I used to love getting gel manicures until I realized how high-maintence they really are. Okay, so maybe they won't chip and peel like a regular mani and yes they'll stay perfectly intact for weeks, but what about when it's time to take them off? It's like the most time-consuming, complicated ordeal ever. Which is why many times I just find myself picking them off and I'm not the only one with this bad habit. Apparently Evelyn Lozada does this too!
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"I peeled off all my gel polish on my 6 hour car drive from Arizona! Once you start you can't stop! SMH #Ratchet," Evelyn posted on Twitter yesterday. I hear ya–it's a bad but addictive habit. But what a lot of women don't realize, is that when you peel off your gel polish you are also peeling off a layer of your actual nail. So this is probably one of the worst things you can do to your nails!
I'm not going to lie to you, removing gel polish is definitely tedious and time-consuming, but with the right tactic you can get it off in no time with NO damage. I did a little internet research and found out the best way to do it in the comfort of your own home. Check it out!
What you'll need:
-A small glass bowl
-Acetone polish remover
-Cotton balls
-Aluminum foil
-Cuticle pusher
-Hand moisturizer
-Buffing block
What to do:
Step 1: Begin pouring the acetone polish into a small glass bowl and soaking the cotton balls in it.
Step 2: Place a cotton ball on one of your fingernails and wrap your finger with the ball in a piece of aluminum foil. Squeeze it tightly (making sure the cotton ball stays in contact with the nail) and repeast for the rest of your nails.
Step 3: Wait about 10-15 minutes, and then remove foil. You will notice that most of the polish has come loose from the edges of your nail bed.
Step 4: Gently scrape off the rest of the polish from your nail using a cuticle pusher. Try not to be too aggressive because you'll wind up removing the top layer of your nail and damaging it.
Step 5: Now lightly buff your nails, then wash hands and apply a rich-moisturizing lotion to smooth skin.
Images via Evelyn Lozada/Instagram
