Isla Bennett
There are many ways to spruce up gel nails, from at-home methods to professional salon treatments. Gel nail polish is known for its sturdy and long-lasting qualities, but this also means that it can be challenging to remove without damaging your nails. To avoid this, it is recommended to go to a professional for gel polish removal. However, if you want to remove your gel nails at home, you can use acetone to soak off the polish, but this can be time-consuming. To change the shape of your gel nails, you can use a nail file to reshape them, but it is important to be gentle to avoid damaging your nails. You can also paint over gel nail polish with regular nail polish to hide any chips or simply change up your look.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gel nail polish | Exceptionally hard and sturdy compared to other nail polishes |
| Removal | It is recommended to go to a professional for the safest gel polish removal |
| At-home gel manicure | Cost-effective, time-saving, creative, resourceful, and healthier |
| Curing | Can be done under a UV or LED lamp for 1-2 minutes or air-dried for 10 minutes |
| Base coat | Should be applied in a thin layer and cured under a lamp for 2 minutes |
| Gel polish | Should be applied in thin layers and cured under a lamp for 2 minutes |
| Top coat | Should be applied in a thin layer and cured under a lamp for 30-60 seconds |
| Nail shape | Can be reshaped using a nail file or nail nippers |
| Regular nail polish | Can be painted over gel nail polish |
| Gel and acrylic combination | Using a hard gel encapsulated with acrylic can create something close to polygel |
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What You'll Learn
Removing gel nails at home
Firstly, it is recommended to let your natural nails grow out. This process can take up to six months for fingernails and 12 to 18 months for toenails. During this time, you must resist the urge to pick, peel, or scrape off the gel polish, as this can damage your nails. Instead, clip your nails once a week to remove the gel polish and prevent them from catching on objects.
If you don't want to wait for your nails to grow out, you can try the following method:
- Prepare your workspace: Line your work area with plastic wrap to protect it from acetone, which can be damaging to sinks, countertops, and furniture. Then, place a thick towel on top of the plastic wrap.
- Protect your skin: Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or cuticle oil to the skin surrounding your nails. This will create a protective barrier against the harsh acetone.
- File the top coat: Use a nail buffer or nail file to gently file off the top coat of your gel nails. Focus on removing the shine and breaking the gel seal, so the acetone can penetrate better. Be careful not to file the surface of the nail plate.
- Soak in acetone: Soak cotton balls or strips in acetone and wrap them around your nails. You can also dip your nails directly into a bowl of acetone. Leave this on for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the gel: After soaking, the gel should start to flake off. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push off any loose gels. If any parts of the gel are still attached, repeat the process of soaking cotton in acetone and wrapping your nails.
- Buff and moisturize: Once all the gel has been removed, gently buff your nails to smooth them out. Finish by applying cuticle oil to rehydrate your skin, as acetone can cause dryness.
It is important to note that gel nail polish forms a strong adhesion with your nails, so manually scraping or peeling it off can damage your nails. Therefore, it is recommended to go to a nail salon and have a professional handle the removal process if you are unsure about doing it yourself.
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Painting over gel nails with regular nail polish
Step 1: Buff the Nails
Use a nail buffer to gently buff the surface of your gel nails. This process helps create a rough surface for the new polish to adhere to. Make sure to buff just enough to remove the shine; there is no need to buff off most of the polish or the top layer of your nail.
Step 2: Cleanse the Nails
After buffing, use a nail cleanser or acetone to clean the nails. This step ensures that any residue or oils are removed, creating a clean canvas for the new polish.
Step 3: Choose Your Regular Nail Polish
The fun part! Select the regular nail polish colour of your choice. Opting for a regular polish allows you to explore a wider range of colours and gives you the flexibility to change your nail colour more frequently.
Step 4: Apply the Regular Nail Polish
Start by applying a base coat to create a smooth surface for the colour. Then, follow the same steps as you would for a regular manicure. Place the brush in the middle of the nail and brush towards the free edge. Gently push the polish back towards the cuticle for better control. Apply one or two thin, even layers of colour, allowing each layer to dry in between coats. Finish with a strong top coat to protect your manicure from chipping.
Step 5: Care and Maintenance
Remember that regular nail polish is more delicate than gel polish and may be prone to chipping. To extend the life of your manicure, wrap the free edge of your nail with colour, and reapply the top coat as needed. When it's time to remove the regular polish, opt for nail polish remover instead of straight acetone, as acetone can weaken the gel polish underneath.
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Reshaping gel nails
Reshaping your gel nails is a great way to change up your manicure without having to start from scratch. It is possible to reshape your nails at home, but it is important to be careful to avoid damaging your nails or the surrounding skin.
