How to Safely Remove Gel Nail Polish at Home

With life’s busy schedules, getting to the salon isn’t always an option. If it's time to remove your gel polish, don’t worry—you can safely and easily take care of it from home. Here’s a simple guide to removing gel nail polish without damaging your nails.

How to Remove Your Gel Nail Polish at Home in 6 Easy Steps

You don’t need to head to a salon to keep your nails looking healthy. Follow these steps to safely remove your gel polish at home and protect your nails.

1. Buff Your Nails

Using a nail file of 180 grit or above (never use a coarse file as it can damage your natural nails), gently sand down the top layer of the gel polish. The goal isn’t to use the file to remove the polish. You simply want to remove its protective, shiny layer. 

2. Protect Your Skin from Over Drying

You’ll want to use 100% acetone to remove the gel polish. 

Contrary to popular belief, 100% acetone isn’t damaging to your skin. However, it is drying, so you’ll want to protect your delicate cuticles with cuticle oil/cream or Vaseline.

3. Soften the Nail Polish with 100% Acetone 

Start with two bowls – a large one with hot water and a smaller one with 100% acetone. Place the smaller bowl in the larger bowl, making sure to avoid mixing the acetone with the water. Diluted acetone won’t work, so keep the liquids separate. The goal is to use the hot water to warm the acetone so it can soften the gel polish more effectively. 

Option 1: Soak Your Nails in Acetone

Dip your fingertips and soak your nails for 10-15 minutes. The acetone will soften the polish, making it easier to remove. 

Important note: Never try to remove polish that isn’t soft – even if you’ve already soaked it in acetone for the recommended amount of time – to avoid damage. Keep soaking the polish until it softens.

Option 2: Wrap Your Nails with Acetone-Soaked Cotton Balls and Aluminum Foil

Some people prefer this option because you get to control where the acetone goes, which can protect your skin a bit more from the drying effects of the acetone. 

With this method, you’ll soak cotton balls in acetone, place them on your nails, and then wrap them with aluminum foil. Let that sit for 10-15 minutes before removing.

4. Gently Remove the Nail Polish

Once the gel nail polish is soft enough, gently remove it with a cuticle stick. 

5. Hydrate Your Skin

Moisturize your skin with a deep conditioning lotion. 

6. Start Using Nail Strengthening Products

If you’re going to apply nail strengthening products right away, swipe your nails with acetone one more time to remove any residual lotion. 

Apply strengthening, long-lasting nail polish for natural nails to help retain hydration and fortify your nails.  

Achieve a Salon-Quality Manicure at Home

You can keep your nails polished and healthy even without a salon visit. Maxus Nails offers essentials like our base and topcoats, which nourish and protect your nails. Our fast-drying, long-lasting nail polishes come in gorgeous colors, giving you a flawless, salon-quality manicure from the comfort of your home.

If you love our products, you should consider becoming a Maxus Ambassador. Join us now and discover some amazing perks of becoming an Ambassador.