Your cotton balls or pads will sit on top of your nail, so make sure they’re big enough to cover your nail.
This breaks the seal of the polish so that the acetone can soften and remove it easily.
If you don’t have petroleum jelly on hand, use a lotion or balm with petroleum jelly in it instead. Acetone is a chemical that reacts with gel nail polish to loosen the adhesive and free it from your natural nail. [5] X Expert Source Lindsay YoshitomiNail Artist Expert Interview. 12 July 2019. This chemical can be found in your regular nail polish remover but is its strongest in its purest form. [6] X Research source
Try wrapping your nails in plastic wrap instead to create a tighter seal and less mess. [9] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Give nail caps a try for a reusable alternative to foil or plastic wrap. [10] X Research source
If there’s still a lot of polish left over, no worries! Simply do another round of soaking after giving your nails a 10-minute break. Gently brush and scrape off any stubborn polish with a wooden cuticle stick, being careful not to scratch your natural nail. [12] X Research source Avoid picking or peeling off the polish, as this damages your natural nail. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Use a warm washcloth to wipe away any excess or clumpy polish.
If you’d like to shape and file your nails, that’s perfectly fine—just make sure you’re gentle to avoid damaging your fragile nails. If your nails seem extremely brittle, put on a coat of strengthening nail polish to keep them from breaking.
