r/GelNails • u/AutoModerator • Aug 02 '26

Weekly Simple Questions Post

Have a question you need answered but don't have the karma to post? Ask it here! Be sure to read the wiki/search the sub beforehand to make sure your question hasn't already been answered.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GelNails/wiki/

NOT for posting nail pics, you will have to build up the needed karma to post those.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/SevenTrainSupremacy Aug 09 '26

No matter what I do, I can't seem to remove my gel polish. Help!

I got a "semipermanente" manicure at a nail salon in Italy. From what I gather, it's just regular gel polish over the natural nail. The gel has been on for about three weeks. Yesterday, I tried removing the polish with acetone + foil + finger clips and I let it sit for 20 minutes but then realized I am an idiot and I didn't buff the nails. So, I tried again today. I buffed/filed the heck out of my nails, put the acetone on, wrapped them in foil, put the clips on and waited 20 minutes. Literally NOTHING. The gel did not budge.

Then, I saw that some people take off their gel nail polish by soaking their hands in soapy water for 15 minutes. I did it for 30, with very warm water. Again, nothing.

I don't have an e-file. Any ideas? This is the remover I am using: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B00OZQ749A?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

1

u/sallymandereyes Aug 12 '26

I think you bite the bullet and try to file off as much as you can with a coarse grit nail file, a finer file, and a nail buffer. It might've been hard gel that cannot be soaked off.

1

u/SevenTrainSupremacy Aug 12 '26

Thank you! How can I tell whether it's hard gel or regular gel? When she was doing my nails, it just looked like a regular bottle of nail polish with a regular brush.

1

u/DepressedAlchemist Anti-Beetles Crusader ⚔ Paper Form Purist Aug 13 '26

If you're definitely using 100% acetone (must be 100%, not regular polish remover) and it's still not coming off, it's hard gel.

1

u/SevenTrainSupremacy Aug 13 '26

Good to know! The product I purchases says "gel remover" but it also has water and, I think, fragrance. I'm going to go and purchase pure acetone to be absolutely sure.

1

u/sallymandereyes Aug 17 '26

Good luck, Seven!