Woman safely removing gel polish at home with acetone, in noir studio.

Nails5 August 20265 min read

Safe Gel Nail Removal: How to Remove Gel Polish Safely

By HER Beauty

Listen to article

The safest way to remove gel polish is to dissolve it in acetone, not to peel, pick or scrape it off. Gel nails built up as extensions often take more work and should be removed at a nail salon. Whatever the type, the same rule applies: patience protects your natural nail.

Why shouldn't you peel off gel polish or gel nails?

Gel bonds tightly to the nail plate, which is exactly why it lasts for weeks. When you peel it off, the gel does not always let go cleanly. It often takes the top layers of your natural nail with it.

The result can be thin, soft nails that split, or white spots. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology therefore advise against picking, filing or scraping off gel polish, because it can damage the nail.

Research points the same way. In a Polish questionnaire study of 2,118 women, changes to the nail plate were far more common after removal than during application or while wearing the polish. Nail changes after removal were reported by 55.9% of those who did their manicure themselves, compared with 18.1% of those who had it done by a professional. The study is based on self-reporting, so the numbers should be read with some caution. Still, it shows that removal is the vulnerable moment, and it suggests the risk is lower when a professional handles it. No method leaves the nail completely untouched, though.

Are gel polish, shellac and gel nails removed the same way?

Not quite. Gel polish and shellac are thin layers of colour on your own nail, made to dissolve in acetone. If you want to know more about the difference, we have written about shellac and gel polish.

Gel nails used for extensions or reinforcement are built up in a thicker layer. Depending on the product, they do not always dissolve in acetone and instead need to be filed down with care, stopping before the file reaches your natural nail. That takes experience, and it is not something we recommend doing at home.

How to remove gel polish at home

If you want to remove your gel polish yourself, follow the method dermatologists recommend. It is based on the American Academy of Dermatology's guidance:

Protect your skin. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the cuticles and the skin around each nail. Acetone dries out the skin.
Cut the cotton. Cut cotton pads into pieces the size of each nail, so as little acetone as possible touches your skin.
Soak. Saturate the cotton with pure acetone, place it on the nail, and wrap the fingertip tightly in plastic wrap or foil.
Wait. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes. The gel should be soft before it comes off.
Wipe. Remove what is left with a washcloth you have just run under warm water. If the gel is still stuck, wrap the nail again rather than forcing it off.
Wash and moisturise. Wash your hands with a gentle, fragrance-free soap and massage petroleum jelly into your cuticles and skin.

Note that the dermatologists advise against scraping the gel off with an orange stick. It is a common habit, and it can do more harm than you might think.

What happens when you have gel nails removed with us?

We take our time with removal, because this is when your natural nail is most exposed. We first check which type of gel you have and remove it in the way that suits the product. The aim is to remove the gel and leave your own nail alone.

A Gel Removal takes 30 minutes and costs 309 DKK. If you want new gel polish straight away, you can book Removal + new Shellac (45 min, 514 DKK). If your gel nails have simply grown out, a refill is often a better choice than removing everything. You can see all options on our services page.

How do you care for your nails after removal?

Your nails may feel dry and a little soft right afterwards. The best thing you can do is give them moisture. Dermatologists recommend massaging petroleum jelly into the cuticles and skin every day for a week after removal.

Consider keeping your nails a little shorter for a while, so the tips are less likely to split. If your nails have become thin, a break of one to two weeks can give them time to recover. Read more about daily care in our guide to cuticle and nail care.

Book removal or new gel polish

If your gel needs to come off, let us take care of it instead of peeling. Book your appointment at her-beauty.planway.com, and together we will work out whether you need new gel polish, a refill or a break. We look forward to seeing you at Rosenørns Allé 4.

Sources

Back to blog