Gel polish has been the spa industry’s newest nail polish trend, that many get suckered into and have no idea how to remove!

Now that gel polish has been around awhile you either love it, hate it, or have yet to try it. Undoubtedly, having nails dry instantly after a manicure is very handy, but trying to get it off, well that’s something else altogether!

Gel polish and how it works

Think of the application of gel polish, like getting a filling from the dentist. The surface is filed rough, to adhere better. The compound is applied, and a light cures the product followed by a little buffing. Same concept with the nails, only here, when the light has done the job – your polish is dry. You need to be careful when choosing a brand. Not all are created equal. Some brands have pretty nasty chemicals such as formaldehyde, methylene chloride & toluene. One should wonder how good is it really to be putting this stuff on, suffocating breathing nails for 2-4 weeks! Yikes, and getting artificial nails is no better. That’s why Soulful Indulgence sourced a brand of gel polish that contains no formaldehyde like our Zoya nail polish.

The frustration of removal

The manicure is starting to wear or did not get applied correctly and is wrecking early. Whatever you do, don’t pull them off – this can peel away layers of the nail plate. This incorrect procedure can result in soft and damaged nails. 

How to remove gel polish: 

 

Say you want to remove the gel polish before your next nail appointment. To save time or money by making the technician do it, follow these simple steps.

1. Get a cotton ball, make into small sizes like your nails.
2. Soak the cotton in acetone, (get at your nearest hardware store – yeah, this stuff is not good for you. It’s paint thinner!)
3. Place cotton on top of the nail plate. Have a protective barrier cream on exposed skin ensuring to not have any oil on the nail plate.  
4. Wrap a piece of tin foil wrapped around each nail: wait 10min
5. Remove one at a time.  The polish structure will change, enabling removal with your cuticle pusher or orangewood stick.
6.  Alternatively, you can use a fine file to buff off the gel only. You need to be careful not to file too deep as this can result in damaging the nail.

Best Practice

Filling off the gel polish Soulful Indulgence’s preferred method of removal – except for the dust factor. When done carefully to remove only the gel polish, the natural nails are left free of any damage, and no harsh chemicals have to be used – which is a healthier eco-friendly option for gel polish removal for manicure and pedicure treatments.