Health passes, access restrictions, quarantine, confinement and social distancing… All these terms give us goosebumps already! If for some reason a visit to the hairdresser or the cosmetic studio is not possible for you, you are probably feeling stressed… And the nail salon? It is high time to remove this hybrid varnish that has become unsightly? Don't worry, because after you've mastered how to remove nail polish without nail polish remover, we've come to the rescue with another informative article that will come in handy! Find out how to remove gel nails at home without running the risk of damaging the horny plate underneath. Here are the steps to follow to take charge of the situation and save the day!
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How to remove gel nails in a few easy steps
Commercial linksThe best way to remove your gel polish safely is to take a little time (30-45 minutes depending on your dexterity). But the truth is that this patience is essential if you want to keep your nails in good shape. Beware of videos that promise perfect results in about ten minutes, because that's just not within the scope of the possible.
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The supplies needed for our project are quite common, namely: a coarse nail file, acetone, petroleum jelly, cotton balls, aluminum foil, manicure stick and oil cuticles. Prepare all accessories before you start and find a well-ventilated space. Using a protective mask is not a bad idea either.
Before using the remover, take a coarse file and gently and slowly sand the top layer of UV varnish. The goal is not to sand off all of the varnish, but to scrape off the glossy topcoat that protects it. Go slowly, because if you file too deep, you risk touching your own horny plaque and damaging it.
Then coat the skin around your nails and fingertips with a more or less oily substance. Cuticle oil, a heavy cream for dryness or a little petroleum jelly will do just fine. Thus, the aim is to obtain a protective barrier against acetone, which extremely dries out the skin, weakens it and can even trigger contact dermatitis.
The key to mastering how to remove gel nails is daring to dip your fingertips in acetone. However, as already explained, this chemical substance is not exactly harmless to your health… So instead of filling a small bowl with it and sticking your fingers in it, which will further expose you to its negative effects, soak a few cotton balls in it.
Soaking cotton balls in acetone* and covering your fingernails with it is better than the aforementioned alternative, because this technique limits the contact of the chemical compound with the skin of your fingers. Moreover, you will not be so exposed to its vapors whose prolonged inhalation is quite dangerous too. Especially if you don't skip the next step...
* Please avoid 'mild' formulas containing moisturizing ingredients (even if they are tempting) as these will only slow down the process.
Take aluminum foil and tear it into squares of about 5cm x 5cm (you can do this in advance.) Then place a cotton ball soaked in acetone on a fingernail and wrap it all with the piece of aluminum to hold the cotton ball in place. Tip: Start with your non-preferred hand to make it easier for you.
Do the same on all 10 nails and wait… After 10 or 15 minutes, check your progress: the gel polish should look like it is lifting off the nail. You can apply light pressure towards its tip with a manicure stick** to make sure it has softened. You should be able to remove it easily with the instrument, if not, re-soak it with acetone, leave for another five minutes and try again.
**Wooden tools can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so throw them away after each use and don't share them with friends.
After this long misadventure in acetone, your nails and your cuticles will probably be very stressed. So give them a recovery treatment by massaging them with coconut oil, shea butter or jojoba oil.
How to remove gel nails at home: before and after
Sources used: www.allure.com
www.whatthegelnails.com
