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A guide on taking off gel polish fast without damaging your natural nails
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You’re so over your manicure but don’t have time to schedule an appointment for gel polish removal…Is there a way to do it at home? Why, of course there is! Soaking your nails in acetone is the safest, easiest, and most effective way to remove gel nail polish. All it takes is some acetone, cotton balls, aluminum foil, and a bit of time. So, grab your supplies, and let’s get started!
Things You Should Know
- Saturate a cotton ball with pure acetone and wrap it around your nail with a strip of aluminum foil to remove gel polish in around 15 minutes.
- Moisturize your cuticles with petroleum jelly before removing gel nail polish and after with cuticle oil to keep your skin hydrated.
- Acetone is a strong chemical and can irritate skin and damage furniture, so lay a towel over your work surface and always wash your hands after using it.
Steps
Join the Discussion...
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?
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.
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.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat kind of nail polish remover do I need to remove gel nail polish?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou 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.
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QuestionCan you peel off gel nail polish?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerWhile 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.
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QuestionDoes gel nail polish ruin your nails?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerGel 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.
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Tips
- Once you’ve removed your gel polish, try going without painted nails for at least a week. This will give your nails plenty of time to repair and grow before your next manicure. [15] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to sourceThanks
- Cover your work surface with plastic wrap and/or a towel to keep the acetone from damaging it. [16] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to sourceThanks
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Warnings
- It is possible to remove gel nails without acetone , but these methods can be harmful to your nails and aren’t as fast.Thanks
- Always work in a well-ventilated space when using acetone, as inhaling the chemical’s fumes could be harmful. [17] X Research sourceThanks
- Skip the “quick fix” of an acetone bath. Soaking anything but your nails in acetone for an extended amount of time can irritate and dry out your skin. [18] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to sourceThanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Pure acetone
- Cotton balls or pads
- Aluminum foil
- Nail file or buffer
- Petroleum jelly
- Hand lotion
- Cuticle oil
References
- ↑ https://www.onlymyhealth.com/remove-gel-nails-at-home-without-damaging-the-nails-with-these-simple-home-remedies-1578643306
- ↑ https://www.onlymyhealth.com/remove-gel-nails-at-home-without-damaging-the-nails-with-these-simple-home-remedies-1578643306
- ↑ https://youtu.be/56iYEg4mIIM?t=120
- ↑ https://www.onlymyhealth.com/remove-gel-nails-at-home-without-damaging-the-nails-with-these-simple-home-remedies-1578643306
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ https://www.sinclairdermatology.com.au/explainer-whats-the-deal-with-acetone-nail-polish-remover-and-is-it-bad-for-your-nails/
- ↑ https://www.vogue.in/how-to/content/how-to-safely-remove-your-gel-nail-polish-and-acrylic-nails-at-home
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ https://www.onlymyhealth.com/remove-gel-nails-at-home-without-damaging-the-nails-with-these-simple-home-remedies-1578643306
- ↑ https://youtu.be/F14HfVQAogI?t=113
- ↑ https://www.vogue.in/how-to/content/how-to-safely-remove-your-gel-nail-polish-and-acrylic-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://youtu.be/56iYEg4mIIM?t=548
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/gel-manicures
- ↑ https://youtu.be/F14HfVQAogI?t=502
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/gel-manicures-dermatologists-share-tips-to-keep-nails-healthy
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0006.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/gel-manicures
About This Article
Article Summary
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To remove gel nails, you'll need some concentrated acetone, the main ingredient in polish remover. To get your acetone strong enough to lift your gel nails off, fill a bowl with acetone, cover it with foil, and place it in a larger bowl of warm water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, dip a cotton ball in your concentrated acetone and wrap it around your nail, securing it with a strip of foil. Let your nails sit for 30 minutes before unwrapping them and taking the cotton balls off. Your gel nails should come right off! To learn how to remove gel nails by filing them off, keep reading!
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