How To Remove Gel Polish At Home
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Lots of Lacquer and its partners may earn a commission or other compensation, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you’re wondering the fastest way to soak off gel nail polish, you’re in the right place. I’ve tried a bunch of different methods and there are indeed a few ways to remove gel polish that work best.
While you can ask a professional to remove your gel nails, it is faster and easier to do it yourself at home.
To begin, while it may be tempting, avoid peeling your gel manicure off your natural nails, as it makes your nails more sensitive and thinner. Even if the gel polish is coming up at the edges and peeling the manicure off feels like the best move, in the long game, it’s not the best move.
This is because when you peel off gel nails, it can take the top layer of nail off with it - this will make your nails weaker in the long run. Believe me, I’ve learned the hard way!
Instead, soak them off with pure acetone - there are 2 main ways to do that.
The first is soaking them in a bowl and the second is with nail wraps, both work, it just depends on your preference and availability of supplies.
I typically don’t buy cuticle oil blends - pure jojoba oil works and if you don’t have that, you can typically use whatever cooking oil you have, though olive oil is normally my second choice.
If you’re on the run and don’t have random beauty or cooking oils at your disposal, you can usually use any colorless chapstick or emollient balm that’s around.
You can, of course, purchase distinct cuticle oils, but if you’re on a budget, the above hacks have worked for me for many years.
Okay so now that you’ve gathered acetone, a cuticle pusher, nail file and cuticle oil, grab a kitchen towel and trash can, let’s start with the first method of removal.
Gel Polish Bowl Soak Off Method
Estimated time: 10-15 minutes
Soaking bowls have two tiers for removal; the bottom tier is for hot water which warms the acetone in the top tier. Warmed acetone removes gel faster.
To begin, place your kitchen towel down on your workspace.
File off the shiny layer on the top of each nail. Then, if you notice any gel polish lifting around the tips or cuticle line, use a cuticle stick to gently lift the edges of your manicure.
Next, heat about ¼ kettle with water. Once you notice the kettle is making noise, remove the water and pour ½” - ¾” inch of hot, not boiling, water into the bottom of the soak bowls.
Put the top tier on the bowls and fill each finger compartment ¾ of the way with acetone.
Place your finger tips in the acetone and make sure your nails are covered in the solvent, then rest your palm on the center palm hold of the bowl.
Every few minutes, take your nails out and gently scrape off the crumbling gel over a trash can until all gel polish is removed.
Gel polish that is ready for removal will crumble off easily. For the polish that doesn’t crumble off, place your nails back in the bowl, wait a few more minutes and repeat until done.
Once all gel is removed, coat your nails in cuticle oil and clean up.
Note: soaking your gel polish off in warm acetone is very similar to soaking your nails in a hot tub. If you regularly use a hot tub, keep your nails out of the water to extend their longevity. In fact, I often soak my nails in warm water baths to loosen and lift them.
Now for the next method…
Gel Polish Nail Wrap Soak Off Method
Estimated time: 25-30 minutes.
Working one hand at a time, saturate the cotton of a foil wrap with acetone, place this saturated cotton pad over the gel nail and wrap the foil around the nail. Hold the foil on with a clip. Repeat the process for the remaining 4 fingers.
Let the foils sit for 10-15 minutes.
Then remove each foil one by one and using a metal cuticle pusher or a file, gently scrape off the crumbling gel polish over a trash can.
If any gel polish remains, replace the foils for another 5-10 minutes to soak off any left over gel polish. Repeat until all gel polish is removed.
When complete, coat your nails in cuticle oil and move to the next hand.
Of the two methods, the nail wrap method is best for removing gel polish from your toes.
Both of these methods are efficient and safe ways to remove any soft gel manicure at home. If you're aiming for speed, though, the soaking off method is faster because heated acetone accelerates the process.
You’re now ready to begin your next manicure!
For more content like this, follow us on Instagram ~
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Ulta and Sally Beauty Affiliate, this site earn from qualifying purchases.
