With the reality of self-isolation setting in, searches for “how to remove gel nails quickly” and “how to remove acrylic nails at home” have soared by 300% over the past week.
The guidance around social distancing hit many people unexpectedly and many nail technician businesses – both high-street and home-based – have closed. Understandably and responsibly so. This has left many people facing the fact they won’t be able to have their gel or acrylic nails removed professionally.
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If this is you, we spoke to Sam Haw – founder and chief nail technician at Sam Lee Nails – as part of our latest in our Ask the Experts series to explain how to remove gel nails quickly, easily and with minimal damage to your natural nails. If you are left with brittle nails, you might also want to check out our guide on how to strengthen your nails from a skin specialist from Colorescience.
What’s more, if you’re looking for a professional finish without the damage, or without exposing yourself or anyone else to the virus, you can cheat your way to flawless nails with nail wraps, featured in our guide to the best cheat products. We also have guides on how to cut your own hair, how to do your eyebrows, and even how to make homemade cleanser.
The method for removing acrylic nails at home and removing gel nails quickly are very similar and here is what you’ll need for your at-home acrylic nail removal kit (all available from Amazon so you don’t need to leave the house!).
It should be noted that Sam, and other nail technicians, don’t usually recommend over-the-counter acetone-based nail polish removers because of the damage they can cause to your natural nails. There are a number of acetone-free nail polish removers, which we detail further down, but because they don’t typically work as effectively as acetone remover, you may end up exposing your nails to their chemicals for longer, which can be almost as damaging your nails. Acetone is, at least, quick and easy.
iStock Once you have all the items for your at-home acrylic nail removal kit follow these steps:
Step 1. Use your clippers to remove any excess lengths.
Step 2. Remove gel nail polish by filing over the top of the nail bed with your nail file so all the gel is completely scratched off. This will help lift the polish.
Step 3. Soak a cotton pad or ball in your chosen nail varnish remover and wrap around the nail bed. Secure with tin foil to create an airtight seal (or as airtight as possible) to make the removal quicker. You can alternatively buy foil wraps with cotton pads already attached from Mylee for £8.79.
Step 4. Leave your nails soaking for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Step 5. Once the air hits the gel it should crumble. Sam recommends using a manicure cuticle stick to scrape the rest of the gel off but a toothpick or similar does a similar job if you don’t have a manicure stick to hand.
Step 6. Once you’ve removed the gel nail polish, and you have a nail buff, buff the nail to make sure all of the polish is off and the nail is clean. Sam says: “Only brush a nail file over the top of more persistent gel – never file the top of the nail bed this is damaging to the natural nail.”
Step 7. Once all the polish is removed, go crazy with moisturiser or oil. Seriously, go over the top with it to counteract the damage from the nail varnish remover. Work it especially around the cuticle area and continue for a few days following the removal. Sam continues: “Acetone is very drying and will weaken and soften nails. The more care you give your nails in the following days, the better.”
iStock The steps for removing acrylic nails are incredibly similar to removing gel nail polish but the wait time is typically longer.
Step 1. Use your clippers to remove any excess lengths.
Step 2. Remove acrylic nails by filing over the top of the nail bed with your nail file.
Step 3. Soak a cotton pad or ball in your chosen nail varnish remover and wrap around the nail bed. Secure with tin foil.
Step 4. Leave your nails soaking for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Step 5. Use a manicure cuticle stick to scrape the rest of the acrylic off.
Step 6. Buff the nail to make sure all of the polish is off and the nail is clean.
Step 7. Lather your hands and nails with moisturiser and cuticle oil immediately after and regularly for at least three days after you’ve removed the acrylic nails at home.
Due to the fact not everyone can, or wants, to use acetone-based remover, there are acetone-free alternatives at various price points. Karma Organic sells a vegan, non-toxic remover that smells like lavender for £9 plus delivery. Elegant Touch’s acetone-free nail polish remover pads cost £2.15 while OPI’s acetone-free remover comes in at £7.50.
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
