to soak the nails in acetone. As we have already discussed that, it would be a great idea to use acetone polish remover. It contains the ingredients that are found in gel colors, making them hard to remove. According to professionals to remove UV-cured coatings any acetone-based nail polish remover is most effective. You need to be little smart while choosing acetone removers as the products listing 100 percent acetone usually, don’t work even 95 percent acetone as acetone is volatile and evaporates so quickly.
To start the removal process you will need to soak a cotton ball or swab in the remover, and saturate the nail for four to six minutes. This allows the acetone to penetrate deeply and remove the color, without any damage to your nails. The gel color removing process usually takes some time so you can surely speed up the process by using the foils and bearable heat. Although the polish remover is flammable but the process of using it totally safe, if you are using a heating pad. Wrap the cotton ball covered tips in the strips of tin foil, and then simply place the hands on a heating pad.
3.) Gently Scrape to Remove Gel Polish
If you find that the color has not completely lifted off after soaking the nail in acetone then you will need to grab a wooden stick to help the removal process of gel polish. According to some nail experts, after soaking nails for four to eight minutes, the gel should be soft enough to get easily removed with an orange stick. After that, carefully scrape the entire gel layer of the nail.
4.) Moisturize to Remove Gel Polish
Once you get rid of gel polish, it is quite important to restore the lost moisture to the nails. Gel polishes can cause severe drying and the removal process can be really damaging to nails health. For a beneficial boost of the moisture, you can use nourishing cuticle oil which re-hydrate nails from the harsh effects of acetone. After removing the gel nail polish you should wash your hands and apply cuticle oil to your nail and cuticle. This will easily rehydrate the nails after using acetone and keep them strong and healthy between polishes. Finally, your nails are again ready for another fresh manicure.
Remove Gel Polish without Acetone
1.) File Them Off
As we have already discussed you should first trim your nails using a good nail clipper. Try to and trim the nails as short as you possibly capable of but remember you should not harm the natural nails. Try using a filer to file the gel nails down. The filing is essential in case if the nails seem too thick to cut with the regular nail clipper. Now, file down the surface of the nails using a coarse-grit file. You should make sure to file gently and try to move in crosshatches to maintain an even smooth look. While using filer you will need to show some patience to avoid any feeling of burning sensation. You will need to move slowly without worrying about the time it takes. If you do it quickly then it will damage your natural nail underneath. Always wipe the dust away as you continue to file. Stop filing once you see the natural nail. If you continue, you may damage the natural nail. We have already discussed the whole filing process above.
2.) Peel Them Off
The filing is the time-consuming process and there is always a risk of damaging the natural nails so you can simply peel those gel nails off when they are chipped. It generally takes up to ten days for a gel to chip off, so you need to wait a bit before you start the peeling process yourself. This will significantly reduce the damage to the nails. Refer above points to know more about peeling the nails off.
3.) Soak Them Off
The above two methods are necessary and same regardless which ingredient you are going to use to remove gel polish. In above section, we have discussed removing gel polish with acetone. Now, when it comes to removing gel nail polish the first thing get in mind is “Acetone”. There is no doubt that acetone is a popular and powerful remedy to remove gel polish. However, there is a major disadvantage that it is very harsh on the skin. Acetone is a strong chemical that withdraws natural oils from your skin and makes it look white. In simple words, using acetone will easily dry out the skin. So, it is important to find out an alternative method to remove gel polish fast and naturally. Not using acetone to remove gel polish does not mean that you do not have to use moisturizer. The fact is you will need to use a moisturizer after removing gel nails.
Now, if you do not have the desired results from filing or peeling then you can use warm water to remove gel polish instead of using acetone. You just need to fill a bowl with warm water. Then, add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap in that bowl along with one teaspoon of common salt. Dip your hands in the bowl and keep them in that position for about twenty minutes. Do not use lukewarm water, the water has to be warm else the process will not work effectively. Then take your hand out after twenty minutes and wipe it with a hand towel.
