How to Remove Gel Nail Polish at Home

Removing a gel manicure’s long-lasting lacquer can leave you with weak, peeling, brittle nails. The issue isn’t necessarily the polish, considering you’re probably using some of the best nail polishes, so much as it is the method of removal, explains Dana Stern, MD, a dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. You’re going to need to soak your nails in acetone and then use tools to physically push the polish off your nails—a harsh and potentially damaging process.“When there is aggressive scraping with a metal or a wooden tool to remove gel polish, the nail plate also gets removed and this results in significant thinning,” says Dr. Stern. If you damage the nail matrix, the area of the nail beneath the cuticle, you’ll have white patches, ridges, and other surface irregularities to contend with as your nails grow, she warns. Follow these tips to be your own at-home manicurist. And make sure you’re using the best gel nail polish...