When it comes to removing your shellac manicure (boo, hiss), it’s important to do it the proper way. Removing your polish without the know-how can damage your nails long-term, and let’s face it, though the process can be done at home, the risk of acetone sliding down the sofa is too darn high. Leave the tin foil for roasting (more on that below), and let the salon take the work off your hands – literally. This is why heading to a professional to remove shellac nails is a good idea.
By Rachel Spedding
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1 The prep
First up, your nails will be filed to remove the outer layer of polish. This allows the acetone (debuting in the next step), to penetrate the polish. Good news, unlike gel, shellac polish is much thinner, so there won’t need be too much filing required (meaning little damage to the nail bed). To do so at home, you’ll need a nail buffer, and be ambidextrous. Kidding. But you will need to file down the nails on each hand – tricky.
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2 The tools
A liquid solvent used to remove stubborn polish. Like traditional nail varnish remover, but seriously strong (I’m talking removing Sharpie strong). Cotton pads will be soaked in acetone, and wrapped around each nail, to dissolve the polish. Next, aluminum foil is wrapped, in individual pieces, around the varnish-vanishing cotton wool to keep it in place. Hence, tin foil fingers.
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3 The waiting
Whether you’re removing gel polish, or shellac, this bit is always pleasant. Waiting for the acetone to work its magic, in a soothing nail bar. You’ll struggle to do much with your Tin Man fingertips, so embrace the relaxation. The benefit of being at home is television. The benefit of being in a salon? Doing absolutely nothing for fifteen minutes. Take it.
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4 The aftercare
Once the foil is off, any remaining shellac will be pushed back with a manicure stick. This is totally painless, FYI, as the shellac will be super soft and dissolve away. Look down to your healthy, natural nails. Perks of heading salon-side for removal: the nail technician can apply a fresh set of shellac straight away. I know which I’d choose…
So, there you go. The process is similar at home vs. the salon, but for a fuss-free, mess-free removal (and to make sure the nails’ health is kept in tip-top condition), I’d recommend heading to the pros.
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