How to: remove your gel polish at home
When I look at my own nails, that festive glitter with this rainy weather suddenly seems a bit sad and the picking has secretly begun. Not okay then. Before the lockdown, I quickly dove into the salon, but now the regrowth is present. It has to come off, and right now. So I order everything I need to remove it as gently as possible – my nails are never really happy about this – and I’ll take you through my step-by-step plan, here it comes.
1. Buffer, €1,25 JohnBeerens.com
Step 1.
The shiny topcoat that makes your nails look so nice needs to be matte. You can do this with a soft nail file, but it’s easier with a nail buffer. One of those with different rough sides that you can also use later to polish your nails: ideal. Gently rub over your nails and as soon as they feel rough and matte, you know you’re on the right track.
2. Remover foil wraps, €9,69 Douglas, 3. Nail polish remover clips, €6,29 Amazon
Step 2.
Use a nail polish remover with acetone, cotton pads, aluminum foil, and very handy: nail polish remover clips. Cut, tear, or slice the cotton pads to the size of your nails and cut ten strips of aluminum foil. Is everything ready? Then wet the cotton pads with acetone, place them on each nail, and wrap the foil around them. Use the clips for extra sturdiness and set your timer for ten to fifteen minutes. I do this first on one hand and then on the other so I can still do something in between. Ten minutes is longer than you think when you can’t do anything with both hands.
3. Bokkepoot nail care, €21,56 Douglas
Step 3.
Remove the clips, foil, and cotton pads. If all goes well, the polish should now be soft or already flaking off, which is a good sign. You can now gently push the color off with a cuticle pusher. Is this not easy? Then repeat step 2.
5. Prospa nail & cuticle oil, €13,95 Lookfantastic
6. Dadi oil cuticle oil, €54,95 Prime Nails
7. Argan Oil drops, €19,31 Douglas
Step 4.
Is the color completely gone? My nails always become so sensitive from the acetone. So wash your hands well with a nourishing hand wash so that no residue of acetone remains and massage your nails and cuticles well with an oil. Or make this delicious nourishing avocado mask.
8. Calcium nail Whitney, €23,40 KOH Cosmetics
9. Nail hardener extra strong, €10,49 Plein.nl
10. Nailtrition nail hardener, €19,31 ORLY
Step 5.
Invest in a good nail strengthener like those from KOH, Herôme, or ORLY if your nails continue to feel sensitive for longer. Also use a good hand cream daily that is also meant for your nails besides your hands.
And voilà, in five steps you are rid of your gel polish and we can now count down the days until the salons reopen for a nice new color. I think I’ll go for burgundy, black, or maybe nude. That’s always a good idea.
