Types of remover
Most removers are either acetone based or non-acetone. Acetone dissolves polish quickly, including glitter and dark shades, but it can leave nails and skin feeling dry. Non-acetone removers are usually milder and slower, and may need more time on stubborn polish. Either is fine for regular polish. Read the label on your remover for its directions and warnings.
Remover is flammable and has strong fumes. Use it in a room with fresh air, away from candles, stoves and other heat, and keep it out of reach of children.
The press-and-hold method
- Soak a cotton pad or lint-free wipe in remover.
- Press it onto the nail and hold for about ten to twenty seconds, so the remover softens the polish.
- Wipe firmly from the cuticle to the tip in one stroke.
- Repeat with a clean part of the pad if color remains.
- Use a cotton swab dipped in remover for polish near the cuticle and the sides.
- Wash your hands afterward and put on a hand cream.
Glitter and dark shades
Glitter polish is the hardest to remove because the pieces sit in thick layers. A gentle way to deal with it is to place a soaked pad on the nail, wrap the fingertip in a small square of foil and wait a few minutes. The polish should slide off with the pad. Dark reds and blacks can tint the skin around the nail while you wipe. Working from cuticle to tip and using a fresh part of the pad keeps the color from spreading.
What to avoid
- Peeling or picking polish off. It can pull away thin layers of the nail surface with it.
- Scraping with metal tools or the edge of another nail.
- Scrubbing back and forth for a long time, which dries the skin more than a short soak.
- Removing and repainting every day. Give nails a few polish-free days now and then if they feel dry or brittle.
Gel and long-wear polish
Gel and other long-wear polishes are cured into a harder layer and need a different process. Follow the instructions that came with the product, or have it removed at a salon. Do not peel, pry or bite it off, since that can take layers of nail with it and leave the nail thin and rough.
After removal
Look at your bare nails for a moment before you paint again. Small white spots from minor knocks and a slight tint from dark polish are common and grow out. If a nail is lifting from the skin, thickening, painful, changing color without an obvious cause, or has a new dark streak, leave it unpainted and see a doctor. The nail hygiene page has more on this.
Is it fine to use remover every week?
For most people, weekly removal with a short soak and hand cream afterward is fine. If your nails or skin feel very dry, space manicures out and keep the remover contact short.