Spoiler alert: Just ripping off your gel manicure is not a good idea. Everything might appear to be okay to the naked eye, but you actually strip the delicate layers of the nail plate the hard part of the nail that grows out when you tear your gel nails off this way, and it can potentially cause permanent damage.
To avoid screwing up your nails, we asked celebrity manicurist Patricia Yankee how to remove gel nail polish at home. Scratching the surface with a coarse nail file will help the acetone to penetrate without a hitch. Drench some cotton balls with the stuff, then hold them in place on your nails by wrapping each finger with aluminum foil.
According to Yankee, this traps in heat to help the gel break down faster. Gel polish formulas vary in strength, so the wait time can be anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes.
I like to start with the dominant hand to get the toughest part out of the way. Once you give the acetone time to work its magic, grab the file or a wooden orange stick and continue to gently scrape the layers to safely remove the gel polish from your nail. The actual foil wrap process was extremely unwieldy and annoying, and it was difficult for me to do it on all my fingers. Plus, the cotton ball-swipe method to finish removing the polish didn't really work, and that felt rough and kind of painful on my fingers.
If you use something else, like an orange stick, to scrape off the leftover polish, this method is pretty effective. You'll need: Two bowls, hot water, a nail file, acetone nail polish remover and an orange stick. I love a double boiler when it comes to baking — hello, melted chocolate! Here's how it works as a nail polish remover. Then, fill a large bowl with hot water and place a smaller bowl inside.
Pour acetone nail polish remover into that bowl. Soak your fingers in the small bowl for 10 minutes. Then, use an orange stick to push off the remaining polish. The verdict: Success!!! This method was the hands-down winner. The polish just pushed right off. So, there you have it!
For any remaining spots gently use a nail stick, "working under the gel to lift it off the nail plate," explains Hipp. Pro tip: "Wooden tools can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so dispose of them after each use and don't share with friends," Hipp says. If you don't have a stick around and want to use something else, like this popular TikTok dental floss hack , be very, very careful, warns manicurist and owner of New York City's Jinsoon Spas and Nail Lacquer Jin Soon Choi.
If the polish still isn't lifting easily when you press your tool into it, you need more soaking. Rewrap the nail with a new cotton ball and try again in five minutes. After a long acetone adventure, your nails will likely be a bit dry. Give them a reprieve. It might seem like you're using a lot of moisture-sucking acetone, but if you're a fan of gel manis it's much better than picking or peeling your polish, Saulsbury says.
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