How on earth do you remove gel nail varnish??

[Helpmechooseausername]

Help! DD has a gel nail varnish manicure - it's lasted so well but needs to be removed now.

Turns out that's easier said than done! She's filed across the nails to scratch up the surface a bit, sat with nail varnish remover on for a few minutes (one with acetone) but the varnish isn't coming off.

Am I missing a trick?! How do you get it off?

Thanks!

It is big news in the press periodically.
I used to have them done regularly, then bought the stuff to do my own during COVID. I stopped a couple of years ago after reading about the allergy issues. It took 7 or 8 months for my nails to recover. I won't be using gel again.

When I had mine done I was told I must go back to have them professionally removed.

don’t let her do her own. The different brands need specific curing lamps. There is a lot of prep required and even if you use hema free the brands of gel the public can buy are not the best.

Provided it's just gel Polish and no extensions, this is the stuff you need: amzn.eu/d/5oO1Ior. Just roughen the surface with an emery board, paint this on and 5.mins later the Polish has lifted away from the nail
. It's magic!

Methylated Spirit.

I used it this Christmas and it didn't last a week. Honestly. It was definitely gel, and curing was involved. My nails look shit now, with a rough surface. Last time I use that stuff.

A shortcut I found online. Fill a tub with warm water and a generous sprinkling of salt. Soak for 15 minutes. The gels will peel off easily. This is how I've been doing it for years now. No damage to the nails. No faffing with acetone and cotton wool.

Ok thanks. I'm going to try the salt water method and if that fails I'll get some pure acetone.

Once I've managed to get it all off I'll be brave and read the horror stories!

Forgot to say that you need to add some washing up liquid too. It'll come off really easily after 15-20 minutes. Works a charm every time.

Thanks!