I treated myself to a manicure a week and a half ago and decided to go with the gel nail polish. I didn't realize at the time that this is a complex product. I've read online how to remove it and see a number of techniques mentioned, none easy and all stressing potential damage to the nails ... yikes!
I was wondering if anyone has successfully removed gel polish at home or whether you have to go to the salon to get it done. I really don't want to pay for yet another manicure, since this was a one-time treat to myself, not the beginning of an ongoing process.
I decided to give it a try at home. I used acetone nail polish and peeled it off little bits at a time. Everyone was right ... did a number on my nails. Never again with gel polish!!!
Just soak them in acetone nail polish remover. Thats what we do to take them off at the salon, we just have fancy nail wrappers that make it look more complicated.
Many salons only charge $5 to remove, this is a difficult process depending on the brand you chose - the best and only non damaging one is the OPI treatment at Ulta. I found that the others soaked in acitone and peeled or drilled off either way your nails are damaged unless you did the OPI. The OPI soaks in their product and slides off.
I didn't know you weren't supposed to but I always peel mine off. Then again I'm talking real nails - not fake ones - so maybe that makes a difference?
Usually about a week and a half into it they start to "peel away" from the edges of my nails - I just kinda grab from there and pull off completely - never had a problem before!
Good luck - I do know you CAN get it off with regular nail polish but it WRECKS your fingers - they are so dried out afterwards.
If I were you, I'd soak them in acetone. They are probably already ruined. I hate to say it. Did they buff your whole nail before the manicure? They normally do that. It takes a while to grow out. I've had my nails done 3 times and every time it was a long wait before my nails looked good again.
I'd go have them do it. If you really want to try, you can soak your fingernails in polish remover and let them peel off. DON'T peel them off yourself, though. With little scissors, cut the peeled part away. You'll have them on your fingers still for at least a week before the rest comes off. It's a mess, really. And it will take time for your nails to look nice again because the top layer of the nail comes off.
Only get gel nails if you're willing to go back and forth to get manicures. That's my advice after going through this.
Dawn
You can soak them off with straight acetone but it will dry out your natural nail. As another poster stated I just loosen the edge and the polish peels right off.
I get them done every 2 weeks...but if I decide I don't want the gel anymore I'll just have them take them off still. It's a process.
I did the same thing once. They convinced me that it was just "special polish" and that it just didn't chip as quickly. The problem is that regular nail polish remover does not work. Sorry!! I just continued to get regular manicures without "fill ins" and let the stuff grow out. The alternative I do believe is to have them file it off which ruins your nail beds. Just let your nails grow and clip them. In a month or two the gel will all be gone. Patience Grasshopper!! lol
