Removing gel polish from nails at home and with a professional in the salon

Gel polish is also called shellac and is also a long-lasting coating for nails. Its application requires unique skills and equipment, so the process is usually carried out in specialized salons. You can remove the resulting coating both in a manicure salon and at home, if you choose the right method and prepare high-quality tools and materials.

It is forbidden to rip off the coating or remove it by other mechanical means, as this leads to damage to the nail, so special liquids and suitable equipment are used.

How to remove gel polish

Removing shellac coating can be done in a salon or independently. Each option has both pros and cons.

If you decide to do the work yourself, it is recommended to buy only professional equipment and tools

Gel polish remover from a specialist or in a salon

Usually girls prefer to get their nails done and remove old coatings only in salons. This method has many advantages, but it is important to choose a professional technician.

To remove gel polish, use a remover, machine, steamer, milling cutter or impregnated wipes.

Remover

It is presented as a universal product sold in beauty salons. Designed to remove shellac coating, but this will take about 30 minutes. This procedure is often offered in salons, for which the master performs the following steps:

• the skin around the nails is lubricated with cream;
• cotton wool is moistened with a revumer and placed on the nails;
• to prevent the liquid from evaporating, wrap your fingers in foil;
• after 15 minutes the cotton wool is removed;
• the residues are removed with a wood stick (an orange stick, for example).

If it was not possible to obtain the desired result at one time, the procedure is repeated.

Impregnated napkins

A proven, convenient and effective product for removing old gel coating. Used both at home and by craftsmen. For the job, you buy special napkins with suitable impregnation, a sander, a spatula and nail oil.

Initially, the nails are treated with an abrasive stick. Next, the finger is wrapped in a napkin, and it is important to ensure that the napkin completely covers the nail. The napkin is fixed with adhesive tape, after which you need to wait 15 minutes. After this procedure, the gel polish comes off easily from the nails, but any solid residues are removed with a spatula.

The advantages of this method include safety and versatility, since napkins can be used several times and no unique skills are required. You don't need to use foil to wrap your fingers.

The device

In another way it is called a machine, and is also used to create and remove manicure. For each procedure, a suitable milling cutter is used. It is represented by a nozzle or drill inserted into the equipment.

The cutter gradually removes the coating from the nail while rotating. The procedure can be performed with a nail file, but this can cause destruction and weakening of the plate. The device operates carefully and painlessly.

Fraser

It is represented by a nozzle for the device, and in the salons ceramic products are used, which are characterized by high strength, durability and resistance to wear. During operation, the material does not heat up, and the gel polish is removed from the nails gently and quickly. There is no vibration, and girls do not experience pain.

Sometimes salons use metal cutters made from hard metals. They are equipped with special notches, which have a straight or cross-shaped shape. Reversible or regular metal nozzles are available. As a result of the operation of the equipment, the coating is removed by chips, but does not turn into dust. Therefore, such cutters are used to reduce the thickness of the coating or during correction.

Steamer

Using this equipment, you can remove remaining nail polish in just 10 minutes. The equipment is available in almost every beauty salon. At the same time as the steamer, nail polish remover, a manicure stick and a buff are prepared. The coating removal process is divided into stages:

• the equipment is connected to the network, after which 5 ml of liquid intended for removing shellac is added to it;
• the top is eliminated by a buff;
• Before using the device, the remaining dust is removed;
• hands are placed in the steamer for 10 minutes;
• Remains of gel polish are removed with a stick;
• if a little base remains, then they are removed with a buff in short movements.

At the end of the procedure, the hands are thoroughly washed and the nails are treated with nourishing oil.

How to remove gel polish at home

The services of manicure salons are considered expensive, so many women prefer to deal with the removal of gel polish on their own. For this, professional equipment or universal tools are used.

If a girl often uses the services of a professional manicurist, it is recommended to purchase equipment for removing nail polish and other coatings in advance.

