STEP 1 - File off the top layer.
To remove your gel nails, you first need to file off the top layer of the gel. This will take away the shine. Only once the shine is removed can you move forward in removing the gel.
STEP 2 - Soak the gel off. Cover cotton balls in 100% acetone.
The gel won't come off if you don't use 100% acetone. Take 10 pieces of cotton balls and soak them in your acetone. The cotton balls should be big enough to cover your whole nail.
STEP 3 - Wrap the foil around your fingertips.
Take one of you cotton balls and place it on your nail, covering your entire nail. With the cotton ball in place, wrap the nail and the tip of your finger with tin foil. Do this over the rest of your nails.
STEP 4 - Let sit for 15 minutes and then remove one at a time.
Let the foil stay wrapped for 15 minutes. Don't try pulling it open to check if it's working—keep it shut. After 15 minutes, remove the wrapping one nail at a time. The gel will have started to peel back. Use a cuticle stick to push the gel off your nail.
Q&A
1. Why do gel nails peel off
- Reason #1: the nail plate wasn't prepared properly. The nail plate has excess of oil residue, debris, and cuticle wasn't removed. Nail plates should always be wiped with 99% alcohol prior to polishing to get rid of any left over oils that will prevent bonding.
- Reason #2: the polish has gotten on the cuticle. Always ensure that you stay at least 1/16 away from walls and cuticle to ensure it doesn't get on cuticles.
- Reason #3: the polish has been applied to thick. Always remove excessive gel from the brush before application and apply very THIN layers.
- Reason #4: base coat and gel polish incompatibility. Some products from different brands might be incompatible and their formula doesn't bind together. For better results use In.Hype base coat.
TIP: If all else fails you can try to lightly buff with a nail buffer on top of the nail plates to sort of rough up the plate to give the polish a grittier surface to stick to
2. Dull & Streaky Top Coat
- Reason #1: The tacky (also called inhibition) layer of color coat isn't compatible with top coat brand.
- Reason #2: UV or LED Lamp doesn't have a proper power and isn't curing properly the top coat.
- Reason #3: The top coat wasn't cured for enough amount of time.
TIP:
- Cleansing nail with at least 70% Isopropyl Alcohol after the final cure under the UV/LED lamp will give the gel that diamond shine!