If running water does not work, it's time to use oil. Apply any natural oil that is oily in nature, for example coconut or olive oil, and most ideally, cuticle oil onto the gel nail and to the finger from the other hand you are using to push the gel nail off with. Slowly push the gel polish off from the sides.
Use Olive oil or cuticle oil
If you find it difficult to remove your gel nail using running water, olive oil or cuticle oil can be used as an alternative. Apply the oil on both the gel and your fingernail which will act as a pusher. Gently push until the nail comes off then reapply more oil if needed.
Acetone offers the most effective way to remove gel nail polish at home, says board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner, MD, FAAD.
Cuticle Oil helps extend the life of your gel manicure
This provides a smoother, unhindered surface for your Gel Nail Polish to adhere to. Cuticle Oil should be applied between gel manicures and during gel manicures, as hydrated cuticles means your gel manicure is less likely to chip and last longer.
Remover: You have a few replacement options to use instead of acetone. Hand sanitizers, hydrogen peroxide, and cuticle oil are some of the most popular and effective methods. You can also try a kitchen oil like olive oil. If you have nothing else on hand, warm, soapy water or vinegar can be used to remove gel nails.
REMOVING NAIL POLISH WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
Lemongrass essential oil can be used as an effective nail polish remover. Add 1-2 drops of lemongrass essential oil straight to the fingernail and rub with a cotton ball. Repeat until the nail polish is removed.
"Finish the nail with a good shiny topcoat," says Bell. "Lastly, wait for the gel to cool before adding nail oil... applying oil too soon when the gel is warm can sometimes diminish the shine from the finished nail."
"Roughing up the nail with files not meant for natural nails prior to application, forcefully scraping off product during removal instead of allowing it to release, aggressive filing again after removal, and picking and peeling off the gel polish can all cause damage," she says.
How can that happen? The nail plate contains a high percentage of both water and oil. Both of these can cause lifting if they are found on the surface of the nail plate.
Soak Nails in Olive Oil
Soak your nails in olive oil for about 10 to 15 minutes daily. If you suffer from dry skin, soaking your feet (or hands during dry winter months) can be a luxurious treatment for both nails and skin.
One way you can remove gel polish without acetone is by using dish soap and salt. Add dish soap and salt to warm water in a small bowl and fully submerge your nails into the mixture. You can also use olive oil to replace the salt. Let your fingers sit for 10-15 minutes before withdrawing.
How Salons Take Off Gel Polish. In addition to applying acetone-soaked cotton balls directly to the nail and wrapping them in aluminum foil for upwards of 10 minutes, your local nail salon may also opt to use professional tools, like a nail drill, to remove residual gel polish.
If you are finding it difficult to peel the nail off under running water, try using olive oil or cuticle oil instead. Cover the gel nail and the fingernail you are using to push the gel nail off with oil. Then, slide your nail under the gel nail and gently push it off. Apply more oil as needed.
Olive oil helps to moisturize the cuticles around the nails, promoting both hydration and nail development. If done correctly, the skin around the nails, as well as the nails, will be in excellent shape over time.
"While [olive oil] does not promote new growth per se, it does improve brittleness and reduce breakage, allowing the nails to grow to the best of their ability," says Dr. Zeichner.
When builder gel is applied directly to the natural nail, it can 'flex' more than the natural nail and this separation of the two layers causes lifting. So in order to prevent your builder gel from lifting, you need to create a layer between your natural nail and the builder gel.
Keep gel nails away from hot water
Hot water is your gel nails' worst enemy. Therefore, avoid long baths and wear gloves while doing the dishes or else, it will cause the gel polish to lift up and even peel off altogether.
Certain substances, like hot water, can shorten the life of your gel manicure. So daily activities like washing the dishes can cause your polish to lift (more on that later).
Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling and cracking, and repeated use can increase the risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands.
For gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures. “An emollient applied directly to the nail and cuticle oil will also aid recovery,” said Batra.
Gel polish lasts between 2-3 weeks at the minimum, while regular polish is lucky to go a week without chipping. With light wear, your gel nails last at least twice as long as a normal polish, but realistically they get you four to six times a standard manicure mileage.
The most common reason why the top coat starts peeling after one day is because the top coat isn't cured properly. Sometimes this is a top coat formula and lamp compatibility issue - or that you just need to cure the top coat for longer.
Jin Soon, a NYC-based manicurist, recommends up to three coats of nail polish for full color coverage and a smooth, finished look. "If you apply more than three coats in one sitting, the application will be prone to clumping off in one piece, almost like a shell" she says.