How to remove your gels safely without damaging your nails in four easy steps

If you treated yourself to a shiny new set of gels just before the lockdown came into place, chances are they’re starting to look a little shabby by now.

With nipping to the salon for a speedy soak off no longer an option, resist the urge to pick or nibble at your gels (opens in new tab), and instead remove them carefully at home.

We’ve enlisted the help of ORLY UK Ambassador Lou Stoeks to help you soak off like a pro…

How to remove gel nails at home

Step 1

Lightly file over the gel polish with an emery board, gently removing the acetone-resistant layer of your topcoat. This will allow the remover to directly penetrate the gel polish for easy removal.

Step 2

Next, you need to wrap the nails one by one. Splash out on Orly GelX Foil Remover Wraps (£19.40 for 100) or make your own with cotton pads cut into little nail-sized squares and small pieces of tin foil. Soak the absorbent pad in acetone-based nail polish remover and wrap the foil around the finger. The foil will heat up the remover, working as a catalyst to speed and ease the removal process.

SHOP NOW: Orly GelX Remover Wraps, £19.40 for 100 (opens in new tab)

Step 3

After 10 minutes, unwrap one nail to see if the polish has started to lift. If it has, work one nail at a time to remove with a metal cuticle pusher or stick. Smooth the pusher across the nail until it’s clean and polish free.

SHOP NOW: Orly Cuticle Pusher, £15 (opens in new tab)

Step 4

To finish off, apply a cuticle oil to re-hydrate nails and improve their appearance. Orly Cuticle Oil (£7.85) is brilliant.

SHOP NOW: Orly Cuticle Oil, £7.85 (opens in new tab)

Best at home gel nail remover kits to try

Don’t have any acetone-based remover in your bathroom? Order one of these kits to shift stubborn gels in minutes…

Stylfile Polish Remover Kit

Created by Apprentice alumni and inventor Tom Pellereau, Stylfile’s kit makes light work of gel nails. The handy clips help keep your foil wraps in place, while the generous bottle of remover lasts for ages.

SHOP NOW: Stylfile Polish Remover Kit, £11.99, Argos (opens in new tab)

Nails Inc Gel-less

Working one hand at a time, just dip and twist your fingers into the pot. Lined with pre-saturated sponges, it gets to work fast, dissolving polish pronto.

SHOP NOW: Nails Inc Gel-less Super Speedy Gel Manicure Remover Kit, £15 (opens in new tab)