Talk

Flip

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style and beauty

Removing Shellac or similar

9 replies

monkeysmama · 21/10/2011 07:51

I have a Shellac style thing on my nails - I can't recall brand name but dried under uv light. It's chipped and I want it off but can't get to a salon until after the weekend.

How can I get it off myself?

TIA.

OP posts:

Report

Byeckersiambloodyscarylike · 21/10/2011 07:53

Acetone, soak it off, you can use acetone nail varnish remover, but it needs to be soaked not rubbed and it will take forever!

Acetone is your best bet, available from chemist :)

Report

Likeaheadlesschicken · 21/10/2011 08:00

Dip cotton wool balls in acetone nail polish remover put them on your finger tips, wrap your finger tip in kitchen foil and leave for five to ten minutes (or a bit longer if needed) the shellac should then wipe off.

Report

Claragoesbumpsinthenight · 21/10/2011 08:02

I'm a nail technician. Go to the chemist and buy a bottle of acetone. soak a cotton pad with acetone then wrap easch finger in tin foil squares. Leave for 20 minutes and it should crumble off. easy peasy!

Report

monkeysmama · 21/10/2011 08:28

Great. Acetone it is. Thanks very much.

OP posts:

Report

nancerama · 21/10/2011 08:34

Sometimes it speed the process to file the surface of the polish slightly to scratch it up again - the acetone should soak in more easily.

Report

Spooklegeek · 21/10/2011 16:24

I had similar stuff in the summer & used (or tried to use) acetone varnish remover. It took bloody hours and I still felt I was scraping off half my nail surface. I literally spent a couple of hours soaking & scraping, soaking & scraping. It was enough of a bind to put me off having it done again, as much as I loved them. (And I wasn't paying £10 to have it salon removed before anyone suggests that!) So good luck!

Report

nogoodusernamesleft · 21/10/2011 16:27

Does anyone else find that they're left with a bubbly like coating on their nails when they've taken Shellac off at home? It drives me nuts but I can't figure out how to get it off completely bar filing it off?

Report

MissFoodie · 21/10/2011 16:56

I do my own at home and also remove them, never had any problems, as long as you leave the cotton/foil on long enough (say 15 mins) it should just peel off; I have never had any residue or nail damage either

Report

monkeysmama · 21/10/2011 20:18

I've done it. Bought a bottle of acetone in first chemist I tried for £1.50. Put some on cotton wool ball, put on nail & wrapped in tin foil. Took them off after less than 10 mins and scraped top coats off with my nail then gently filed last bits off. Took 15 mins.

Thanks again.