Acetone offers the most effective way to remove gel nail polish at home, says board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner, MD, FAAD.
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.
After wrapping each nail, wait 10 minutes to let the acetone soak into the gel polish. After 10 minutes, the gel nail polish should be softened and appear bubbling/curling. This means you can pinch away the foil and cotton ball from the nail.
Unfortunately, removing gel polish without acetone is a little tricky, but it can still be done. To start, soak your nails in warm water, this will help to loosen up the polish a little and hopefully result in an easier removal. While your nails are wet, use a cuticle stick to start lifting up the polish.
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.
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.
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.
"The biggest mistake that leads to gel not coming off completely is not soaking the cotton enough." According to the American Academy of of Dermatology Association, using plastic wrap is another great option for removal, as it creates a tighter seal than foil, so the acetone is less likely to drip.
Since gel nail polish can be worn for weeks on end without even the tiniest chip, stretching the life of your manicure is tempting. However, Hadley suggests removing a gel manicure after two to three weeks maximum to avoid damaging nail beds and cuticles.
If the gel isn't coming off easily, replace the cotton ball with a new, acetone-soaked ball, re-wrap with foil and wait a few more minutes. Add a few drops of cuticle oil on your cuticles to prevent your skin from drying out.
You can remove gel nails without damaging your nails with alcohol or hand sanitiser. The alcohol or hand sanitiser acts as a disinfectant if you chip off your nail when removing the gel.
Soak it Off
Fill a bowl with warm water, dish soap, and salt. Submerge your nails in this mixture for 15-20 minutes. Once the time is up, dry your hands and you should notice the polish starting to come off. This is also the best way to remove nail polish from your skin when you do not have acetone at home.
Having gel polish removed at the salon can cost up to $10, at least where I live in San Francisco. Save yourself some cash and a trip to the spa by removing it at home using regular acetone polish remover and petroleum jelly.
Tools and Processes Necessary for Removing
The ease of removing gel polish makes it a favorite option for many. The key is to soak your nails in acetone. Trying to remove a gel manicure without soaking will damage your nails.
“Having damage from gel is a reality, just like a bad haircut or color,” says Essie celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders. “The good news is that [nails] replenish and grow (just like hair) no matter what you do to them.” So after a couple of back-to-back gel appointments, treat your nails to rehab.
Unlike normal polish, gel polish is not easily chipped or removed, making it a great long-lasting alternative to your regular colour. Once set under a UV light, your gel manicure shouldn't budge for 2-3 weeks.
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.
Dr. Lipner says the best way to remove gel nail polish is to let your nails grow out. Clipping them once a week will remove the gel nail polish and help prevent the nails from catching on clothing and other objects. If you choose this option, you need to resist the urge to pick at your gel nail polish.
"Gel manicures could last up to two weeks with proper nail prep and at-home care, such as cuticle oil and hand lotion," says Duguay-Gordon. And if you're careful, they can last up to four weeks.
Just like your cuticles, if the nail bed isn't prepped correctly, it can lead to the premature peeling of gel polish. The key factor here is moisture - too much water will cause your nails to expand, and when you apply polish on such moist nails, they may begin chipping or peeling sooner than they should.
Simply fill a bowl or sink with hot, soapy water and soak your nails for about 10 minutes. Soaking will help soften the adhesive and make it quicker to remove the false nails. Once you've soaked your nails, use a cotton pad or swab to peel off the fake nail from its base gently.
"Combine an equal amount of white vinegar and natural orange juice and mix together," she says. "Dip the cotton ball/pad in the mixture and press on your fingernails for about 10 seconds until the nail polish softens. Then, pull down the cotton pad to remove the polish."