You don’t need anything fancy or expensive to remove shellac nail polish without doing any damage to your nails.  Just follow the simple instructions outlined below and you can chop and change your shellac nails any time you want.

Shellac nail polish lasts an amazing two weeks or more, and really that is because most women’s nails grow enough in two weeks that the new growth shows. If you are looking at a manicure that has gone past its sell-by date, you might be asking yourself (and your friends) how do you remove shellac nail polish. You may have heard you can’t do it yourself, but the truth is that with the right materials and knowledge, removing shellac gel nail varnish  is not has hard as some salons would like you to think it is.

You probably have most of what you need for shellac removal in your home already. And no, despite what some salons may tell you, you do not need to buy special shellac remover wraps. You can make your own with these handy instructions.

What do you need for Shellac Manicure Removal?

Instructions for How to Remove Shellac Nail Polish

METHOD 1:

Here at Shellac Nails Ltd we are always moving with the latest trends.  We like to find new and innovative solutions to bring to our customers.  With this in mind we have brought SCORCH REMOVER GEL to the market.

First step is to file off the Top Coat. This is very important as it allows the Nail Gel Remover to penetrate into the Gel and loosen it from the nail plate. Take special care if the gel is thicker in any area and around the cuticles.

Wipe the nail clean to remove any excess dust. Apply the Scorch Nail Gel Remover to each nail. Ensure that the nail is well covered with the Nail Gel Remover jelly. Avoid contact between the skin and the Nail Gel Remover as this might result in a slight burning sensation.

Wait 5 minutes. During this time the gel will show signs of lifting or bubbling. After 5 minutes remove the excess gel with an orange stick. Some gel may be hard to remove and may remain on the nail plate. This may require extra filing and then reapply the Scorch Nail Gel Remover.

METHOD 2:

• Acetone (Note this is pure acetone, not an acetone-base nail polish remover.)
• Five round cotton pads
• Cuticle stick
• Kitchen foil
• Nail & cuticle conditioning oil
• Scotch tape
• Scissors

So exactly how do you get shellac off your nails when the new nail growth is an issue or you just want a change of colour?

1.  Start with the kitchen foil. Use a quality brand – not the microwavable kind! First cut off a strip roughly twice the length of your fingertip and fold it in half lengthwise with the shiny side inside. Cut into sections about three inches long. Make ten of these.
2. Now take your five cotton pads and cut them each in half so you have ten half circle cotton pads. Fold each in half.
3. One at a time, put some acetone on a pad, and then apply it to a nail. Make sure the pad is firmly against the entire nail. If it isn’t touching the nail, it isn’t working. Hold it in place by wrapping a foil square securely around the fingertip. Leave them in place for ten minutes from when you finished the first one. The foil does more than hold the cotton pad in place for your shellac removal. Acetone evaporates, and the foil slows this down so the acetone is in place long enough to work.
4. Remove the foils and rub each nail a bit with its cotton pad. Using the cuticle stick, very gently push off the shellac nail polish. It should come off easily. Be patient, and do not scrape or scrub at your nails.
5. The acetone will dry your nails out a bit. Apply your favourite nail and cuticle oil generously, and rub it into your nail and cuticles. Keeping your nails healthy is important, so don’t neglect this step! In fact, as long as you are removing shellac nail polish, why not take advantage of the chance and give your hands an intensive moisture treatment as well? You don’t have to skip the pampering just because you aren’t at the salon.

When you are doing your shellac manicure removal, it’s important to pay attention to the details, especially the timing. Even with the foil, the acetone will evaporate a bit. It will be gone in roughly ten minutes, and if you leave your fingers wrapped longer than that, the shellac will start to adhere to your nails again. The acetone does not dissolve the shellac; it actually just loosens the polish so you can push it off easily. If any does not come off easily, take a fresh cotton pad soaked in acetone to rub it off.

The Five Don’ts of Shellac Removal!

• While you can get your shellac manicure removed at the salon, you don’t have to.
• You can buy special shellac remover wraps, but you don’t need them.
• The acetone should loosen the shellac so it can be gently pushed off of the nail; you don’t need to scrape or file or otherwise mistreat your nails to remove it.
• Don’t neglect the nail conditioner. The shellac polish itself protects your nails while it is on, but the acetone can dry them a bit.
• Don’t be too sad to take that gorgeous polish off. It just means you get to pick another stunning colour for your nails.

You may have been wondering how do you get shellac off your nails, and hopefully you are encouraged to learn how simple and easy the process of removing shellac nail polish really is. Take the time to gather exactly what you will need so you aren’t searching for something part way through it. Even if you aren’t at the salon for your shellac removal, there’s no reason not to indulge yourself. Put on some good music, make yourself a nice cuppa and relax. Invite a friend over and make it sociable. Just remember to always love your nails and treat them kindly!

Now you have removed your shellac gel nail polish, it’s time to start choosing your next shellac colour.