Okay, so I tried to remove my gel nail polish at home the other day, and I wanted to share how it went. I’m not a nail expert or anything, just a regular person who likes having nice nails but doesn’t always have the time or money to go to the salon.

Gathering My Supplies
First things first, I gathered all the stuff I needed. I already had some regular nail polish remover, the non-acetone kind, because I heard that’s gentler on your nails. I also grabbed some cotton balls, aluminum foil, and a nail file. I didn’t have any special gel remover solution, but I figured I’d try what I had on hand first.
Prepping My Nails
Before I started soaking, I used the nail file to gently buff the top layer of my gel polish. I remembered reading somewhere that this helps the remover penetrate better. I was careful not to file too much, just enough to take off the shine. It is so important.
The Soaking Process
Next, I soaked the cotton balls in the non-acetone nail polish remover and placed them on each nail. Then, I wrapped each fingertip with a small piece of aluminum foil to keep the cotton in place. It looked kind of silly, but I was determined to make it work!
- I set a timer for 15 minutes and waited.
- While I waited, I watched some videos on my phone.
- Time flew by!
The Big Reveal
After the 15 minutes were up, I eagerly removed the foil and cotton. The gel polish had softened a bit, but it wasn’t exactly sliding right off like I had hoped. I resisted the urge to start peeling, and just wait for another time to do that.
Gentle Scraping
I used an orange wood stick (you can also use a cuticle pusher) to gently scrape off the softened gel. It took some effort, and some parts were more stubborn than others. I had to re-soak a few nails for a little longer to get everything off. Try not to peel it yourself.

Final Touches
Once all the gel was off, I washed my hands and applied some cuticle oil to moisturize my nails and the surrounding skin. They felt a little dry, but not too bad considering I used a non-acetone remover. I heard many times that the acetone one might remove them more easily.
My Thoughts
Overall, it wasn’t the quickest or easiest process, but I managed to remove my gel polish at home without completely wrecking my nails. It definitely took longer than it would at a salon, and using regular nail polish remover was probably why. Next time, I might invest in a proper gel remover solution to see if that makes a difference. But for a budget-friendly, at-home attempt, I’d say it was a success!
Hope this helps anyone else trying to remove their gel polish at home. Just be patient, gentle, and don’t give in to the temptation to peel!