Q&A for How to Remove Gel Nail Polish

There are three possible ways suggested for removing gel nail polish without acetone––peeling, soaking and filing and each method is described in this wikiHow: How to Get Nails Off without Acetone . However, any form of removal that requires abrasive actions, gouging, scratching or chemicals will have a detrimental effect on your nails, so be careful about the method you choose. See your salon for help if you’re uncertain about removing the nails at home, as professionals will be best equipped to remove the gel with the least impact.

Gel polish, used regularly, can weaken your nails by dehydrating them and causing thinning. Hard gels (the older style gel) are more harmful to nails than the newer soft gels. Incorrect removal of the gel can also create more problems for nails, especially if they’re scraped, sanded or gouged to get the gel off. To lessen the chances of your nails being harmed by the gel nail polish, always find out before application how the gel is removed and make sure it’s a soft gel. And it can’t help to give your nails plenty of breaks between the next application of gel nail polish, leaving your nails bare, as nature intended.

You will need to use 100% pure acetone to remove gel nail polish at home. Normal nail polish removers lack the strength of acetone needed to remove the gel, so don’t waste time using those. Before you begin, file across the top of you nails with a coarse file; doing this will break the top layer of the gel, which will help speed up the process of removal. After adding the acetone to the gel (you can wrap your fingertips in foil), wait until the gel is completely softened before attempting removal. See the instructions above for the best approach.

While it is possible to peel off gel nail polish, it’s not the best idea. Doing so can harm your real nails underneath by peeling off their top layer, leaving in place white spots or streaks or even worse nail damage. This can cause your nails to become too thin, which can weaken them or even cause cracks, flaking or drying of the nails. It is much better to follow the instructions outlined above for home removal of gel nail polish or better still, get a professional beauty salon to clean them up for you.

They will likely soak your nails in acetone by putting acetone on cotton balls, and then wrapping the cotton balls around your nail.

Gel is less harsh. However, don't put on too much of either, as it could weaken your nails.

For gel nails, not long if you have them done at the salon. They put them under the UV light, and they dry in about 3 minutes.

Yes, so just use it a bit.

Use some nail oil and nail strengthener. Sally Hansen's nail rehab is a good option as well. Be cautious to avoid breakage.

You can purchase it at any local drugstore, dollar store, or even Walmart or Target. Acetone doesn't cost a lot and if you wear nail polish often, it's a good idea to buy in bulk.

No. Solar nails are just a brand of acrylic nails.

Nope, you can do whatever you want! There's no rule that says your fingers and toes have to match, so feel free to play around a little bit with your colors.

Less-concentrated acetone can also work, but the soaking will take more time. In the long run, having your nail in a wet environment for too long can dry them too much, which will cause breakage.

Some polishes marketed as "gel polish" at the drugstore, aren't really gel. They're just polishes that are extra shiny and stay on longer. But the real gel polishes at the drugstore and at salons can both be removed with acetone. Soak a cotton ball or cotton pad in the acetone, put it on the gel polish, wrap your finger (with the cotton) in tin foil/aluminum foil and let it set for 10 - 15 minutes.

There are products that you can buy to help remove them, but you can also go to a salon and have it professionally removed.

Using nail polish remover, you can remove nail polish wherever it is. You could also just wash it out, and it will go away.

Re-soak in acetone. It's.best to work one hand at a time.

You can soak them in nail polish remover for 10-15 mins, and then peel them off gently.

It's generally just called nail glue. You'll probably see it near the fake nails at the store, since you can't apply fake nails without the glue!

An orange stick is a wooden stick with a pointed end and an end shaped like a lipstick. It's used to push back your cuticles.

No - some nail polishes are 'acetone-free'. But acetone is often an ingredient in nail polish removers.

Yes. You can reapply gel polish straight after removal, though a break does help re-strengthen your nails.

You do have to take off any kind of polish. Some places allow you to keep polish on, but most places don't allow any polish or makeup because of some ingredients in the formula that interferes with something released from the waves produced by the scanning.

Yes, it is possible to be allergic to nail polish, as with any makeup ingredients. If you have any reactions, such as flaking nails or skin, itching, inflammation, etc., cease using the polish and speak to your doctor or dermatologist, if possible.

It is always best to use warm acetone. It helps to speed up the gel nail removal process.