So many of us are doing our nails ourselves nowadays. Especially since there are products that allow us to have that acrylic nail finish at home. Polygel is one of those products.
Polygel has become increasingly more available to consumers over the last few years. It allows for those of us who are nail obsessed to do our nails in the comfort of our own homes.
For those of us who are familiar with having our nails done, there is one thing we dread most. Removing them!
It is easy when you have that next nail salon appointment booked to take them off, but when you aren’t getting your nails redone, it can be very tough.
Unfortunately, this is the same for polygel. One of the benefits of polygel is that it is supposed to last a long time. Though this means taking it off can be difficult.
Well, if you need to know how to remove polygel then you’ve come to the right place. We are going to go through how you can quickly remove polygel at home without it being difficult.
What Is Polygel?
Polygel is a hybrid gel nail formula. It was originally created for nail technicians to use but it has become available for consumers to buy and use at home.
Polygel was created to be a product that had all the best features of gel nails and acrylic nails.
Polygel often comes in tubes and is very malleable. You can create any nail shape you desire with polygel. What is great about polygel is that you can extend the length of your nails, without having to use tips.
Polygel doesn’t require as much preparation as acrylic nails, although preparing your nail sufficiently is what keeps polygel on your nails.
The great thing about polygel is that it doesn’t set like acrylic. Instead, to set the polygel you have to cure it under a UV lamp. This means you can play with the shape of your nails for as long as you’d like.
Polygel is a lot easier than acrylic to work with. As we mentioned earlier, there is not much preparation. There isn’t any mixing or the use of a monomer.
Polygel is ready to put on your nails the second you squeeze it out of the tube.
It is a thick gel consistency and to shape it, you will need to dip your brush into the special solution to stop the gel from sticking to the brush.
Related: How to do Gelish Nails at Home
How To Remove Polygel
There are a few ways to remove polygel from your nails. We are going to walk you through step by step each way.
Removing With Acetone Wraps
We know that dipping your nails in acetone can do more damage to your nails in the long run, so let’s use acetone wraps instead.
Step One
The first thing you want to do is make the nails short and as close to your natural nails as possible.
Step Two
The next step is to file away the top coat on your polygel nails. You should do this until the shiny coat on the nail is completely gone.
Step Three
Now you just need to soak the polygel nails in acetone.
To do this, soak the cotton part of the foil wraps in acetone. Place the acetone-soaked part on your nail. Then wrap the foil around your finger, sealing in the acetone. You want to make sure no air can get to the nail.
Step Four
Soak the nails for 10-15 minutes. Depending on how thick your polygel is, you may need to soak the nails for longer.
Step Five
After soaking your nails, peel back the foil and gently pull up on the foil.
The goal here is to separate the polygel layer from your nail. If you don’t get it all, don’t worry. Use a cuticle pusher to gently scrape the remaining polygel from your nails.
Step Six
Buff your nails to make sure all the polygel has been removed.
Removing Polygel Without Acetone
Acetone can cause irritation around the cuticle area. Sometimes your nails need a rest from it, so here is a method to remove the polygel without using acetone.
Step One
Use a cuticle pusher to slightly lift the edge of the polygel nail that is near your nail bed.
When you slightly lift the edges of the polygel, it allows for things to get underneath the polygel and in between the polygel and your natural nails.
Step Two
Now it is time to make the mixture that is going to remove the polygel. In some very warm water, you want to mix the oil of your choice and some detergent.
Step Three
Once you have mixed the oil and detergent together, place your nails into the mixture. Let the mixture soak your nails for at least 15 minutes.
Step Four
Now that your nails have soaked, the polygel should be more lifted. Use the cuticle pusher to lift the polygel completely off of your natural nails.
Step Five
If you have some polygel nails that are resisting being lifted off, soak them again in the warm water mixture for around 10 minutes. Then try to remove the polygel with a cuticle pusher.
Step Six
Buff the nails to remove any remaining polygel.
Removing Polygel With An E-File
If you are someone who regularly goes to the nail salon, you know they use an e-file to help with the removal process. This works the same for polygel.
Step One
Cut your polygel nails so they are a similar length to your natural nails. This will make them easier to remove.
Step Two
Push back your cuticles. This is an important step as you don’t want the nail drill to damage them.
Step Three
Using a sanding band that is not too rough, start to remove the polygel from your nails, layer by layer. It is best to start with filing the edges of your nails first.
Step Four
Once you have got rid of the polygel from the edges of your nails, switch to a coarse belt. You can use this coarse belt to file away the polygel from the apex of your nail.
This is usually where most of the polygel is. Make sure to go slowly. Do not touch your natural nail with the file, just get as close as possible.
Step Five
Now use a manual file to remove the rest of the polygel. Make sure it is a low-grit file.
Step Six
Apply cuticle oil to rehydrate your nails.
Final Thoughts
There we have it, three easy ways to get rid of polygel at home and save you a trip to the nail salon! Polygel might seem difficult to remove, but by following these guides it should speed up the process.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you feel more confident about removing polygel. Please share this guide with others you think this guide will help. Thank you for reading!