Gel nail polish is fantastic because it lasts longer than regular polish, is more natural than acrylic or dip powder, and protects your nails from wear and tear. The downside is that it can be tough to remove!
Sometimes, you can’t get to the salon, or you want to change your color at home to save a couple of bucks. Peeling off the gel can damage your nail, and it’s not a definite way to get all the polish off.
Removing gel polish at home is easier than you think. And cheaper, too!
What you need:
- 100% acetone
- Nail file
- Cotton balls
- Aluminum foil cut into 4-inch squares
- Vaseline or cuticle oil
Step 1: Apply Vaseline or cuticle oil to each of your fingers. Acetone is a strong and drying chemical, so you want to protect your fingers!
Step 2: Remove the top layer of polish with a nail file. Buff each nail until they are dull and scratchy.
Step 3: Pull apart cotton balls, so they are just big enough to cover your nails.
Step 4: Soak each cotton ball in acetone and place it on your nails.
Step 5: Wrap each fingertip in foil to keep the acetone-soaked cotton in place.
Step 6: Leave the foil on for about 20 minutes to make sure the gel is totally softened.
Step 7: Remove each piece of foil and rub each nail with the cotton to make sure all the gel polish is removed. If there is still some on the nail, use a file to loosen it and more acetone on a cotton ball and remove it as you would regular polish.
When you’re finished with the process and all the gel polish is removed, use a light buffer to smooth your nails and apply cuticle cream or luxurious lotion to keep your nails happy!
