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Remove hard & soft gel nails at home and restore your natural nails
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Builder gel is a gel manicurists use to add layers on top of your natural nails to strengthen and lengthen them. It comes in soft (also known as structured), semi-hard, and hard versions, and requires acetone, a file, or a drill to remove. If you're not keen on returning to the salon to get your gel nails removed, here are 3 ways to remove builder gel at home, plus our tips for restoring health to your nails after wearing gel for longer than 2 weeks!
Quickest Way to Remove Soft Builder Gel Nails
- File down the top coat seal on your builder gel nails.
- Press an acetone-soaked cotton ball around each nail.
- Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around each cotton ball and nail.
- Wait 15-20 minutes, then remove the cotton balls and foil.
- Push any remaining gel gently off your nail with a cuticle stick.
- Finish cleaning dust and debris from your nails with a cotton pad and rubbing alcohol.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Removing Soft or Semi-Hard Builder Gel with Acetone
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File the top layer of your nails until the color is dull and faded. Use light pressure so that you don't file all the way down to your natural nail. Focus the file on the edge and the free walls of each nail. [1] X Research source
- Use a medium 100/180 grit nail file . The 180-grit side will be coarse enough to file through a layer of builder gel, but not so sharp that you'll easily damage your natural nail. [2] X Research source
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Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the skin around the nail bed. Petroleum jelly will protect your skin from the acetone you're going to soak your nails in. Acetone is a harsh substance and can cause redness and irritation when applied to your skin. However, it's great for dissolving builder gel ! [3] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to sourceAdvertisement
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Soak small cotton pieces with acetone and press them on your nails. Cut cotton balls or pads into small pieces to fit your nails. Cutting them will minimize the amount of skin you have to expose to the acetone. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Soak the cotton pieces in acetone and press them to your nails. The acetone should touch every part of your nail, so it will break up all the builder gel. [5] X Research source
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Cut small squares of foil to wrap around each nail and finger. Each aluminum foil piece needs to be large enough to completely cover your fingertip, but not so big that you have trouble securing the acetone-soaked cotton in place. Ensure each piece is sealed all around your finger, as well as on top of it. This will keep the nails warm and let the acetone do its work. [6] X Research source
- Alternatively, strip off pieces of plastic cling wrap and use that to wrap around your fingers. The plastic makes a better seal, but make sure not to wrap it so tightly that you cut off circulation. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
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Wait 15-20 minutes for the acetone to break up the builder gel. While you're waiting avoid moving your fingers too much or you'll risk jostling the cotton or moving the foil. Veg out in front of the television for a little while or take a quick cat nap to pass the time. [8] X Research source
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Remove the foil and cotton and clean up any remaining gel. Use a press and twist motion to take off the foil, so it lifts as much gel as possible. Push builder gel residue off your nail using an orange nail stick. Soak your nails in acetone again as often as needed to get all the gel off. [9] X Research source
- An orange nail stick is a type of cuticle pusher made of soft wood. It has a rounded, angled shape at one end – perfect for gently scraping gel off your nail!
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Clean your nails and hands to remove the last of the gel residue. Use a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol to wipe dust and grime off your nails. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water to take acetone off your skin. Finally, apply cuticle oil to restore hydration and soothe any irritation your cuticles may have suffered due to the acetone. [10] X Research source
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Section 2 of 4:
Removing Soft or Semi-Hard Builder Gel with a File
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File down the color layers of your nails with a medium 180-grit file. As you notice your natural nails appearing, apply a gentler pressure to avoid damaging them. After all the color layers are removed, buff your nails with a nail buffer to smoothe out the surface of your natural nails. [11] X Research source
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Wipe dust off your nails with a nail clean-up brush. Filing builder gel produces a large amount of dust. A nail clean-up brush has soft, small bristles you can use to flick all that loose debris out from the sides and underneath your nail. [12] X Research source
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Clean your nails and rub cuticle oil on to hydrate your cuticles. The process of filing your nails and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol will dry out and possibly even remove some of the skin surrounding your nails. The cuticle oil will moisturize this tissue and help it grow back healthy and strong. [13] X Research source
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Section 3 of 4:
Removing Hard Builder Gel with a Drill
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Clip the gel nails down to the top edge of your natural nails. Use toenail clippers, as these will snap the gel nail tips off in a horizontal line. Avoid using a tip cutter, which, if its blade is dull, can cause a vertical break that will crack the whole nail. [14] X Research source
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Flick the e-file back and forth when your natural nail becomes visible. The flicking motion helps you remove the last layer of builder gel while reducing the amount of heat on your natural nail. This is the best technique to keep your nails intact and not wear them away. [16] X Research source
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Reduce the speed to 5000 RPMs to remove gel from the corners of your nails. Use the bottom of the e-file barrel to tackle these tucked-in areas. Alternatively, keep the speed at 11,000 RPMs and use only the tip of the e-file barrel to lift the builder gel up from the corners of your nails. [17] X Research source
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Clean the dust and debris off your nails and apply cuticle oil. Use a manicuring brush to flick away excess dust before wiping up any remaining dust with a cotton pad and rubbing alcohol. Always follow up with cuticle oil to nourish your dry cuticles. [18] X Research source
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Things You'll Need
Removing Builder Gel with Acetone
- Acetone
- Medium 100/180 grit nail file
- Cotton balls or pads
- Aluminum foil or plastic cling wrap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Gentle soap and water
- Cuticle oil
Removing Builder Gel with File
- Medium 100-180-grit nail file
- Nail buffer
- Cotton pads
- Rubbing alcohol
- Mail clean-up brush
- Cuticle oil
Removing Builder Gel with Electric Drill
- Electric nail file
- Cotton pads
- Rubbing alcohol
- Nail clean-up brush
- Cuticle oil
References
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/everything-need-know-nail-files/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dbwWB_gpv9U?si=6SaoKMFCTmh4rnJJ&t=40
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dbwWB_gpv9U?si=ny1nVpq-s1_7ssMY&t=155
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dbwWB_gpv9U?si=sLWInL9lK4R-6J6D&t=223
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dbwWB_gpv9U?si=50APVqobYAr28ykh&t=375
- ↑ https://www.opi.com/blog/nail-care/how-to-remove-gel-nails-at-home
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a28400587/gel-nails-last-longer/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/nails/art-20044954
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/nail-hardener-7496743
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8477615/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/nails/art-20044954
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