Unlike regular nail polish, gel polish lasts for a long time and holds up really well. Gel manicure is also great since it is resistant to chipping and damage because the gel adheres to your nail. This though means that the strength of gel makes it impossible to be removed by regular nail polish remover. The good news is there are many ways of removing gel polish safely at home although acetone is the most effective way to do so.

Most of the time there’s a strong urge to rip or bite off the peeling polish as a first option to remove it. You should resist this temptation at all cost. This is because when you peel off your polish you also take off layers of your nail bed with it which makes them susceptible to peeling and breaking. To find out more about removing your gel polish safely, read on.

1. File it down

Before you use your remover/ acetone, grab a course nail file and gently and slowly sand down the top layer of the polish. The point is not to file down all the polish but to remove the topcoat only. Don’t file too far into the colour just remove the shine.

2. Protect your skin and cuticles

Acetone is very drying to your skin therefore you will need to protect your skin from getting into direct contact with it. Therefore, coat the skin surrounding your nails and fingertips with a cuticle oil or a thick cream. You could also use a thin layer of petroleum jelly.

3. Soak the cotton balls

When removing gel polish, the goal is to soak off the gel polish from your nails with acetone. There are two ways to do this; the first way is dipping your fingers in a small bowl filled with acetone and the second way is using a soaked cotton ball on each nail. Experts prefer using cotton balls than pads since cotton balls are able to hold on the acetone better than the cotton pads. Also make sure you cut the cotton balls into the size of each nail.

4. Wrap fingertips with aluminum foil

Grab a foil and tear it into square boxes about three by three inches. Wrap them around your fingertips then place a cotton ball soaked in acetone on your nail and use the foil to secure the cotton ball in place. A tip is to start with your dominant hand since it makes things easier. Do this on every nail and leave on for about 10-15 minutes then check the progress.

The gel polish should look as if it is lifted and falling off the nail. The remaining polish should be easy to remove and if not, continue for a few more minutes.

5. Nourish your nails

Acetone works wonders in removing gel polish, but it can also cause immense drying to your nails as well as making them sensitive. Therefore, once all the polish is off, rinse any remaining acetone with soap and water then add moisture back to your nail beds with some cuticle oil. You could even an oil before soaking to prevent dehydration.