Before you begin reshaping, it is important to clean your nails and cuticles. Use a cuticle stick to push back any dead skin and remove any remaining oil or debris from your nails. You can also use acetone to clean your nails and dehydrate them, which will help the gel nail polish adhere better.
When reshaping gel nails, it is recommended to use a medium-grit file, such as a 150 or 180-grit file. If you have a French tip nail, be aware that reshaping may break the seal on the white tip, causing it to collect pigment. In this case, it is best to avoid reshaping.
To reshape your nails, start by identifying the middle point of your cuticle area and matching it to the center point of the free edge. This will be your guide as you file the sides towards this point. Be gentle and file in one direction to avoid splitting or lifting, which can be caused by filing back and forth. If you are using a board hand file, try placing it under your nail instead of on top to avoid filing off the top coat.
After reshaping, dust off your nails with a dry brush and then wet the brush with 90% alcohol to clean them again. You can then finish by applying a new top coat to your gel manicure.
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Removing gel polish with nail clips
Firstly, you need to prepare your nails. Using a coarse nail file, file down the gel top coat layer until the top coat loses its shine and smoothness. Be careful not to use a back-and-forth motion and not to focus on just one spot. Filing down the top coat will expose the gel polish underneath, making it easier to take off with acetone later.
Next, cut your cotton pads into four pieces and soak each piece with acetone. You can also use cotton balls, but be sure to tear off pieces that are thin but big enough to cover your nail bed. The cotton should not be so big that it touches the skin around your nails or your cuticles.
Now, it is time to apply the nail clips. Cover each nail with a cotton pad or cotton ball, then apply the nail polish soak-off clip to hold it in place. Keep the clips on for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, you can watch a show or do something enjoyable.
After removing the clips, start scraping off the gel polish with a steel cuticle remover and scraper. The polish should lift up without much difficulty. If it is still challenging to remove, apply another cotton pad or cotton ball soaked with acetone for a little longer.
Finally, finish up by applying cuticle remover liquid to your cuticles and rubbing it in. Use the steel cuticle remover and scraper to push down and scrape off the cuticles from your nails. Clip your nails to your desired length, shape them with a nail file, and buff the tops of your nails to remove a bit of the top layer.
Remember, it is always an option to go to a professional for gel polish removal to ensure the safest method and reduce the risk of damaging your nails.
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Gel nail manicure kits
There are many gel nail manicure kits available on the market that can help you spruce up your gel nails. These kits provide a cost-effective, convenient, and time-saving alternative to salon visits, allowing you to do your nails whenever and wherever you want. Here are some popular options:
Le Mini Macaron Gel Nail Kit
Le Mini Macaron offers two gel nail kits: Le Mini and Le Maxi. Both kits include everything needed for a salon-quality gel manicure at home, including an LED lamp. Le Mini is a portable one-finger LED lamp that dries gel polish in 30 seconds, while Le Maxi has a four-finger LED lamp that dries the polish in 60 seconds. The kits also include a gel nail polish bottle that combines the base coat, colour, and top coat in one. With over 90 gel polish shades, you can easily find a colour that suits your style.
Morovan Nail Kit
The Morovan Nail Kit is an affordable option available on Amazon for $36. It includes a nail dehydrator, primer, base and top coat, grooming tools, a drying lamp, and eight colours. The kit also comes with extension gel and foil for shaping your nails. The thorough yet concise directions make it easy to achieve a smooth and precise application.
SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit
The SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable and quick-drying option. It is available on Amazon for $40.
Olive & June The Gel Mani System
This kit comes with everything you need for a DIY manicure, including six polishes of your choosing. The finished product is shiny and long-lasting, rivaling the quality of a salon manicure.
Green Flash™ LED Gel Polish Kit
The Green Flash™ kit provides professional-quality at-home application. It includes essentials such as a base coat, top coat, colour, LED lamp, polish remover clips, and an acetone-free remover solution. The premium lamp kit offers a manicure in 20 minutes, while the travel lamp kit takes 30 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
If you want to reshape your gel nails, you can use a 150 or 180-grit board file to gently file in one direction. You can also use nail nippers to cut the corners of the nail diagonally. Be careful not to cut off too much.
Yes, you can paint over gel nails with regular nail polish. This is a great way to quickly change up your manicure or cover up any chips.
To remove gel nails, you will need acetone, cotton pads, a nail buffer, and a steel cuticle remover and scraper. First, buff the top of each nail and then soak a cotton pad in acetone. Cover your nail with the cotton pad and use a nail polish remover clip to hold it in place for 15 minutes. Then, remove the clip and begin scraping off the gel polish.
