How to Remove Your Gel Nail Polish at Home
It's easy to wax poetic over the benefits of a gel manicure — two weeks of chip-free wear and glossy shine? Yes, please! Removing the LED-cured lacquer, however, is another story. Once the free edge around the cuticle starts to lift, it takes all of our self-control to try (and sometimes fail) not to rip all ten shells from our digits — which can cause major damage to the natural nail bed underneath.
Whether you're wearing a gel manicure from the salon or your own handiwork, we turned to nail expert Madeline Poole to break down the best and easiest DIY method to effectively remove gel polish — without destroying the health of your nails in the process.
Meet Our Expert
Madeline Poole is a Sally Hansen global ambassador and nail pro.
Keep scrolling for our step-by-step guide to removing gel polish at home.
Gel Manicure Removal Tool Kit
Before you start the removal process, you're going to need a few helpful tools. They include:
Coarse nail file
Acetone
Cotton balls
Aluminum foil
Orangewood stick
Vitamin E oil
Protect Your Skin
Since you'll be soaking your nails in acetone, it's important to shield the skin around the nail before getting started. You can use cuticle oil, cream, or even Vaseline to provide a protective layer.
Related: The 13 Best Cuticle Oils of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Buff Your Nails
The next step is to buff off the top layer of your gel mani with a coarse nail file, instructed Poole. The point here is to break open the top layer of gel to help acetone penetrate, she explains. Go slowly and stop once you've removed the shine.
Related: We Tried 9 At-Home Gel Manicure Kits — These 6 Deliver Salon-Quality Results
Soak Cotton Balls in Acetone
Then, Poole advised soaking a small piece of cotton, or a cotton ball, in acetone and place it on the nail. Just be sure this is 100 percent pure acetone, not the standard "nail polish remover" sold at your local drugstore.
"Regular nail polish remover contains acetone but is diluted," explained Poole. "You probably could remove gel nails with regular polish remover, but you would have to allow the nails to soak for a very long time. You need pure acetone to effectively and quickly break down the gel polish."
A bottle of acetone like Pronto's 100% Pure Acetone ($10) will do the trick.
Secure the Cotton with Aluminum Foil
To hold the cotton or cotton ball in place, grab a roll of tin foil straight from the kitchen. Cut into small squares and wrap around each finger to secure the cotton ball in place. If you don't feel coordinated to use the foil method (it can be tricky by the end), Poole also suggested gel removal clip caps, such as Himo 10PC Plastic Acrylic Nail Art Soak Off Cap Clip ($5) set.
Foil and Soak
This takes a bit longer but works wonders if you don't have any foil or cotton balls on hand. Grab two bowls from the kitchen, one slightly larger than the other. Fill the larger bowl with warm water, place the smaller one inside as you would with a double boiler, and pour in some acetone. (Because acetone is highly flammable, you should not heat it in the microwave or stove.) Allow the warm water to heat the acetone for about a minute, place your hand inside the acetone, and let the gels gradually soak off.
You can also grab a ready-made product — like Red Carpet Manicure Nail Gel Remove Kit ($10) and Nails Inc. Gel-Less Gel Nail Polish Remover Kit ($19) — that comes equipped with everything you need to remove a salon or DIY gel mani. Red Carpet Manicure's kit includes 10 foils with a cotton pad attached, while Nails Inc.'s comes with conditioning acetone and a gel remover pot in which you pour the solution and dip your hand.
Related: Gel Nails vs. Shellac Nails: Which Long-Lasting Manicure Is Better?
Wait for 10 to 15 Minutes
Cue up some Netflix and let the acetone do its job. If you used the soaking method, wait until you notice the corners coming loose. Then, as your nails are still steeping in the acetone, take an orange wood stick ($9) and gently begin to loosen the gel on each nail until it is removed completely. If you used foil and cotton, the gel manicure should slide off with the cotton ball when you remove the foil. (Just apply a bit of pressure.) If some residue remains stuck to your nail, again, use an orange wood stick to work it off.
"When removing my own gels, I use my thumbnail to scrape the softened gel off. I find it gets very close to the nail but doesn't hurt it," Poole said.
If the gel polish is stubborn, give it another five minutes to soak and then try again — patience is key here. Poole suggested that the nails should soak until the gel appears to be bubbling. This could take 10 minutes, but Poole noted it's often longer. A good rule of thumb, according to Poole: Don't scrape off the polish until it's fully softened.
Related: Blooming Gel Is a New Way to Upgrade Your Manicure
Give Your Nails Some TLC
Acetone is drying, so it's important to restore moisture to your nails and hands after a DIY removal.
"After removing the gel, use a gentle buffing block to smooth out the nail's surface," Poole said.
When the nail is clean, she recommended soaking the nails with cuticle oil, like Sally Hansen Vitamin E Oil ($8). After a few minutes, wash your hands and apply ample hand cream to restore moisture. Do this for several nights, and then feel free to polish your nails back up.
If you need to reapply gel the same day, try to give your nails a few hours to breathe first.
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