If you decide to have a permanent manicure, you have the choice between UV gel and UV gel polish. You usually visit a nail salon where you rely on professional hands. Sometimes, as an exception, if the manicure becomes damaged or begins to break, you have to remove the gel nails yourself. With the right tips and instructions, we will show you how to do this as gently as possible. As long as you pay attention to everything, you can not only protect your fingernails, but also prepare them for the next manicure so that you can continue to enjoy them in the future.
Under the term “gel nails”can often be understood as two different methods for manicure on the same UV gel base. In one case we are talking about UV gel and in the other – about the so-called UV nail polish. Both variants last a really long time, two to four weeks, are characterized by a gel consistency and do not dry in the air like conventional nail polish, but harden thanks to a special UV or LED lamp. And this is where the similarities between the two methods end.
UV nail polish is something in between UV gel and conventional nail polish and therefore perhaps combines the best properties of both. Like its predecessor, it can be applied directly to the fingernails with a brush from a bottle. A base and a top coat are required. The consistency of the UV nail polish is thick and dries in a short time under a UV or LED lamp, as is known from gel. The result is a glossy, scratch- and smudge-resistant finish that lasts two to four weeks, even with the usual household chores that are a big enemy of traditional nail polish.
You cannot lengthen your natural fingernails with gel nail polish. It is applied to give the nails additional strength, makes them less brittle and creates a smooth, uniform surface. If you want long fingernails, you first have to grow your own. The strength created thanks to the gel makes your fingernails particularly stable, so that even ladies with brittle nails can enjoy a long, artistic manicure. Although they have their advantages, they also have disadvantages. One such thing is that the gel is difficult to remove.
necessary accessories for home
First you mustget the necessary accessoriesand learn to use them correctly. You definitely need files with different thicknesses, a coarse and a fine file, as well as a sanding block for polishing, a Pro Pusher for removing cuticles, a dusting brush and a good nail oil. You will also need cotton pads, aluminum foil and a special gel polish remover with acetone. It differs from the usual nail polish remover in that it consists of 100% acetone and removes the gel better.
The first step is to carefully file the beautiful, shiny surface of the gel nail polish. This only concerns the very top layer so that the remover can be absorbed more easily. Do this for all 10 fingers and then prepare 10 pieces of aluminum foil for each. Use a coarser file for this first step. Be careful not to suddenly file down on the nail. The goal is a rough surface that the acetone can later penetrate better. In principle, this is the same as sanding wood and then painting it - the coarse surface offers the best conditions.
Then soak cotton balls (10 total) in the remover and place one ball on each fingernail. Then wrap the nails and the cotton completely in aluminum foil. Try to attach everything tightly and airtight and fix it as tightly as possible, as the acetone evaporates quickly. Then let the remover work for 10-15 minutes. Whether this time is sufficient can be determined later and, if necessary, the whole thing can be repeated.
Your fingers should now look something like this. The rough surface has small cracks and holes, so to speak, into which the acetone can penetrate wonderfully. Because you have wrapped everything airtight in foil, the acetone does not evaporate and will work well all the time and dissolve the gel in this way. In contrast, the smooth gel is a little more protected.
Depending on the remover, it may take more or less time for the gel nail polish to completely dissolve. If the remover is strong enough and you have carefully filed the surface beforehand, this effect should occur. The gel can be easily removed. However, of course this is not always the case. If it cannot be removed immediately as shown, you can help a little with propushers or a similar wooden object. To do this, use your tool to carefully push the gel in one direction until it comes off. Sometimes it takes a long time until all the gel particles are removed.
You can then remove the remains of the gel nail polish with a cotton pad that you have previously moistened with sufficient acetone. If these are still too coarse, you can repeat the steps with the aluminum foil again and leave it to work for a few more minutes. If necessary, push the residue away from the nail with the pusher and polish the nail surface with a fine sanding block. If possible, only the gel should be sanded and not the nail itself.
After the acetone procedure and when the color has been completely removed from the fingernails, they need sufficient moisture and care, and it is recommended to dip the fingertips in a nail oil bath for ten minutes and massage in a care product. This strengthens the nails after the rather extreme procedure and guarantees that they can grow back well without breaking. Such care is also recommended if you do not use gel to design your nails. You will quickly notice how positive this has an effect on your nail structure. And well-groomed nails look even more beautiful when painted.
After these steps you can now enjoy your natural fingernails again. Of course, you now have the opportunity to create a new design with gel. You decide for yourself whether you want to give your nails a break and care beforehand. In this way you give them the opportunity to recover. For this purpose, use high-quality care products such as nail hardeners and oils.
UV nails: in the nail salon or yourself?
In contrast to gel nail polish, fingernails can be lengthened and almost completely redesigned with UV gel. So after 1-2 hours in the nail salon you get 0.5 to 1 cm longer and, above all, strong nails that are hardly brittle and simply look perfect. This is the perfect option for all women whose nails grow with difficulty and are plagued by brittle nails. However, you should be careful with your nail design, as in some professions artificial nails are not desired. Additionally, these can cause allergies.
In order to have perfectly styled nails, you also have to take into account disadvantages. The first of these is damage to the natural structure of the nails. In order for the UV gel to be fixed properly, the natural nail should be partially sanded down, making it porous and ensuring ideal adhesion for applying the gel. When the strong gel layer is removed, the natural one remains much less stable, softer and thinner than before.
As the nails grow, a small uncovered area is created that looks unsightly. If you cannot visit the nail salon for a long time for some reason or simply want to remove your nails yourself, there is a risk of damaging your fingernails. We advise against experimenting with various home remedies such as vinegar, as this can lead to serious injuries. Note that it may take over 6 months for the new nails to grow out. So it's better not to let it come to that in the first place.
The UV gel from artificial nails can only be removed by filing. The exception is soak-off gels, which are removed with acetone in a similar way to gel nail polish. In all other cases, you start with a coarser file and the closer you get to the natural nail, the finer the file you use. You should also apply less pressure so as not to damage the natural nails. A thin layer of gel can be left on the nails without any problems, as this strengthens your natural nails a little.
Polish the nails and massage in a nourishing oil to help them grow out. In the next few days it is advisable not to apply nail polish so that the natural nail can breathe. This allows the keratin contained in the natural nail to harden and quickly return to its original state. Just as hair needs a rest period every now and then, the same goes for fingernails.
If you already have some experience in dealing with fingernails, you are welcome to initially use a nail cutter to remove the gel modelling. It is still particularly important not to damage the natural nails. Use the electric file to remove the first layers and then continue carefully by hand. After all, you don't want to accidentally remove some layers of your nail and make it thinner.
If you want to remove your gel nails on your own, it is very important that you do not use force to tear them from the natural ones or use proven home remedies. Instead, follow a guide to protect the nail of each finger.
