how to remove gel nail polish at home

gel nails look amazing on, but getting them off can be a pain. while it’s tempting to remove gel nail polish by picking or ripping, you risk causing unsightly peeling and damage to your nail beds. but don’t despair! you don’t have to make another trip to the salon because removing gel nails at home is safe and easy using supplies you probably already have, like essie’s to the rescue UV damage repair treatment. just follow this simple tutorial by essie global ambassador and nail artist rita remark to return to your nails to natural.

 

what you need for removing gel nail polish

 

 

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  • 1 paper towels
  • 2 nail file (180 grit)
  • 3 100% pure acetone
  • 4 cotton balls or rounds
  • 5 tin foil: cut into 3-inch squares, one for each finger
  • 6 orangewood stick or cuticle pusher
  • 7 nail buffer (240 grit or higher)
  • 8 essie apricot cuticle oil
  • 9 timer
Supplies for removing gel nails like clippers, files, foils, and nail hardeners on a white background
  • 1

    trim nails

    begin by removing any extra length from the nail with a nail clipper. if you’re not looking to hold onto extra length, doing this before soaking will speed up the removal process. tip: always work above a paper towel that you can roll up and throw away at the end.
    Light skin hands wearing lilac gel nails, one hand trimming a nail with clippers.
  • 2

    file gel surface

    next, with a 180-grit nail file, file the surface of the gel. remove all the shine and some of the gel density where possible. this will make it easier for the acetone to penetrate, soften and lift away the gel.
    Light skin hands, one filing off the surface of a gel nail with a white nail file.
  • 3

    protect your cuticles

    before applying the remover wraps, apply essie apricot cuticle oil to each cuticle. removing with acetone can temporarily dehydrate and this provides a hydrating barrier to each cuticle in the process.
    Bottle of cuticle oil next to light skin hands, one brushing the oil onto cuticles.
  • 4

    soak nails in acetone & wrap

    working one finger at a time, soak a cotton ball in 100% pure acetone and apply it directly atop of the nail. next, wrap it tightly with 1 or 2 squares of tinfoil, aiming for an airtight seal.
    Fingertip covered in an acetone-soaked cotton ball and a foil wrap about to be applied.
  • 5

    wait 10-15 minutes

    once all of the nails are tightly wrapped, wait 10-15 minutes before checking the progress. because acetone easily evaporates, checking on the nails before the 10 minutes are up can add time to the removal.
    Closeup of a light skin hand, pinky and ring finger with tips wrapped in tin foil.
  • 6

    check the foils

    check on the first nail that you wrapped by gently removing the foil and cotton ball. if the gel is raised and flaking away (as pictured), it’s ready to remove. if not, wrap another acetone cotton ball to the nail and wait another 5 minutes.
    A foil wrap being removed, showing gel polish dissolved into large flakes and coming off
  • 7

    remove the gel

    if ready, remove the wrap and lightly push away the excess with an orangewood stick (or a cuticle pusher if preferred). always push down the nail to the tip, rather than upwards towards the cuticle. this direction is more gentle and less likely to cause splits or damage.
    Flakes of gel nail polish being pushed off a nail with an orangewood stick.
  • 8

    buff nails

    once all the gel is removed, it’s common to have some residue left on the nail. smooth the surface by lightly buffing each nail with a 240 grit (or more) buffer. refine the tip of the nail with a file and the removal is complete.
    Nude nails on light skin hands, with surface of the index fingernail being buffed.
  • 9

    hydrate and treat

    if harsh UV light was used to apply and cure your gel nail polish, chances are you’ll need a nail treatment or two to nurse them back to health. after removing gel nails at home, rita recommends fortifying your nails with a hardener like hard to resist advanced nail strengthener.
    Light skin hands applying hard to resist nail strengthener to the index fingernail.
Light skin hand next to two bottles of nail treatment and supplies to remove gel nail polish

 

tips for removing gel nails at home

 

1. never pick at, scrape, rip, tear or bite gel polish left on nails

2. apply foils and soak one hand at a time so you always have a free hand

3. removing gel nail polish at home can get messy, work in a well ventilated area and protect any surfaces

 

common mistakes when removing gel nail polish

 

removing gel nails at home requires a bit of patience. one of the most common mistakes is not soaking long enough, so set a timer and check one nail before taking off all the foils. but don’t wait too long either: acetone only removes most of the gel polish, no matter how long it stays on. 

another important thing to keep in mind is your nails are extra fragile after the gel nail application process. do not use any sharp objects on your nails and be more gentle than usual until they get healthy and strong.

 


what to know about gel nails and gel removal

 

water passes through our nails at about half the rate when we wear a coating like gel or acrylic. after removing gel nail polish, it’s common for nails to feel slightly softer because they’re in a different state. give your nails 24 hours to return to normal. 

now that you’ve removed your gel nails, consider a gentler alternative to UV gel manicures that looks just as great: essie gel couture longwear nail polish. our 2-step system provides long 15-day wear and a gel-like shine, but it comes off like regular nail polish.

please also note that not all gels are created equal. 

 

  • - hard gels can only be filed off, preferably by a professional manicurist. 

  • - if you’re wearing builder or BIAB gel along with gel polish, it’s important to file down a lot more of the gel thickness before soaking with acetone. this will speed up the removal process.

once you’ve followed all the steps for removing gel nails at home, be sure to reset your natural nails by making them stronger, healthier and moisturized. apply a nail strengthener or treatment and a cuticle oil. they’re your best allies for getting your nails back in shape.

 

shop gel removal at home must-haves

gel removal faq

  • no, removing gel nails at home is not bad, it just takes some patience and some common supplies. follow the steps in this tutorial carefully and you’ll be good to go. and don’t skip the important final instruction to hydrate and treat, including with our special formula to the rescue UV gel damage repair nail treatment. your natural nails will thank you ☺.
  • most gel nails can be soaked off with acetone, as explained above. use a file before removing gel nail polish if you also have builder or BIAB gel, which thickens the polish layer. if you have hard gel nails, have a professional file them off.
  • nail salons use 100% acetone to soak off gel nails, just like in this tutorial. they also saturate cotton balls and wrap nails in foil before soaking for 10-15 minutes.