Easiest way to remove gel nail polish at home
I'm ready to give my nails a new look, but I still have some of my old gel polish still on them. I've always heard to go back to the nail salon to get gels removed, but surely there's a way I can do it at home? Do you have any advice on what to do?
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For a complete guide to this topic, read the wikiHow article The Safest Way to Remove Gel Nail Polish with Acetone
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Expert Comments
Acetone works the best for removing gel polish from nails at home. Start by soaking cotton balls in acetone for each of your nails. Place the cotton balls on your nail and wrap aluminum foil around them so they stay in place. Let them soak for 15-20 minutes before scraping the polish off with a cuticle pusher.
Just make sure to apply cuticle oil to your nails when you're finished to keep them moisturized and healthy.
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Just make sure to apply cuticle oil to your nails when you're finished to keep them moisturized and healthy.
Yes, you can remove gel polish at home, but it requires patience and the right technique to avoid damaging your nails. Here’s how to do it safely!
What You Need :
1. 100% pure acetone (regular nail polish remover won’t work)
2. Cotton balls or pads
3. Aluminum foil
4. Nail file
5. Cuticle pusher or orangewood stick
6. Nail buffer
7. Cuticle oil or hand cream (for aftercare)
Step-by-Step Removal :
1. File the Top Coat – Use a nail file and gently buff away the shiny top layer. This helps the acetone penetrate the gel polish faster.
2. Soak Cotton in Acetone – Saturate a cotton ball or pad with pure acetone.
3. Wrap Each Nail – Place the soaked cotton on your fingernail and wrap it with aluminum foil to hold it in place.
4. Wait 10-15 Minutes – Let the acetone work its magic. Check one nail after 10 minutes—if the polish is flaking off, you’re ready for the next step.
5. Gently Push Off the Gel – Use a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick to carefully remove any softened gel. If it resists, rewrap the nail and wait another 5 minutes.
6. Buff and Hydrate – Use a nail buffer to smooth the surface. Finish with cuticle oil and a rich hand cream to rehydrate your nails.
View hidden comment
What You Need :
1. 100% pure acetone (regular nail polish remover won’t work)
2. Cotton balls or pads
3. Aluminum foil
4. Nail file
5. Cuticle pusher or orangewood stick
6. Nail buffer
7. Cuticle oil or hand cream (for aftercare)
Step-by-Step Removal :
1. File the Top Coat – Use a nail file and gently buff away the shiny top layer. This helps the acetone penetrate the gel polish faster.
2. Soak Cotton in Acetone – Saturate a cotton ball or pad with pure acetone.
3. Wrap Each Nail – Place the soaked cotton on your fingernail and wrap it with aluminum foil to hold it in place.
4. Wait 10-15 Minutes – Let the acetone work its magic. Check one nail after 10 minutes—if the polish is flaking off, you’re ready for the next step.
5. Gently Push Off the Gel – Use a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick to carefully remove any softened gel. If it resists, rewrap the nail and wait another 5 minutes.
6. Buff and Hydrate – Use a nail buffer to smooth the surface. Finish with cuticle oil and a rich hand cream to rehydrate your nails.
Reader Comments
I agree that putting cotton balls soaked in acetone on your nails and wrapping them in foil is the best method! A tip I have to speed that up is to put your hands in a plastic bag and dip them in a bowl of really hot water. Don't actually get any water on your hands or nails, it's just the heat that speeds up the process. Cuts the time in half for me.
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You can file off the gel nail polish and then use acetone-soaked cotton balls to get off the rest.
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My advice is to order peel off nail polish if you don't have time to order nail polish for special occasions then my advice will be order fake nails from Shein because they got good quality for fake nails
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