Lifestyle

How to Remove Gel Nail Polish at Home Quickly? (With & Without Acetone)

Gel nail polish is a product for professional use, and it is necessary to know how to use it correctly, before applying it to the nails. Knowing how to remove gel nail polish is just as important as knowing how to use and apply it. This is because you may find yourself in a situation where you don’t have the opportunity to go to your manicure technician to quickly remove the polish from your nails, so you will be forced to do it yourself at home. In order to do it successfully, nearly painlessly, and with as little damage as possible, there are several essential things that you must take into account. To begin with, in our previous blog on ” How to Do Manicures and Pedicures at Home ” you can find all the necessary materials and tools to remove gel polish from your nails. Another important thing is knowing the product that is on your nails. Depending on the type of gel nail polish, you will determine the technique and method of its removal. We have prepared for you some tips and two of the easiest and safest methods of removing gel nail polish. What do I need to know about the gel nail polish before removing it? When we talk about ways to remove gel nail polish, we first need to pay attention to or find out what kind of gel polish is actually on our nails – “softer” or “harder”. Actually, the thing is what it is made of, there are gel nail polishes that can be removed with acetone and those that cannot. For example, Shellac can be easily removed with acetone because it is mostly composed of pleuritic acid, Balearic acid, shellac acid, and other natural waxes. On the other hand, most other gel polishes do not contain natural components in their composition, so they cannot be removed with acetone. How to remove hard gel polish without acetone? It will be enough for you to have a nail file for this delicate maneuver. It is desirable that it be 150 grid files or lower. The grid number represents the roughness of the nail file, the lower the number, the rougher the file. The lowest grid number and the coarsest file is at number 80, and this is used to remove harder material than gel nail polish, such as the gel itself. For this reason, we need a file of medium coarseness to easily remove the gel polish and protect the natural nail and cuticles from damage. Using a file of medium coarseness is crucial as it allows for effective removal while minimizing the risk of harming the natural nail and cuticles. We recommend this technique only to those who are extremely patient and have a feeling “under their fingers.” If you are not careful enough, you will damage your natural nails. This technique requires patience and precision, as improper handling can lead to damage of the natural nails. With light strokes to one side, remove the gel polish from the middle of the nail plate. By applying gentle pressure and moving in one direction, you can effectively remove the gel polish without causing unnecessary stress to the nail. Continue removing the gel polish from the nail plate in one direction, piece by piece. Be especially careful around the cuticles and nail roots. When you get a little comfortable, switch to a two-step movement, there – here. Be sure to move the file away each time and see if the nail plate is visible, then continue the removal accordingly. Related reading 10 Best Nail Polish Remover Chemical in Nail Care (2025) Is Gel Nail Polish Bad for Your Nails? Tips for Healthy Nails Nail Lacquer vs Polish: What’s Difference & Which Better? Removing gel nail polish with acetone If you’re not confident in your filing skills or don’t have time to patiently remove gel polish from your nails with this previous technique, don’t worry. We have a safer, perhaps even easier, technique for removing gel polish from nails. It is a removal method with acetone. You will need: Cotton pads Tin foil Acetone Nail file Cuticle pusher Start by gently filing a thin, glossy layer of gel polish. Do not use force, it is enough to go over the entire nail with a file so that it becomes completely matte. Gently filing helps to reduce damage to your natural nails, making the removal process safer and more effective. Next, chop up at least 10 pieces of tin foil. You will soak your nails in tin foil. Do not forget to apply petroleum jelly or vaseline on the cuticles, that is, all around the nails, to prevent skin damage when soaking the nails. Soak cotton pads with acetone, and one finger at a time put the soaked cotton pad on the nail, and wrap the finger in foil. When you have applied everything, leave the nails to soak for at least 20 minutes. If you want the process to take less time, file the gel polish a little more during the preparation process to leave a thinner layer for dissolving. Related reading How to Get Nail Polish out of Clothes? (8 Easy Ways) How to Do Manicures and Pedicures at Home? (Step-by-Step) After the gel polish has melted, use a cuticle pusher to scrape the rest of the polish off the nails. This technique works best with soft gel polishes. Using a cuticle pusher allows for a more controlled removal, ensuring that you don't harm the nail bed while getting rid of the polish. To choose the best acetone for this technique, check out our article on the Best Nail Polish Remover Chemicals . Choosing the right acetone is crucial for effective gel nail polish removal. Opt for a pure acetone that is specifically designed for nails to enhance the removal process. Other tips, what not to do? Do not peel off the gel polish from your nails, no matter if it is nearly painless or if the layer is thin. Gel polish is cured/connected with the natural nail, so it will always pull a little or more of the natural nail, thus damaging the nail plate. Do not use a nail cutter when you have gel nail polish or gel, because cutting your nails while having layers of gel products will cause uneven cracking of the natural nail and gel, and this will result in painful peeling and bleeding. Do not try to soak your nails with warm water or oil to remove gel products. This will have zero effect because water or oil cannot dissolve the chemicals in gel products, even the “soft” ones. Soaking in warm water or oil is ineffective for gel polish removal, as these substances do not penetrate the gel's chemical structure. Stick to methods that involve proper nail products. Never try to bite off your nails, both naturally and peeling the gel polish with nails. You can hurt your nails, lips, teeth, and tongue. Instead, use a nail file to shorten the nails. Biting or peeling off gel polish can cause significant damage to your nails and surrounding areas. Use a nail file instead to safely manage your nails. Some might recommend letting your nails grow out and keeping the same gel polish on while it moves together with a nail. This is not a good way. The best time to wear gel nail polish is 3 to 5 weeks. Anything beyond that is not sterile and leaves the possibility of developing fungus or other infections and diseases on the nails. This is why removing gel polish from natural nails on time is important. Ulike Welcome to Ulike! We hope our expertise can bring value to you.

