Acetone offers the most effective way to remove gel nail polish at home, says board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner, MD, FAAD. Instead of wrapping your nails in foil, she recommends using plastic food wrap.
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.
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.
Hand sanitizer
The good news is that most sanitizers contain a little bit of alcohol, which is a good solvent to soften nail polish. Soak your nails in lukewarm water to soften them, then wet a cotton ball with sanitizer and use it to wipe off the nail paint. Repeat till all is gone!
Soak your nails in warm water with a few drops of dish soap and a teaspoon of salt. Leave your hand submerged in the water for at least 30 minutes. Then, gradually peel off the old gel coating as it loosens, yes it is a 'piece by piece' process.
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.
Acetone offers the most effective way to remove gel nail polish at home, says board-certified dermatologist Shari Lipner, MD, FAAD. Instead of wrapping your nails in foil, she recommends using plastic food wrap.
According to Boyce, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer are two of the best ways to remove polish without needing an acetate remover. "Apply some to a cotton ball or pad and place it on your nail," Boyce says. "Let it sit for about 10 seconds and gently rub it back-and-forth.
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 have nothing else on hand, warm, soapy water or vinegar can be used to remove gel nails. Cotton Swabs: Whether you're using acetone or a replacement, you'll want to have cotton swabs on hand.
While acetone-free nail polish removers may work fine for regular polish, you should probably stick to the strong stuff when removing gel manicures. "I highly recommend an acetone-based remover because it will break down the product quicker," says Nunez.
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.
You need acetone really, but there's not much of that around. Cover with clear varnish and wipe off while wet. That won't get it all off but might get enough off that you can paint over it with a less garish colour. Methylated spirit would probably do it.
First up is plain old fresh lemon, which I juice into a small bowl. I soak a cotton pad in it and wrap it around my nail for five minutes; unsurprisingly, the polish remains. Next, I add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the remaining juice and do the cotton pad thing again, for 10 minutes this time.
Although gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails. 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.
What is it? ASP Soak-Off Gel Polish is a 100% pure gel formula that applies like polish giving you a high shine gel manicure that lasts up to two weeks. ASP Soak-Off Gel Polish can be cured under an LED or UV lamp and Soaks Off with acetone.
Lemon Juice
Lemon contains citric acid that is helpful with removing nail polish. The first thing you'll want to do is soak your nails in warm soapy water for five to ten minutes. After soaking, squeeze a lemon slice onto your nails. The citric acid will soften the polish and allow it to come off more easily.
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.
Tea tree oil
You can remove nail polish and make sure to nourish your nails at the same time with this super solution – tea tree oil!