Removing gel polish / is this standard?

[WellTidy]

I had my first ever gel polish at a salon a few weeks ago. I was delighted by them, and decided that this would be the start of a new me, I would get them done regularly. I’ve never taken any interest in nails, having bitten them for decades, so it was all completely new to me. The lady said not to take it off at home (not to pick at it as it would damage my nails) but if I wanted to have it off to go back to the salon.

So I went back a few days ago. . The owner it was this time said that the gel would have to come off as I was choosing a new colour. Fine. I hadn’t thought how it would come off but I was horrified when she used a nail file to remove it. And then painted some lumpy looking clear polish type thing and filed that off too.

Is this standard? I do t know what I had in mind but it wasn’t that! I’m sure my nails must be wrecked underneath this new gel. I think I maybe thought they’d use heat to take them off (?!) or something stronger than normal nail varnish remover and rub with a cotton pad.

Yes it's standard, although some soak off, but it's time consuming

I do my own gel polish, I find it is removal that damages your nails so I avoid removing it unless I absolutely have to. Most times I use a file to rough up the top layer, and smooth the gap then paint over them.

Hi anyone advice. Had a gel pedicure in August, two months ago. Still got some gel polish on my toes.
I really want it off. Is there any easy way to remove it at home? Don’t want to pay to take it off, especially as I’m not having it re applied until next summer.
Is there a strong removal that will take it off that you can buy in the high street?

Pure acetone (find it with nailpolish remover), cut up cotton wool pads and strips of tinfoil

Buff nails with a nail file to rough up the polish. Soak a bit of cotton wool with acetone, put it on the nail and wrap with the bit of tinfoil. Wait 10/15 minutes and see if it will scrape off. Leave longer if necessary

This is the standard approach from my experience.

By the time you've bought the stuff you might as well get a trained professional to do it

But if she buys the products she can remove them every time without paying for a professional so she will save money. It's easy to remove yourself

She isn't having it reapplied until next summer

She will still have the products next summer too
The products she needs aren't expensive to buy. She will likely have tinfoil in the house anyway

To be honest I haven’t the time to go to a salon to have the gel taken off. I also want to re-paint them with standard polish next week for a wedding and I haven’t any time to go to a professional.

The acetone and cotton wool method, use tinfoil strips to hold the cotton wool on to each toe?

It is tricky doing on your toes? Never had gel pedicure before until two months ago.

Could this method work if I ask DH to do it for me ?!

Erm ,yes I have a roll of tin foil. I can wrap that around the cotton wool balls to hold onto my toes?
Sorry I’m an amateur to this!

Yes that will work. If you've got foil already then I guess give it a go. Just be careful not to leave it on too long.

Cut strips of tinfoil and use it to hold the cotton pads in place.

Think I went overboard on the tinfoil on this occasion! It worked though

Ok thanks, do I need a nail stick to scrape the gel off? It’s been on two months so only half way on really but doesn’t look too good now.
Would DH be capable of this ? Not something he’s done before but he might find it easier doing it than myself!

A cuticle pusher stick might help. I've use my nails before for scraping it off.

I'm sure your dh would be able to do it, it's not difficult. I did my own but it depends on if you can reach your toes ok

So don’t need to buy foil strips. Can do it yourself with tin foil?! Oh just see the picture above !

Cut your existing tinfoil. No special foil needed

Mine files it off with an electric gadget. Not down to the nail though, she always leaves a layer of builder gel at the bottom. My nails are in great condition, they haven't weakened at all.