Remover

The product is sold in beauty salons or specialized cosmetic stores. It has a reasonable price, but it will take about 30 minutes to remove the coating. The process is carried out in the same way as in the salon. To do this, cotton pads are moistened with remover and then fixed on the nails with adhesive tape or tape.

To increase efficiency, girls often wrap their nails with foil.

Impregnated napkins

They are a universal and reusable shellac coating remover. They are often used by women who prefer to do and adjust their manicures themselves. Impregnation does not harm the skin or nails. This prevents cracking or drying out.

Napkins are produced by different companies, but it is important to choose products from reliable companies.

Initially, the package is opened, after which the fingers are lowered into the resulting pocket. The napkin is fixed with the edges of the package, after which the pocket is removed using a scrolling motion. The fingers are left in this position for about 15 minutes, after which the remaining shellac can be easily removed using a wooden stick. It is advisable to apply moisturizing oil to the cuticle at the end of the procedure.

The device

It has a high cost, so it is advisable to buy it for the home only if the girl constantly uses gel polish. Using the device, the coating is created and removed.

Before work, a suitable cutter is purchased. The procedure is performed from right to left, and the process also begins from the place where the cuticle is located. Movements similar to regular stroking are used. The cutter should be touched carefully, without disturbing the integrity of the nail plate.

Layer-by-layer cutting

This method is considered risky, but is often used by women who do not want to spend money on professional products. You can file off the gel only to the base layer, using careful movements.

Sawing is done with a file or buff. But after filing the base coat, you need to stop so as not to damage the nail.

Varnish

Often girls use gel polish remover at home. Initially, regular varnish is applied on top of the coating, after which it is removed with a damp cloth until it dries completely. The procedure must be repeated several times to remove all residues. If even after this there is a little gel left, then it is pryed off with a wooden stick.

This method allows you to quickly remove gel polish, but is not considered very useful.

Vodka

If you don’t have professional products at hand, you can use regular vodka or alcohol. To do this, follow these steps:

• cotton wool is moistened in a small amount of vodka;
• it is applied to the nail, which is then covered with foil;
• fingers are left in this state for 20 minutes;
• After this period of time, the coating becomes soft, so it easily comes off the nail plate.

If necessary, the procedure is repeated.

Acetone-containing products

These also include liquid intended for nail polish remover. The process of removing the coating is quite simple, since it is enough to moisten the cotton wool in the selected liquid, after which it is transferred to the nail for 30 minutes. After this, the coating is removed with a nail file or spatula.

After completing the process, wellness procedures are performed to restore and care for the nails. Therefore, fatty cream or special oils are applied.

Removing the coating

Every woman who visits a manicurist knows that gel polish lasts for about three weeks , then the nails grow back and require our next visit to the manicurist to update the design, give the nails a newly well-groomed look and get aesthetic pleasure. Removing the coating, at first glance, is an easy procedure, so often the thought arises in your head to repeat this at home, so as not to spend money on a specialist, however, everything is not so simple, the master is a person who has the skill of removing the coating, experience, and most importantly the main thing is competence in this matter , the necessary knowledge. Where we cannot see the pitfalls, a true master can warn us against this independence, which will then result in treatment and restoration of the nail plate, which was damaged as a result of our home experience with the nails.

Modern manicure devices allow you to use a cutter to carefully remove the layer of gel polish BEFORE the base without damaging the nail plate; many masters have switched to this method, replacing them with a file or, what is even more ancient, foil and acetone. Using the necessary cutter, the master removes the layer of gel polish down to the base, changing cutters (and there are many of them), works on the nails, polishes, processes, preparing them for further coating. The advantages of hardware manicure and coating removal are that the device does not allow the cuticle to dry out (which would happen if the master used acetone), and also does not damage the nail itself, provided that the specialist knows his job 200%.

