This article was co-authored by Lindsay Yoshitomi and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Lindsay Yoshitomi is the nail artist behind the blog, Lacquered Lawyer. She was featured as one of Nail It! magazine’s “Bloggers You Should Know,” and has been on the cover of Nail Art Gallery Magazine. She has been practicing nail art for over 15 years.
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 18 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 1,181,733 times.
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
Community Q&A
Did you know you can get answers researched by wikiHow Staff?
Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow
-
QuestionHow do you get gel nails off without acetone?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThere 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. -
QuestionDoes gel nail polish ruin your nails?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow 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. -
QuestionWhat kind of nail polish remover do I need to remove gel nail polish?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow 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.
Warnings
- Always work in a well-ventilated space when using acetone, as inhaling the chemical’s fumes could be harmful.[17]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- 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]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- It is possible to remove gel nails without acetone, but these methods can be harmful to your nails and aren’t as fast.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You’ll Need
- Pure acetone
- Cotton balls or pads
- Aluminum foil
- Nail file or buffer
- Petroleum jelly
- Hand lotion
- Cuticle oil
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/F14HfVQAogI?t=16
- ↑ https://youtu.be/56iYEg4mIIM?t=158
- ↑ https://youtu.be/56iYEg4mIIM?t=120
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ 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.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/removing-gel-polish
- ↑ 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
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!