Nov 26, 2025

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In order to do it successfully, nearly painlessly, and with as little damage as possible, there are several essential things that you must take into account. To begin with, in our previous blog on ” How to Do Manicures and Pedicures at Home ” you can find all the necessary materials and tools to remove gel polish from your nails.

Another important thing is knowing the product that is on your nails. Depending on the type of gel nail polish, you will determine the technique and method of its removal. We have prepared for you some tips and two of the easiest and safest methods of removing gel nail polish.

What do I need to know about the gel nail polish before removing it?

When we talk about ways to remove gel nail polish, we first need to pay attention to or find out what kind of gel polish is actually on our nails – “softer” or “harder”. Actually, the thing is what it is made of, there are gel nail polishes that can be removed with acetone and those that cannot. For example, Shellac can be easily removed with acetone because it is mostly composed of pleuritic acid, Balearic acid, shellac acid, and other natural waxes. On the other hand, most other gel polishes do not contain natural components in their composition, so they cannot be removed with acetone.

How to remove hard gel polish without acetone?

It will be enough for you to have a nail file for this delicate maneuver. It is desirable that it be 150 grid files or lower. The grid number represents the roughness of the nail file, the lower the number, the rougher the file. The lowest grid number and the coarsest file is at number 80, and this is used to remove harder material than gel nail polish, such as the gel itself.

For this reason, we need a file of medium coarseness to easily remove the gel polish and protect the natural nail and cuticles from damage.

Using a file of medium coarseness is crucial as it allows for effective removal while minimizing the risk of harming the natural nail and cuticles.

We recommend this technique only to those who are extremely patient and have a feeling “under their fingers.” If you are not careful enough, you will damage your natural nails.

This technique requires patience and precision, as improper handling can lead to damage of the natural nails.

With light strokes to one side, remove the gel polish from the middle of the nail plate.

By applying gentle pressure and moving in one direction, you can effectively remove the gel polish without causing unnecessary stress to the nail.

Continue removing the gel polish from the nail plate in one direction, piece by piece. Be especially careful around the cuticles and nail roots. When you get a little comfortable, switch to a two-step movement, there – here. Be sure to move the file away each time and see if the nail plate is visible, then continue the removal accordingly.

Removing gel nail polish with acetone

If you’re not confident in your filing skills or don’t have time to patiently remove gel polish from your nails with this previous technique, don’t worry. We have a safer, perhaps even easier, technique for removing gel polish from nails. It is a removal method with acetone.

You will need:

Cotton pads
Tin foil
Acetone
Nail file
Cuticle pusher

Start by gently filing a thin, glossy layer of gel polish. Do not use force, it is enough to go over the entire nail with a file so that it becomes completely matte.

Gently filing helps to reduce damage to your natural nails, making the removal process safer and more effective.

Next, chop up at least 10 pieces of tin foil. You will soak your nails in tin foil. Do not forget to apply petroleum jelly or vaseline on the cuticles, that is, all around the nails, to prevent skin damage when soaking the nails.

Soak cotton pads with acetone, and one finger at a time put the soaked cotton pad on the nail, and wrap the finger in foil. When you have applied everything, leave the nails to soak for at least 20 minutes. If you want the process to take less time, file the gel polish a little more during the preparation process to leave a thinner layer for dissolving.

Other tips, what not to do?

Do not peel off the gel polish from your nails, no matter if it is nearly painless or if the layer is thin. Gel polish is cured/connected with the natural nail, so it will always pull a little or more of the natural nail, thus damaging the nail plate.
Do not use a nail cutter when you have gel nail polish or gel, because cutting your nails while having layers of gel products will cause uneven cracking of the natural nail and gel, and this will result in painful peeling and bleeding.
Do not try to soak your nails with warm water or oil to remove gel products. This will have zero effect because water or oil cannot dissolve the chemicals in gel products, even the “soft” ones.

Soaking in warm water or oil is ineffective for gel polish removal, as these substances do not penetrate the gel's chemical structure. Stick to methods that involve proper nail products.

Never try to bite off your nails, both naturally and peeling the gel polish with nails. You can hurt your nails, lips, teeth, and tongue. Instead, use a nail file to shorten the nails.

Biting or peeling off gel polish can cause significant damage to your nails and surrounding areas. Use a nail file instead to safely manage your nails.

Some might recommend letting your nails grow out and keeping the same gel polish on while it moves together with a nail. This is not a good way. The best time to wear gel nail polish is 3 to 5 weeks. Anything beyond that is not sterile and leaves the possibility of developing fungus or other infections and diseases on the nails. This is why removing gel polish from natural nails on time is important.