1. Removing gel polish

Gel polish can be removed in different ways. You can remove gel polish with a regular file, electric file or you can soak your nails in remover. If you do not have enough skills, we advise you not to work with an electric file. We often see that the natural nail plate is damaged by filing too far. This can also happen with a regular nail file, especially with a grit that is too coarse. After removing artificial nails, your nails will feel more flexible for 12-24 hours. This is because artificial nails temporarily increase the moisture content in your nail plate by about 10-15%.

2. Can you remove gel polish yourself?

You can definitely remove gel polish at home yourself. You just have to make sure that you do not damage your natural nails and the matrix. If you damage the matrix, this can lead to permanent damage. If you want to remove your nails yourself for the first time, we recommend that you use a remover ( soak-off method ), after which you can practice with a regular nail file. Below we explain how to remove your artificial nails in a correct and safe way.

3. Removing gel polish with an electric file

Removing gel polish with amilling machine is the most commonly used method in a nail salon. The process is much faster than manual filing or soaking off, which saves you a lot of time per customer. We strongly advise against using a electric file to use if you do not have enough skills, think of lessons or practicing on a practice hand. Milling away too much of the nail plate causes the natural nail to become much too thin. This will burn the skin under the nail and the customer will feel irritated. You will also have problems when hardening the nail products. To prevent damaging the natural nail plate, it is important that you make quick and deliberate movements and that you do not exert too much pressure on the handle while milling. Just like removing gel polish with a file, you should also use different gradations while milling, especially if you are using sanding rollers works. Only file off the top layer of your artificial nails. If you still have a fine layer or small pieces of nail product on your nails, it is advisable to file off the rest with a buffer file or a sanding block.

4. Removing gel polish with a regular nail file

To manually file off gel polish, you should start with a 100/180 file. The 100 grit side of the file is used to remove the top layer (top coat and color) of the artificial nail. Make short movements while filing and constantly check the condition of the base layer. If the gel polish becomes thinner, it is better to change to the 180 grit side of the nail file . When you see that most of the artificial nails have been removed, take a buffer file or a sanding block with a high grade to remove the rest of the manicure. By changing files regularly and using a higher grade each time, you reduce the chance of damaging the natural nail plate. The higher the grit, the less is removed each time.

Do you want a new manicure ? Then always file down to the base coat and not to your natural nail. After this you can fill in the regrowth with new base coat.

5. Soak off gel polish

You can soak off artificial nails with various products. We do not recommend removing gel polish with pure acetone, as this dries out the skin around the nail plate. It is best to use a remover to use one that has been specially developed for this purpose.

5.1 File off top coat

Remove the top coat and the sealed part at the top of the nail with a 100/180 file. Be careful not to file too hard!

5.2 Removing artificial nails

You can remove your artificial nails with soak off clips or in a bowl with remover.

If you are working with soak off clips, apply a little remover to a cellulose swab. Then attach the cellulose swab to your artificial nail with a soak off clip. Leave the soak off clips on the nails for five minutes.

If you are working with a bowl, pour the appropriate amount of remover into a bowl. Let your artificial nails soak for about five minutes.

5.3 Removing the artificial nails

You can then remove (push away) the loosened artificial nails with a cuticle pusher or a wooden hoof stick.