Nail salon closed? Here’s how to remove your gel manicure at home
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Your gel manicure is probably overdue to come off, but you can’t exactly practice social distancing with your trusty manicurist.
This is the last thing to instill more panic in your already stressful life, so we consulted Essie Global Lead Educator Rita Remark to help you remove your gel manicure at home without damaging your nails.
“Without access to a salon, many of us are quickly becoming our own DIY beauty professionals,” she says. “Luckily, taking care of our nails at home is not just easy, but it can be a calming way to keep up with self-care in stressful times.”
What you’ll need:
Nail file (1 for $1 at Target) — 100/180 grit is best.
Cuticle pusher ($18 on QVC) — can sub with orangewood sticks (8 for $2 on Ulta).
Acetone nail polish remover ($2 on Target) — 100 percent acetone is best.
Aluminum foil ($3 on Target)
Cotton balls (100 for $1 on Target) — can sub with paper towels cut into squares.
How to:
File the surface of your gel to remove shine
Press an acetone saturated cotton ball or square of paper towel on the nail and wrap it tightly with a square of tin foil.
Wait 15 minutes, remove and lightly push away any excess with the cuticle pusher.
Once your gel is off, Rita recommends playing around with fun colors to maintain some joy in your life amid the crisis.
“Regular nail care is easy to implement into your daily self-care routines. If colorful nails spark joy, polish them every five days while you're binging Netflix,” she says. “Apply hand lotion after every hand wash. Incorporate cuticle oil and a quick nail and cuticle massage into your morning and nighttime skincare routine. Finally, keep your nails in shape by filing them every five days (or whenever you get a snag!).”
Shop Rita’s favorite new polish shades from Essie’s Flying Solo collection, starting at $7.
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