Gel polish, popularly often referred to as shellac, has become extremely widespread. The cost of materials and equipment for gel manicure is not so high, so many girls tend to learn all the wisdom on their own. This is facilitated by the abundance of instructional videos, and a large number of courses that can be taken even remotely.
But unfortunately, many beginners make the same mistakes. Our article will tell you about an important point, which often raises many questions from inexperienced craftswomen. Faced with the problem of self-removal of gel coatings is sometimes necessary for those women who do manicures in the salon.
So, let's talk about how to remove shellac at home, what rules must be followed, what materials and tools should be used, and what should be avoided.
How is the removal in the cabin
To begin with, consider how professional masters remove gel coatings. In modern salons, as a rule, hardware removal is practiced. The master gently runs the surface of the client’s nail with a special cutter, which is usually called “corn”. It has grooved notches and ridges in the form of rhombuses. Such cutters are made of ceramics, steel or carbides.
The advantage of the method is that professional machines are equipped with a reverse, so that the cutter can rotate in any direction. "Corn" gently lifts the material, removing only its upper layers. The base layer can be completely left on the nail.
This method of removal is considered the safest and less traumatic of all that currently exist.
Of course, not every woman who is considering how to remove shellac at home has a professional apparatus in her arsenal. But if you understand the principle by which specialists work, you can achieve good results using other means.
Consider how to remove shellac at home to minimize injury to nails.
Hardware gel remover at home
A professional device can cost several thousand rubles, and working with it will require considerable skill. It can be extremely difficult for a beginner to cope with a milling cutter rotating at tremendous speed (up to 40 thousand revolutions per minute). A good alternative can be a device designed for home use.
Typically, such a device is a cylindrical handle with a small low-power motor inside. On some models, cutters can be easily changed.
Such a device can cost from 100 to 800 rubles. But it is advisable to replenish the set of standard milling cutters with a good ceramic "corn".
With the help of such a device, it is difficult to get hurt, because with a strong pressure the cutter will simply stop rotating due to the low engine power. The disadvantage is the lack of reverse (that is, the cutter can only rotate in one direction).
How to remove shellac at home on my own using such a device? Start with your left hand if you're right handed to get comfortable. Run the cutter on the surface of the varnish, taking care not to touch the side rollers and cuticle. Do not expect high speed, a long work remains. Watch what layer is removed. The basecoat can be left without touching if it holds well.
Removal with special fluids and clamps
There is another effective way that is widely practiced by home craftsmen. He will need a set of special clamps of at least five pieces, a pusher or orange stick, cotton pads and a special tool with acetone.
Cut each cotton pad into 4 parts and saturate them well with an acetone-based product. Press the triangular piece to the nail, trying to minimize contact with the skin. Install the clamp on top.
You can soak all 10 nails, if it is convenient, or treat your hands one at a time.
The product should be in contact with the varnish for at least 15 minutes. Usually this time is enough for shellac to exfoliate from the nail.
Remove the clamps one at a time, otherwise, while you are processing one nail, the varnish on the rest may harden again. Use a pusher or an orange stick to move the soaked shellac, completely removing it from the nail. At the very end, wipe your nails with a clinser.
If before you remove shellac from your nails using this method at home, you’ll go over the surface with a large abrasive nail file, things will go faster.
Use foil
This method is similar to the previous one, but it does not need special clamps.
To remove shellac with foil at home, you will need the same tool with acetone, cotton pads and pusher.
Cut a cotton pad so that the pieces match the size of the nails. Dampen the cloth in nail polish remover and lay it on the nail. Cut the foil into 10 cm squares and wrap around each nail. Try to squeeze the edges of the foil as best as possible so that air does not penetrate under it.
Leave the product on the nails for at least 15 minutes, and then remove the remaining coating with a pusher.
The advantages of the two methods described above include a relatively low price and ease of use. But prolonged contact of the skin surrounding the nail with acetone is a clear argument against it.
