The Safest Way to Remove Gel Nail Polish with Acetone

A guide on taking off gel polish fast without damaging your natural nails

Co-authored by Lindsay Yoshitomi and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: January 10, 2023 References Approved

You’re so over your manicure but don’t have time to schedule an appointment for gel polish removal…Is there a way to do it at home? Why, of course there is! Soaking your nails in acetone is the safest, easiest, and most effective way to remove gel nail polish. All it takes is some acetone, cotton balls, aluminum foil, and a bit of time. So, grab your supplies, and let’s get started!

Things You Should Know

Saturate a cotton ball with pure acetone and wrap it around your nail with a strip of aluminum foil to remove gel polish in around 15 minutes.
Moisturize your cuticles with petroleum jelly before removing gel nail polish and after with cuticle oil to keep your skin hydrated.
Acetone is a strong chemical and can irritate skin and damage furniture, so lay a towel over your work surface and always wash your hands after using it.

1

Tear 5 cotton balls in half.

Before you pick up any tool, make sure your cotton is ready. Tearing a cotton ball in half will help it fit on your nails more easily.^{[1]
X
Research source} If you don’t have cotton balls, cut a cotton pad in half instead.^{[2]
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- Your cotton balls or pads will sit on top of your nail, so make sure they’re big enough to cover your nail.

2

Buff off the top layer of polish.

Buffing your nail helps speed up the removal process. Simply take a regular nail file or buffer and gently brush it back and forth across the surface of your nail. Don’t rub too hard; otherwise, you may damage your natural nail. Only break through the first layer of polish.^{[3]
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- This breaks the seal of the polish so that the acetone can soften and remove it easily.

3

Rub petroleum jelly on the skin around your nails.

Keep your cuticles moisturized with a layer petroleum jelly. Acetone can quickly dry out and damage skin. Petroleum jelly acts as a barrier between your skin and the chemical and protects it through the removal process. Dip a cotton swab in the jelly and swipe a thin layer along the edge of your nails.^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- If you don’t have petroleum jelly on hand, use a lotion or balm with petroleum jelly in it instead.
- Acetone is a chemical that reacts with gel nail polish to loosen the adhesive and free it from your natural nail.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lindsay Yoshitomi
  Nail Artist
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.} This chemical can be found in your regular nail polish remover but is its strongest in its purest form.^{[6]
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  Research source}

4

Wrap your nails with cotton and aluminum foil.

Let the acetone sit on your nails for 15 minutes.^{[7]
X
Research source} Soak your pieces of cotton in pure acetone until they’re saturated. Then, place one of the soaked cotton balls on your nail and wrap it tightly with a small piece of foil.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail Artist
Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.}
- Try wrapping your nails in plastic wrap instead to create a tighter seal and less mess.^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
- Give nail caps a try for a reusable alternative to foil or plastic wrap.^{[10]
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  Research source}

5

Swipe away the polish while removing the foil and cotton.

Take the foil and cotton off in one swoop to safely remove gel polish. Pinch the foil and cotton at the top of your nail and the base of your fingertip. Press firmly, twist, and pull the foil and cotton off your nail. The majority of the gel polish should come off with the cotton.^{[11]
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- If there’s still a lot of polish left over, no worries! Simply do another round of soaking after giving your nails a 10-minute break.
- Gently brush and scrape off any stubborn polish with a wooden cuticle stick, being careful not to scratch your natural nail.^{[12]
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  Research source}
- Avoid picking or peeling off the polish, as this damages your natural nail.^{[13]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
- Use a warm washcloth to wipe away any excess or clumpy polish.

6

Wash your hands once all the polish is removed.

Acetone can harm your skin, so the quicker you get it off, the better. Head to the sink and wash your hands with soap and warm water so they’re nice, clean, and acetone-free.

7

Moisturize your hands and cuticles.

Finish your at-home gel polish remover by giving your skin a little TLC. Rub some lotion into your hands and swipe some cuticle oil on the base of each nail. This will help rehydrate your skin and keep your nails healthy.^{[14]
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Research source}
- If you’d like to shape and file your nails, that’s perfectly fine—just make sure you’re gentle to avoid damaging your fragile nails.
- If your nails seem extremely brittle, put on a coat of strengthening nail polish to keep them from breaking.

Community Q&A
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Question

How do you get gel nails off without acetone?

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There are three possible ways suggested for removing gel nail polish without acetone––peeling, soaking and filing and each method is described in this wikiHow: How to Get Nails Off without Acetone. However, any form of removal that requires abrasive actions, gouging, scratching or chemicals will have a detrimental effect on your nails, so be careful about the method you choose. See your salon for help if you’re uncertain about removing the nails at home, as professionals will be best equipped to remove the gel with the least impact.
Question

Does gel nail polish ruin your nails?

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Gel polish, used regularly, can weaken your nails by dehydrating them and causing thinning. Hard gels (the older style gel) are more harmful to nails than the newer soft gels. Incorrect removal of the gel can also create more problems for nails, especially if they’re scraped, sanded or gouged to get the gel off. To lessen the chances of your nails being harmed by the gel nail polish, always find out before application how the gel is removed and make sure it’s a soft gel. And it can’t help to give your nails plenty of breaks between the next application of gel nail polish, leaving your nails bare, as nature intended.
Question

What kind of nail polish remover do I need to remove gel nail polish?

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You will need to use 100% pure acetone to remove gel nail polish at home. Normal nail polish removers lack the strength of acetone needed to remove the gel, so don’t waste time using those. Before you begin, file across the top of you nails with a coarse file; doing this will break the top layer of the gel, which will help speed up the process of removal. After adding the acetone to the gel (you can wrap your fingertips in foil), wait until the gel is completely softened before attempting removal. See the instructions above for the best approach.

Warnings

Always work in a well-ventilated space when using acetone, as inhaling the chemical’s fumes could be harmful.^{[17]
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Skip the “quick fix” of an acetone bath. Soaking anything but your nails in acetone for an extended amount of time can irritate and dry out your skin.^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}

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It is possible to remove gel nails without acetone, but these methods can be harmful to your nails and aren’t as fast.

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