
Gem Crush nail polish is a glitter polish by Sally Hansen that comes in eight jewel-tone shades. To remove it, you'll need to use an acetone-based nail polish remover. There are several methods you can try, including using cotton balls soaked in acetone and wrapped in aluminium foil, or soaking your fingertips in a bowl of acetone. You can also try using plastic food wrap instead of aluminium foil, as recommended by dermatologist Dr. Lipner, who says this creates a tighter seal than foil, making it less likely that the acetone will drip. If you're looking for a more gradual approach, Dr. Lipner suggests letting your nails grow out and clipping them once a week to remove the gel nail polish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main tools | Nail file, dust brush, tweezers, small steel pusher, sponge file, polishing strip, aluminum foil, cotton, nail polish remover, nourishing oil |
| Removal process | File, clean, apply remover, polish, and nourish |
| File | Use the fine side of a nail file to gently buff the nail surface in a side-center-side pattern |
| Clean | Use a dust brush to clean the nail surface |
| Apply remover | Cut appropriate sizes of aluminum foil and wrap each nail |
| Polish | Use a polishing strip to polish the nail surface, starting with the coarse side and finishing with the fine side |
| Nourish | Buff the nails and apply nourishing oil |
| Gem removal | Find the gem's easy-lift point and use gem removal pliers to clip off the four corners of the alloy gem |
| Acetone-based remover | Soak cotton balls in acetone and wrap them around each nail with tinfoil |
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What You'll Learn

Use an acetone-based nail polish remover
To remove gem crush nail polish, you will need to use an acetone-based nail polish remover. Start by gathering your supplies: acetone, cotton balls or pads, aluminum foil, a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick, a nail file, and cuticle oil or hand cream. It is important to note that pure acetone is required for this process, as regular nail polish remover will not work.
Begin by filing down the top coat of your nail polish with a coarse nail file. This will help the acetone penetrate the polish faster. Next, soak a cotton ball or pad in acetone. It should be damp but not dripping wet – around 5 to 10 drops of acetone should be enough. Place the soaked cotton on your fingernail and wrap it with a piece of aluminum foil to hold it in place. Repeat this process for each nail.
Now, wait for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, the acetone will work to soften the nail polish. After this waiting period, carefully remove the foil and cotton from your nail. Use a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick to gently push off the softened gel polish. If the polish is not coming off easily, you may need to rewrap the nail and allow it to soak for a few more minutes.
Finally, use a nail buffer to smooth the surface of your nails and remove any small bits of remaining polish. Be careful not to over-buff, as this can weaken your nails. Finish by applying cuticle oil or a rich hand cream to rehydrate and nourish your nails.
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Soak nails in acetone for 5-20 minutes
To remove gem crush nail polish, you will need 100% pure acetone, cotton balls or pads, aluminium foil, a nail file, a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick, a nail buffer, and cuticle oil or hand cream.
Start by filing the top coat of nail polish with a nail file. Gently buff away the shiny top layer. This will help the acetone penetrate the gem crush nail polish faster. Next, soak cotton balls or pads in acetone. The cotton should be damp but not dripping wet. Place the soaked cotton on your fingernail and wrap it with aluminium foil to hold it in place.
Now, wait 10 to 20 minutes. Check one nail after 10 minutes—if the polish is flaking off, you’re ready for the next step. If not, let it soak for another 5 to 10 minutes.
After the waiting period, gently push off the gel with a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick. If the polish is not coming off easily, keep soaking the nail with the acetone-soaked cotton ball for another 5 minutes.
Finally, buff and hydrate your nails. Use a nail buffer to smooth the surface. Finish with cuticle oil and a rich hand cream to rehydrate your nails.
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Remove softened gel with a cuticle pusher
To remove softened gel with a cuticle pusher, you must first prepare your nails by soaking them in acetone. Start by tearing off 10 pieces of cotton ball that are about 1.5 x 1.5 cm. Ensure they are thin but large enough to cover your nail bed. The cotton shouldn't hang over and touch the skin around your nails or cuticles. Next, soak the cotton balls in acetone. They should be damp, but not dripping wet. Typically, 5 to 10 drops of acetone are sufficient.
Once you have soaked the cotton balls, wrap each nail with aluminium foil and wait 10 minutes. This allows the acetone to soften the gel polish. After 10 minutes, the gel polish should appear soft and may look bubbly or curled. Now, you can pinch off the foil and cotton ball from your nail.
Finally, use a metal cuticle pusher to gently push the softened gel polish off each nail. If the polish is not coming off easily, keep soaking the nail with the acetone-soaked cotton ball for another 5 minutes. Be gentle to avoid damaging the nail surface.
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Buff and hydrate nails
To remove Sally Hansen Gem Crush Glitter Nail Polish, you will need to use an acetone-based nail polish remover. Start by gently filing your nails from the cuticle to the edge, moving left to right. Avoid using a back-and-forth motion and do not focus on just one spot.
Once you have filed your nails, you can then proceed to remove the nail polish. There are several methods you can use:
- Soak a cotton ball in acetone and hold it on your nail for 10 seconds before wiping.
- Wrap your nails with cotton balls soaked in acetone and cover them with aluminum foil. Wait for 5-10 minutes, then remove the wrap and gently push off the softened gel using a small steel pusher.
- Soak your fingertips in a bowl of acetone.
After removing the nail polish, you can buff and hydrate your nails to restore their health and natural shine. Here are some tips to help you buff and hydrate your nails effectively:
Buffing
- Use a nail file or a multi-sided buffer to gently buff your nails, starting with the highest grit side and moving to the lower grit sides.
- Be careful not to over-buff your nails as this can make them thin and weak, causing them to bend easily.
- If your nails are already thin and bendy, avoid buffing the surface to smooth them. Instead, use a ridge-filling base coat.
Hydrating
- Apply nourishing oil or cuticle oil to your nails and massage it into the cuticle area to promote blood flow and nail growth.
- Use jojoba oil or another type of nail oil to keep your nails well-hydrated and protected.
- Wear gloves when doing household chores such as cleaning or washing dishes to prevent water from penetrating the nail plate and causing delamination (peeling).
- Apply a base coat to the underside of your nails to further protect them from water damage.
- Moisturize your nails frequently and sleep with cotton gloves on to help them stay hydrated.
- Consider taking a good quality multivitamin to support nail health from within.
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Use tweezers to remove gems
To remove gems from your nails, you can use tweezers. This method is suitable for removing diamond gems, as well as other types of nail enhancements, including gel polish, fake nails, builder gel, acrylic, and polygel. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use tweezers to remove gems from your nails:
Firstly, find the gem's easy-to-lift point. This point will allow you to access the base of the gem, from where you can start prying it open. Next, use the tweezers to gently lift the gem at this point. Be very gentle during this step to avoid damaging your natural nail. Once you have lifted the gem, use the tweezers to pry it open from the base. If you are removing a large gem, be careful not to remove a large area at once, as this can be painful. Instead, gradually clip along the base edge of the gem.
For smaller gems, the process is slightly different. Instead of prying the gem open, you can simply clip the glue at the base of the gem to remove it quickly. If you are removing multiple small gems, start from the nail tip and work your way towards the base. This way, you can avoid accidentally removing a large area at once. Additionally, you can use old cuticle nippers or gem removal pliers to clip off the four corners of the alloy gem before prying it open from the base.
Overall, using tweezers to remove gems from your nails requires patience and gentleness to avoid damaging your natural nails. It is important to work gradually and carefully, especially when removing large gems, to ensure a safe and effective removal process.
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