Disposable Wipes
Not so long ago, with a light hand of Korean manufacturers, disposable wipes became widespread. They are available in individual packaging each and are intended for single use. The material is already saturated with a special tool that softens shellac.
True, the reviews about this product are mixed. Many who have tried share negative impressions of the pungent odor and not a very good result. According to many women, even 15 minutes is not enough for the coating to begin to recede.
But still, if you faced a difficult question about how to remove shellac at home, there are no suitable funds, and significant costs are not expected, this option can be called the most budgetary. It is enough to purchase 10 napkins and one orange stick.
Can I use a nail file
This method is one of the most aggressive, but unfortunately, it is quite common. Technically, cutting off the gel layer does not differ from hardware removal. But the process requires a masterful possession of the file. It is worth making a couple of careless movements - cuts and cuticle injuries can not be avoided.
If you need to urgently get rid of the coating, but no other methods are available, you can use a nail file. True, not every one will do.
Pay attention to grit. This is a unit of measure for abrasive stiffness. The lower the grit, the stiffer the file. A tool with a hardness below 180 grit for natural nails is best avoided.
Before removing shellac varnish at home, do not wet your nails. The best option may be a double-sided file, one surface of which has a rigidity of 100 grit, and the second 180. Begin by walking over the surface of the nails with the more abrasive side to destroy the coating structure. Never enter the side surfaces. Turning the file over, finish the job, carefully wielding in one direction.
We emphasize again: this method is one of the most crude. But if there are no alternatives, it can be applied. Immediately prepare for the fact that the process will not be fast.
Removal of extended nails
If you plan to master the technique of building, even before starting work, think about how you will do the correction and get rid of the length. It is impossible to soak the gel in an acetone-containing liquid (and even in pure acetone)! The foil and clamps here will be powerless.
You can get rid of extended nails only with the help of powerful nippers and sawing. At home, this is extremely difficult to do: an unprofessional pen device simply does not have enough power, and you will have to work with a nail file for a long time with each nail, which makes the risk of cuts and injuries even greater.
Note also that if you chip the free edge with nippers, it can fly off at great speed in any direction. It is also fraught with eye injuries.
Perhaps you should ask for help from a specialist? Any salon provides a removal service without subsequent build-up or coverage. Moreover, the price of such a procedure is relatively low.
What can not be done
We mentioned that the file is not the best friend when it comes to how to quickly remove shellac at home. But there is a worse way.
Consider what absolutely is not worth doing. We are talking about chipping and tearing varnish with the help of improvised means. The fact is that with such an impact, the nail plate is injured so badly that it will require subsequent restoration. Particles of gel coatings adhere to the scales of a natural nail and when tearing it, they tear them apart, drag them along. The surface is covered with bumps, chips, cracks.
It is with this method that the common stereotype that gel manicure spoils nails is associated. This is actually not the case. The negative impact is exerted exclusively by improper removal and inept work with the tool.
The consequences of improper removal
Before you try to get rid of a boring manicure yourself, assess the risks. What are the consequences of inept manipulations?
- Allergic reactions to acetone and other components of the remover.
- Overdrying, cracking of the cuticle.
- Saws, deforming the surface.
- Mechanical damage to the skin with a file.
- Weakening of the nail plates, thinning, growth retardation.
Is it possible to remove shellac at home without harm to health? It is possible, but necessary to carefully select high-quality tools and instruments, and the entire procedure should be carried out as accurately as possible.
After the procedure
Before removing shellac at home itself, as well as after the procedure, sanitize all used tools. If no one else uses it, just rinse in running water and soak in a disinfectant.
After covering, wipe your nails with a clinser. Alcohol-containing liquids harm the nails and skin, it is better not to use them.
Lubricate the skin around the nail bed with special oil, and if it is not, at least nourishing hand cream. Well strengthens nails rubbing and baths with lemon juice. You can also use pharmacy series designed for hand care.