How to Remove Nail Polish at Home

The way you remove nail polish matters as much as the way you put it on. Scrubbing back and forth with a nearly dry pad spreads color onto the skin and dries the nail. Picking or peeling polish off takes layers of the nail with it. The gentle method is simple: soak, press, wait and wipe.

What you need

• Nail polish remover. See Acetone vs Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover for acetone and non-acetone types.
• Cotton pads, or lint-free pads.
• An orangewood stick.
• Hand cream and cuticle oil for afterwards.

Work in a ventilated room, away from flames. Removers are flammable.

Regular polish: step by step

1. Soak a pad with remover. A wet pad works much faster than a damp one.
2. Press it on the nail and hold for 5 to 10 seconds, so that the remover dissolves the polish.
3. Wipe firmly from the cuticle to the tip in one direction.
4. Turn the pad to a clean side and repeat if needed.
5. Clean the edges with the pad folded to a point, or an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton and dipped in remover.
6. Wash your hands with soap and water.
7. Moisturize with hand cream and cuticle oil.

Use a fresh pad for every two or three nails. A pad full of old polish only smears it around.

Dark and red shades

Dark pigments stain the skin around the nail if they are rubbed around.

• Hold the pad still for longer before wiping.
• Wipe in one direction, away from the cuticle.
• Use a clean pad for a second pass.
• Applying a little hand cream to the skin around the nail first makes clean-up easier.

Glitter polish: the foil method

Glitter clings to the nail and does not wipe away easily.

1. Soak a small piece of cotton in remover and place it on the nail.
2. Wrap the fingertip in a square of kitchen foil to hold it in place.
3. Wait three to five minutes.
4. Press and slide the cotton off towards the tip. The glitter comes away with it.

A peel-off base coat under glitter makes the next removal easier.

Gel polish at home

Salon removal is the safest. If you remove gel at home, do not peel or pick it off. Peeling takes the top layers of the nail with it and leaves nails thin and rough.

1. File the surface of the gel lightly with a fine file to break the shiny top coat. Stop as soon as the shine has gone.
2. Protect the skin around the nail with petroleum jelly or cuticle oil.
3. Soak cotton in acetone, place it on each nail and wrap in foil. Soaking only the cotton, not the whole fingertip, exposes less skin to acetone.
4. Wait 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Check one nail. The gel should look lifted and flaky. Gently push it off with an orangewood stick. If it resists, rewrap and wait a few more minutes. Do not scrape.
6. Wash and moisturize generously.

Acetone is very drying, so follow with oil and cream. Gel Manicure vs Regular Polish: Key Differences compares gel and regular polish, and Nail Care After Removing Acrylic or Gel Extensions covers care after extensions.

Aftercare

• Apply cuticle oil and hand cream straight away. See Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle.
• If nails look yellow from dark polish, the stain is on the surface. It grows out, and a base coat next time prevents it.
• Give nails a day or two without polish now and then.
• If your nails peel or feel thin, keep them short and moisturize daily. See How to Care for Nails Between Manicures.

What to avoid

• Peeling or picking polish.
• Scraping with metal tools.
• Soaking fingers in a bowl of acetone for a long time.
• Using remover near a flame, a cigarette or a hot appliance.
• Using household solvents instead of nail polish remover.

How often is too often?

Removing and repainting several times a week dries the nails. If you like to change color often, use a non-acetone remover when the polish allows it, and moisturize every time.

Related on ArniSun

• Acetone vs Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover
• Gel Manicure vs Regular Polish: Key Differences
• Nail Care After Removing Acrylic or Gel Extensions
• Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle
• How to Care for Nails Between Manicures

Sources and further reading

• American Academy of Dermatology: Gel manicures: Tips for healthy nails
• US Food and Drug Administration: Nail care products
• American Academy of Dermatology: 11 dermatologists' tips for healthy nails