Sophia Delgado
Shellac and gel nail polishes are known for their long-lasting shine and chip resistance. However, when it's time for a change, removing them at home is possible. The process is similar for both types of polish and involves a few simple steps. Firstly, buff away the top coat of polish with a nail file to remove the glossiness. Then, soak cotton balls or cotton wool in nail polish remover with an acetone content of 60% or more, or pure acetone, and place them on your nails. Wrap each nail with foil to keep the cotton in place and leave for 10-20 minutes. The polish should then be soft and can be gently scraped off with a wooden cuticle stick. It's important to resist the urge to peel or pick at gel or shellac polish, as this can damage the nail bed and lead to thin, weak, and brittle nails.
Removing Gel Shellac Nails at Home
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Required Tools | Nail file, acetone nail polish remover, cotton balls/pads/rounds, foil, cuticle stick, cuticle oil, hand cream/hand mask |
| Preparation | Cut cotton rounds into triangles, tear foil into strips, and gather the necessary tools |
| Step 1 | Use a nail file to buff away the surface layer of the manicure. Inspect your nails under a light to ensure you've removed the top coat. |
| Step 2 | Soak cotton in acetone nail polish remover and place it on each nail. |
| Step 3 | Wrap each nail with foil to keep the cotton in place. |
| Step 4 | Let nails soak for 5-20 minutes. |
| Step 5 | Use a cuticle stick to gently push/scrape away the polish. |
| Step 6 | Apply cuticle oil and/or hand cream to moisturize and rehydrate the skin. |
| Warnings | Do not pick, peel, or bite the gel polish off as it can damage the nail bed and cause long-term damage to your nails. |
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What You'll Learn
Buff away the top coat
Buffing away the top coat of your shellac or gel manicure will help accelerate the removal time. You are essentially giving your remover a head start and one less coat to break down during the soak-off time.
Firstly, get a good nail file with a decent amount of friction-causing texture. Then, buff the surface of the nails with it until there is no shiny coating left. Be careful not to buff too hard, as you still want to see some colour on your nails to ensure you are protecting the integrity of your natural nails.
If you have the gel on top of an acrylic set, you will need an e-file or nail drill machine to buff away the top coat. File the gel polish off with swift strokes in one direction at a time until the gel polish starts to come off. Keep moving the file around your nail and focusing on different areas until the gel polish is removed.
If you don't have an e-file, you can use a wooden cuticle stick or a manicuring brush to gently scrape away the remaining polish. If the polish isn't sliding off with minimal pressure, this is a sign that it needs more nail polish remover.
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Soak nails in acetone
Soaking your nails in acetone is an effective way to remove gel nail polish at home. To start, you'll need to prepare your nails by removing the top coat. Use a nail file to buff away the surface layer of the manicure. Be careful not to file too much—you should still see some colour on your nails to protect the integrity of your natural nails.
Next, you'll need to cut your cotton balls or strips to the size of each nail. Using cotton that is roughly the same size as each nail reduces the risk of getting acetone on your skin. As a general rule, your little fingers or toes will need about a quarter of a cotton ball, and you can cover the other nails with half a cotton ball each. Soak each piece of cotton in acetone and place them on your nails.
Now, wrap your nails with foil or plastic food wrap. Dr Shari Lipner, a board-certified dermatologist, recommends using plastic wrap as it creates a tighter seal, reducing the risk of dripping. Leave the acetone-soaked cotton on your nails for around 5-20 minutes.
After this, the polish should be softened and can be gently scraped off with a cuticle stick or manicuring brush. If the polish isn't coming off with minimal pressure, you may need to soak your nails in acetone for a little longer.
Finally, wash your hands with a gentle, fragrance-free soap and water to remove any remaining acetone. Acetone can be drying, so it's important to moisturise your hands and nails after this process. Apply cuticle oil or petroleum jelly to your cuticles and the skin around your nails to replenish moisture and keep them healthy.
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Wrap nails in foil
To remove gel shellac nails at home, you will need foil, acetone, and cotton balls or cotton wool.
First, use a nail file to buff away the top, shiny layer of your shellac or gel nail polish. This will allow the acetone to penetrate below the finishing coat. Next, soak the cotton balls or cotton wool in acetone. Make sure they are completely saturated. Place the soaked cotton on top of your nail, ensuring it covers all of the nail's area. Then, using foil, cover the cotton so that it stays in place. Repeat this process for each nail.
Once all your nails are wrapped, wait 15-20 minutes for the nail polish remover to dissolve the gel polish. You can watch TV or FaceTime a friend while you wait so that you are not tempted to damage your nails by rushing. After this time, the nail polish should peel off your nail without much manipulation. If you come across a hard spot, re-file that area and soak your nails for an additional five minutes.
Finally, use a nail strengthening oil to rehabilitate your nails. Apply oils multiple times a day to bring your nails back to life.
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Scrape off softened polish
Once you've wrapped each nail, wait around 10 minutes. This gives the acetone time to soak into the gel polish. After 10 minutes, the gel polish should be soft and might look bubbly or curled. Now you can pinch off the foil and cotton ball from your nail.
Use a metal cuticle pusher, orangewood stick, or manicuring brush to gently push or scrape the gel polish off each nail. If the polish isn't coming off easily, keep soaking the nail with the acetone cotton ball for another 5 minutes. You can also apply a little more pressure, but be careful not to use too much force. If the polish still isn't sliding off, it's a sign that it needs more nail polish remover. Soak a fresh cotton ball, and wrap it up with aluminium foil for a few more minutes before nudging off the rest of the polish.
Gently buff your nails to smooth out ridges and uneven edges. This will also help smooth the surface of your nails and remove any small bits of gel polish left. But be careful not to buff too much. If you do, your nails can get thin and weak. This makes it hard for gel polish to stick properly in the future. Overly buffed nails can bend a lot, and this makes the gel polish come off the nail plate easily.
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Moisturise and use cuticle oil
Moisturising your nails after removing gel shellac nails is essential. You can use many different products to do this, such as cuticle oil, coconut oil, or your regular hand moisturiser.
Cuticle oil is a blend of various oils, such as argain, jojoba, and vitamin E, that work together to nourish your nails and the skin around them. Cuticle oil is an effective way to keep your nails and the skin around them healthy and strong. It can be used on bare nails or over nail polish.
To apply cuticle oil, place a drop on each nail and gently massage it into your nails and the surrounding skin. You can do this as often as you like, but it is especially important after removing gel nail polish since acetone removes the natural oils and moisture from your nail plate, leaving your nails brittle and susceptible to breakage.
You can also use coconut oil to moisturise your nails. Coconut oil is a natural moisturiser that can help to nourish and protect your nails and skin. Like cuticle oil, coconut oil can be applied directly to your nails and the surrounding skin.
In addition to using cuticle oil or coconut oil, you may also want to use a regular hand moisturiser to keep your hands and nails hydrated.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a nail file, acetone-based nail polish remover, cotton balls or cotton wool, foil, a wooden cuticle pusher or stick, and cuticle oil. First, use the nail file to buff away the surface layer of the manicure. Then, soak the cotton balls in the nail polish remover and place them on your nails before wrapping your fingers in foil. Leave this on for 10-20 minutes, then gently scrape away any remaining polish with the cuticle stick. Finally, apply some cuticle oil to keep your nails healthy and strong.
Place your hand under a light and inspect your nails. If you can see any remaining shiny patches, you will need to file your nails a little more. However, if you start seeing spots of your natural nail, you've gone too far.
Soak a fresh cotton ball in nail polish remover, wrap it in foil, and leave it on your nails for a few more minutes. Then, try gently scraping away the polish again.
