Le Travail Nail Studio

One of the main complaints I hear from people about gels is that they’re difficult to remove. While thick gels need a little more elbow grease, gel polish can be removed with a few simple tools, cuticle oil, and acetone. This quick guide will give you all the info you need to safely remove your gel polish manicure after it’s grown out.

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out my video guide here:

How to Remove Gel Polish

Stay tuned to the end of the post for some exclusive hacks and tips to help the removal process go faster!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. 180 grit nail file
2. Nail buffer
3. Cuticle pusher or wood/plastic cuticle stick
4. Cuticle Oil
5. 100% Pure Acetone (diluted nail polish removers will not work)
6. Cotton balls and aluminum foil

Make sure to protect your working area with a paper towel or two before you get started. The most important thing to remember is to not rush yourself. Rushing leads to mistakes which can be time consuming and sometimes painful. Put on a show or audiobook, grab a snack and a drink, and set aside some quiet time for yourself.

1. Gently and carefully use your nail file to start scuffing up the top coat to help the acetone be more effective.

2. Use a drop of cuticle oil on your skin to prevent the acetone from drying your skin out.

3. Use a cotton ball soaked in acetone and small square of aluminum foil to wrap the cotton around your whole nail. (If following the video and a client who received an at-home removal kit,) Open up an acetone packet and wrap it around your nail, ensuring the cotton pad covers your whole nail. Wait for 10-15 minutes.

4. Use the pusher stick to start gently pushing the product off. If it doesn’t easily come off, use the pink and purple buffer to thin out the gel a bit more and soak for several more minutes.

5. Finish off with another drop of cuticle oil.

This process is pretty straightforward, but here’s some quick tips on how to make the process go even faster:

1. Season your nail file before using it so you don’t get cuts on your skin as you file off the product (see the YouTube video for a demonstration).
2. Use a nitrile glove to put over your hands while the acetone soaks. Acetone works faster with heat, so holding your body heat in really goes a long way in speeding up the removal.
3. Use a warm towel or bowl of warm water. This goes hand in hand (pun intended) with the glove hack.
4. Whatever you do, DON’T SKIMP ON CUTICLE OIL. Keeping your nails and skin hydrated with a nourishing oil is crucial to maintaining the health of your natural nails. It’s not a sales gimmick.
5. Use pre-soaked acetone pads for a less bulky option. These are the ones I use: https://amzn.to/418lE9Zhttps://amzn.to/418lE9Z
6. Always let the tools do the work for you. You don’t need to use a lot of force or pressure when filing or pushing the product off. If you’re having trouble, just stick with it, gently buff, and soak a few more minutes.

I hope this guide helps demystify the gel removal process!

Love and light ❤