Common mistakes when removing gel polish

Even professionals often make serious mistakes when removing gel polish. But they usually occur when women remove the coating themselves. These include:

• the use of metal instruments that violate the integrity of the nail plate;
• refusal to apply disinfectants;
• use of liquids that have expired;
• choosing cheap products;
• tearing off gel polish;
• refusal of restorative procedures after removing shellac.

Such actions lead to improper nail growth, damage to the plate, the appearance of fungus or excessive cuticle growth.

Service cost

Experienced masters, almost from the very beginning of contact with the client, begin to warn them about removing gel polish only from a specialist, trying to convey that independent experiments at home can only increase the work of the master, and an experiment carried out at home will take time and may not succeed. Therefore, you shouldn’t waste money on removing the coating. The cost of the service depends on the area in which you live, on the experience of the master and his “experience in this matter.” If a manicure is performed at home by a specialist, then the important fact is whether you are a regular client or have switched from another would-be master. As a rule, beginners pay 150-200 rubles . for removing someone else's manicure, if the manicure is done at home, and when they become regular customers, then this service is equal to 0 rubles.

It doesn’t matter how the master removes the gel polish (with a file, using foil, with a cutter), the price does not change because of this, but remains the same. The client has the right to choose how he would like the coating to be removed, but before choosing, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the disadvantages of each removal method and choosing the most humane one for your nails. Today, more and more masters recommend hardware manicure and removal using a cutter; this is the method that is leading today and takes 1st place.

Required materials and tools

Before removing gel polish, various devices are prepared:

• ordinary food foil, available to every housewife;
• wooden sticks;
• remover or other product designed to remove varnish;
• file;
• small nail scissors;
• nail oil;
• cotton pads or regular cotton wool.

The foil is cut into small rectangular pieces, and the cotton pads are cut into 4 pieces.

It is not recommended to use cotton wool as it absorbs a lot of liquid.

How much does the service cost?

The cost of the gel polish removal procedure does not depend on the region where the salon is located. To a greater extent it depends on the status of the salon. There are beginning craftsmen who charge a small fee both in Moscow and in the provinces. Likewise, elite establishments with prices above average. That is why the average cost of coating removal is from 150 to 1,200 rubles. You can find places where the service is cheaper or, conversely, more expensive.

Prices in Moscow are slightly higher - there the average bill for removing gel polish is about 300-500 rubles. In the regions you can find places where you will only need to pay 100-200 rubles. The smaller the city or town, the cheaper the procedure will cost. In regional and regional centers you will have to pay more. In each city you can find salons where removing the coating will cost differently.

Features of choosing nail polish remover

If you choose the method of removing shellac with nail polish remover, then it is important to choose the product wisely. For this, the following rules are taken into account:

• a liquid is selected that is specifically designed to remove gel polish, and not regular polish;
• It is advisable to buy products produced by the varnish manufacturer;
• The composition must contain strengthening components that allow you to take care of the structure of the nail.

The cost of such a liquid is much higher than acetone-containing products.

Why do you have to remove the coating without a subsequent manicure?

Many women believe that if they start wearing gel polish, they will have to constantly renew the coating. In fact, there are several cases when you can simply get rid of it:

• before sending to the maternity hospital - many institutions require that the nails be clean, without a layer of decorative varnish or gel;
• for diseases of the nail plate - since the polymer layer does not allow air access to it;
• to strengthen nails - they temporarily need a break from decor;
• if the gel polish layer is damaged, and you do not get to your master soon.

It is not recommended to soak or grind off the coating yourself, as you may damage the plate.

Step-by-step guide to removing gel polish from nails

To remove gel polish at home, it is recommended to follow the correct sequence of actions. Initial preparation is carried out, which consists of washing hands, softening the cuticle and treating with alcohol.

Sometimes it is advisable to take a bath with essential oils, after which you wipe your hands dry.

Removing coating from your nails

After preparing the nails, collect all the materials and tools that will be needed for the procedure. In order not to be distracted while working, it is advisable to cut cotton pads and foil into small pieces.

