Removing gel nail varnish

Citygirl1

I had gel done on my nails a few weeks ago and its starting to wear off now. I got some artificial nail remover from Boots the other day, I was advised this is OK to use on gel nails, you have to put one finger in the tub at a time and twist it round, its not taken all of the gel off, will I need to get it removed at a salon?

adamantine

if its the same kind of formula that acrylic nails made of what is best is to soak your fingers for a few minutes then file off the softened layer then repeat being careful not to file the natural nail.

if you can get pure acetone that works the best.

Bronnie

Is it the shellac type nail polish? I had my shellac soaked off today at the salon, they also buffed my nails, a quick file, applied hardener and cuticle oil for £2!! I am a regular customer though!

I was told it needed pure acetone `( from pharmacy) to remove it, mine were soaked for about 5 mins and she used a nail hoof to gently lift it off. She didn't need to file them down.

amyb_2

The stuff from Boots will work but you will need to keep each nail in the pot for at least five minutes; and it will take ages as you can only do one finger at a time.

Its better to get the bottles (either nail remover of pure acetone) and bug it in a bowl and do a whole hand at a time. Remember it will be drying on your skin so only put the tips of your fingers in.

Roughly filling the top of the gel with a cheap emery board might help as well and it takes the surface off and means then remover can soak in better.

The just gently file and buff the residue off - don't pull hard or you will damage the nail. Although i always do and use a hoof stick to pull the gel/acrylic off.

Then apply tons of handcream of nail oil.

Bronnie - impressed you get it so cheap. My salon charges £10-12 for soak off whihc is why i normally do it at home in front of the tv.

Christina1982

I've just take mine off....
Get some cotton wool pads (quarter them) soak in pure acetone and get foil and wrap over nail so no air gets in, leave for 5 mins then it should peel off might need an orange stick

Citygirl1

Thanks for your repli!s. Ill try th! acetone. Im tempted to have th! gel done again as it has look!d good and kept my nails from breaking. Do you have yours done regularly?

Bronnie

Citygirl1 wrote: »

Thanks for your repli!s. Ill try th! acetone. Im tempted to have th! gel done again as it has look!d good and kept my nails from breaking. Do you have yours done regularly?

Interesting to heaar it worked for you for stopping your nails from breaking. My fingernails are very soft , weak and bendy and split in layers. I thought it might do the same for me, but tbh it didn't. It was perfect on my thumb nails which are quite stong, but on the weaker nails, it didn't help strengthen them.

I had subsequently read it wasn't suitable for weak nails, but my salon is very reasonably priced, so thought I would give it a try! Glad it works for you!

@ amyb I thought £2 was ridiculously cheap! They ususally charge £6 for a gel nails soak off, which takes much longer. I expect most people having a shellac soak-off will be having the shellac redone, so suppose they can make their money up that way. Also, I am a regular, almost weekly customer, as I have my hair done there as well as beauty. They are very good at looking after their customers there, so I am very happy to keep giving them my business in return!

**Juice**

The method I use is to soak cotton wook in pure acetone (bought from beauty supply place though you can get it from chemists/boots too) and sit it on each nail, then wrap this and the ends of my finger in some tinfoil and sit for 5-10 mins, you can then just scrape it off gently with an orange stick.

Acetone is really cheap, the big bottle I got was less than £2.50 and well worth it when they charge a fiver for soak off where I get mine done.

**Juice**

Bronnie wrote: »

Interesting to heaar it worked for you for stopping your nails from breaking. My fingernails are very soft , weak and bendy and split in layers. I thought it might do the same for me, but tbh it didn't. It was perfect on my thumb nails which are quite stong, but on the weaker nails, it didn't help strengthen them.

I had subsequently read it wasn't suitable for weak nails, but my salon is very reasonably priced, so thought I would give it a try! !

You might be better off with a gel polish that's more of a gel (if that makes sense) as Shellac isn't that much stronger than polish, though it does seems to strengthen my nails. If I remember rightly, Shellac isn't considered to be that great on flaky/peeling nails.

Gelish and Color Entity are more like gel nails - but still thin - and I've found my nails practically indestructible with that stuff on!

Christina1982

Hi
My nails are pretty strong just now but thats thanks to this
http://shop.helenmarks.co.uk/product/renovate_lde344
I can not rate this product enough but I have found that shellac has helped maintain their condition and length
There is currently a 15% off code for this site too expires on 1st december - PM me for details