How To Remove Gel Nail Polish From Natural Nails

I used to have one of the worst habits out there: nail-biting. Maybe I just started biting my nails when I was a kid and never grew out of it even as an adult. I tried almost everything. Wearing gloves, constantly chewing gum… At some point, I even got used to the bitter flavor of the anti-biting nail polish. Yup, I was very dedicated to my nail-biting habit.

This was pretty much me all day, every day:

However, one day I decided to get my nails done professionally. And my nail lady did such a good job on my nails that I felt sorry and guilty each time I would think of biting my nails. So, that is how I wore off my ugly habit. Via gel polish.

Whether you do your nails at home, or at a beauty salon, the UV-cured gel has many benefits. It will make your nails much stronger and they will not be so prone to breaking. Gel nail polish lasts up to three weeks, which means your nail polish won’t chip after two-three days. Once you get your nails done, hasta la vista. You won’t need to take care of them every day.

But, as with every other thing, there are some downsides. And the main one being that gel nail polish is quite difficult to remove. Especially if it is applied directly onto your natural nails. If not done correctly, your nails will chip, will become very sensitive and might break easily. And don’t you just hate it when your nails have grown so much that your gel nail polish is very visible? Or when it starts peeling off by itself but you are dreading setting an appointment?

So, what can we do? How do we remove gel nail polish without causing damage to our natural nails, nail beds, or even the cuticles?

If you can’t afford to get rid of the gel nail polish at a beauty salon, or simply don’t have the time to, I am here to share with you two little, very useful secrets.

1. Remove gel polish with cotton balls and tin foil

This is the simplest method of removing gel polish without causing damage to your nail. And do you want to know what the best part about this is? You won’t need anything too fancy to carry out this process successfully. What you need is: nail polish remover, cotton balls, tin foil, a nail file, and a wooden orange stick.

So, the first thing we need to do is get rid of the top coat of our gel nail polish. With the help of a nail file, gently buffer the surface of your nail until it is not shiny anymore. This means that the bond of gel polish is broken down. However, be careful not to buffer too hard as you can easily reach your natural nail and accidentally cause damage.

After the first step, we continue by cutting 10 square pieces of tin foil big enough to be able to wrap them around our fingernails. Then, we take one cotton ball, soak in nail polish remover, and place it atop of our fingernails. After that, we gently wrap the tin foil around the nail, making sure it is secured tightly. Do this with all your nails.

Your end product will look something like this:

For maximized effect, you can wear a pair of latex gloves, but this one is completely optional.

Leave your nails like this around 15-20 minutes. When the waiting time has elapsed, remove the tin foil wrappers from each finger. Your nails should be gel nail polish free. However, if that is not the case, make use of the wooden orange stick and gently try to remove the residue parts of the gel.

Finish up with your favorite hand cream and cuticle oil to make sure your hands remain moisturized.

2. Warm water and nail polish remover

If you happen not to have cotton balls or tin foil, or either, then you can remove your gel nail polish with warm water and nail polish remover. This one takes a little bit more patience but is a damage-free method so it is worth the handiwork.

You need two bowls, a big one and a smaller one. Fill the big bowl with hot water and then place the smaller bowl inside it. The smaller bowl is where you pour the nail polish remover. While the nail polish remover warms up, take a nail file and buff the surface of your nails to break the bond. As I mentioned earlier, be careful not to buff your nail too hard.

After you’re done buffing your nails, soak them in the now-warm nail polish remover for at least 20 minutes.

After a while, you can notice how the edges of your gel nail polish begin to peel off. That is when you know that you can go ahead and use the wooden orange stick to remove the remnant parts of the gel.

Just as with the other procedure, you should put hand cream and cuticle oil to make sure your nails stay hydrated and healthy.

So, these are two really helpful and easy-to-follow methods that you can try out next time you’re in need of a manicure appointment. Whether you do it to yourself or have a friend help you out the first time, they are really easy to pull off and will be your go-to choice whenever you feel like it.

You might also be interested in: If You’re Looking For The Perfect Gold Nail Polishes, Here Are The Ideal Picks