Preparation

The preparatory stages consist of treating the nail plate and fingers with nail polish remover gel. To do this, use a quarter of a cotton pad, which is moistened in liquid and placed on each nail.

Attention! The disc is pressed tightly onto the nail plate to treat the entire coating.

Wrap

The fingers are carefully wrapped in foil, which is secured with tape. This procedure is performed for each finger. The foil is left for 15 minutes.

To enhance the effect, it is recommended to lightly massage your fingertips on top of the compress.

Cleansing

After the required period of time, the compress is removed. You can pull the polish off the nail, as after softening it comes off the plate well. The remains are removed with a wooden stick.

If small particles remain, they are removed with a file.

Completion

After the process is completed, you have to use nail care measures. Fingers and nails are wiped dry. The nail plate is polished with a nail file, after which moisturizing oil is applied to the cuticle.

It is advisable not to reapply the varnish for several days. Can only be coated with a strengthening agent.

For extended nails

It is allowed to combine extended nails and gel polish, but it is not possible to remove the coating using traditional methods. Acetone causes damage and dissolution of extended nails.

You can remove gel polish from such nails only with a file or cutter. To do this, hands are disinfected, and then the unnecessary covering is cut off. The cutter allows you to quickly get the job done, but it requires skill to avoid damaging the nail.

How to remove coating from nails

There are only two ways to remove gel polish: grinding and soaking. The coating is a durable polymer that cannot be removed by simple means. If you regularly go for a manicure, you will know exactly how to carry out this procedure correctly. Masters use two methods:

1. Physical grinding. Using a file or cutter, the master removes the polymer layer to the base layer. In this case, the surface of the nail plate will not be damaged. The following will help keep it intact: mastering the tool, choosing the right cutter, careful grinding and subsequent processing. Grinding is carried out before subsequent coating, as it creates an ideal surface. Its advantage is that the cuticle does not dry out with this method of removal. You can apply shellac to your nails and continue with a neat manicure.
2. Soaking in acetone (or in a special liquid containing it) using foil. This method is not used by professional craftsmen. Its essence is that a cotton pad soaked in solvent is tied to the nail, and then it is wrapped in foil. While the coating is corroded, acetone affects the skin of the hands and the nail plate itself. It dries out the cuticle and damages the nail, so you will need to repair it in different ways.

Modern manicurists and pedicurists prefer to use tools; hardware preparation is almost always carried out before applying shellac. Despite the fact that this procedure seems more traumatic, it does not damage the nail plate.

What to do without foil

Professionals usually use foil, but if you are removing the gel at home, you can replace the foil with cling film. Finger guards are sold in specialized stores, but they are considered expensive and are used only once. Such analogues do not allow air to pass through.

Finger guards are becoming very popular because they do not need to be secured with adhesive tape.

Preliminary simplification of the procedure for removing gel polish

To make the process of removing gel polish easier, it is recommended to dry your nails a little before applying it so that there is no oil or grease on them. This will make it easy to remove the coating in the future, although there is a chance that it won't last very long.

Additionally, you can pre-apply an exfoliant. It will remove dust and skin particles that remain after a regular hygienic manicure.

Application of oil

Before applying gel polish, it is important to take care of the nail plate, for which it is advisable to treat it with a special cuticle oil. It can be olive, castor, burdock or almond. It can also be used after removing the coating.

It is advisable to buy pure oils, without adding unnecessary components. The product is rubbed into the ends with gentle and circular movements. This allows you to soften the skin and also remove rough parts. But after this procedure, the fingers are well dried and wiped with a clean towel.

Application of a special base

After treating your nails with oil, it is recommended to strengthen them with a special base. It is produced by many cosmetic companies, and also penetrates deeply into the structure of the nail, positively affecting all layers. After this process, the creation of the gel polish coating begins.

With proper care, there are no negative consequences that arise from wearing the covering for a long time.

