Learn How To Remove Gel Nails Properly

Gel nails’ durability and long wearing property can be both a relief and an inconvenience. And although gel nails look more natural and glossy and have a faster curing time, they can be a little hard to do on your very own nails and they can be very stubborn to remove. Fortunately, there are rules to follow and tips to observe on how to remove gel nails properly and easily.

First, identify the exact type of nails you have. Are they real gel nails or are they acrylic nails with a UV gel topcoat? UV gels are basically non-porous and they cannot be soaked off since nothing will penetrate its surface. Removing them through soaking the fingertips in an acetone and nail polish remover solution will probably take 2-3 hours. If you are sure that what you have are real gel nails, and that no powder and liquid is applied, then you can proceed with the following steps.

Second, find a good working room. Your area should be well-ventilated to avoid the pungent smell of the solution since you will be working on a good amount of nail polish remover. A working area next to an open window is perfect but it’s best to just sit and work outside.

Third, remove the nail polish using a cotton ball soaked in a high quality nail polish remover. It is highly recommended that you take the nail polish off the nails first before removing the gel nails.  This will save you time and frustration on working with a heavy mixture of nail polish and nail gel.

Fourth, soak your hands into a bowl of nail polish remover and acetone mixture. Better use pure acetone combined with a nail polish remover than an acetone-based polish remover.  Immerse your whole fingertips and allow each hand to soak in about five to ten minutes. Do this one hand at a time so the free hand can work on the other.

Observe if the gel nails turned soft and sticky or if it has emitted a strong odor. Try to gently pull the ends of the gel nails. You can make use of an orange stick if you want. If the gel nails do not come off easily, or if you feel any pain, continue soaking your nails for another three or four minutes. Try again and see if you can now remove the gel nails with less force.

Fifth, clean and wipe off the remaining glop on your fingers. Your natural nails may turn a little rough but do not be alarmed. You can smooth them out later by buffing or filing them. Repeat procedures one to four for the other hand. You can reuse the acetone and nail polish remover mixture as long as the solution is not too gooey.

Sixth, consider applying a layer of nail strengthener when both of your digits are free of gel nails. Allow this to penetrate for at least three weeks to a month and just settle for clear nail polish instead of the colored ones. Remember that your nails may be a little weaker in the succeeding days after the removal of the gel nails.

Learning how to remove gel nails is indeed easy yet tricky. But by following these fundamentals, you’ll be able to remove them in no time.