Safety rules when using the device

To properly remove gel polish with a special manicure device, it is important to adhere to the rules for using the equipment:

1. It is strictly forbidden to use the device “in weight”.
2. Both hands should be on the table surface.
3. The cutter should move along the nail with short and soft movements, remaining on the plate for no more than 3 seconds. Otherwise, the attachment may cut into the nail.
4. It is important to ensure that the device is parallel to the table surface at all times.
5. It is necessary to clearly control the force of pressing the cutter on the plate. You can rely on your pressure on the pen as you write.
6. The nozzle of the device must be constantly in motion - otherwise a strong burning sensation may be felt on the nail.

An equally important factor is the hygienic disinfection of hands and equipment before starting work. First, soak your hands in a bath of warm water for a few minutes, then dry thoroughly and disinfect with an antiseptic. After this, treat the cutter itself with the solution - for greater efficiency, it is better to soak the attachment for a while in a disinfectant.

Mistakes when removing gel polish

When removing coatings, mistakes are often made that involve using aggressive liquids or mechanical tools. If the work is done at home, then beginners often do not know how to use saws or milling cutters, so they damage the structure of the plate.

When using professional equipment, it is important to study the instructions, and if chips or cuts appear, you will have to abandon creating the coating.

You cannot tear off the varnish without first softening it.

Pros and cons of hardware removal

Hardware removal of gel polish has a number of advantages:

1. There is no risk of damaging your nails. Thus, the liquids used to remove the coating contain acetone, an aggressive substance that dries the nail plate and leads to cracks. In addition, when removing the gel with a nail file, there is a risk of accidentally touching the top layer of the plate and damaging its structure.
2. Save time. Removing shellac with a machine takes on average 10-15 minutes, while the manual method takes more than an hour.

The disadvantages of hardware work include technical features: skills in working with equipment, correct direction of movements, etc. In addition, using the device also requires additional costs for the purchase and replacement of cutters or repair of the device.

Restoration of nail plates after removal

After removing shellac, girls often experience that their nails become thinner and weaker, and also become white and unsightly. To restore the plate, simple health procedures are performed. These include:

• It is advisable not to reapply varnish for several days;
• the use of baths designed to strengthen thin nails with the addition of essential oils, sea salt, iodine or other beneficial ingredients;
• To remove the yellowness that appears after removing shellac, lemon oil is ideal.

Regular use of oils helps soften the cuticle, accelerate nail growth, and the nail plate becomes shiny and strong.

Tips for maintaining healthy and beautiful nails

Even with regular application of gel polish, you can keep your nails beautiful and healthy if you use simple recommendations:

• periodically it is necessary to give the nails the opportunity to recover and rest, taking a break for a month;
• Gel polish is applied only to healthy nail plates, so if there are cracks or fungus, you will have to postpone the cosmetic procedure;
• Manicures should only be done by trusted professionals who use reliable equipment and materials;
• Without experience and professional tools, it is not recommended to remove shellac yourself;
• special oils or other means to strengthen and restore are regularly applied to the nails.

Such simple tips allow you to keep your nails strong, shiny and beautiful for a long time.

You can remove gel polish at home or in a salon. To do this, various methods are used, represented by sawing, as well as the use of impregnated napkins, devices with a cutter or remover. It is not allowed to use mechanical force or aggressive chemicals. It is recommended to take breaks and use special oils to restore the plate.

Methods for removing gel polish in salons and at home

There are two ways to remove gel polish at home: using acetone and foil or a special manicure machine. The second option will be more reliable and effective: the coating is removed with a special attachment (cutter) without damaging the nail structure.

The same method is used in nail salons. To properly remove gel polish with a device, the first thing the technician does is disinfect the client’s hands, after which he carefully removes the gel layer using a special nozzle.

The power of the machine is selected based on the condition of the manicure and individual sensitivity. When the client wants to reapply gel polish, the master leaves a little strengthening base on the plate to avoid further injury to the nail.