How to Remove Builder Gel: Tutorial & Tips

Builder gel is excellent whether you use it on top of your natural nails or create gorgeous gel nails complete with a nail extension tip or form.

Regardless, an improper removal process can damage and weaken the natural nail - and let’s face it; nobody wants that.

The key is knowing how to remove builder gel correctly, whether you used hard gel or soft gel.

This article shares how to remove builder gel quickly, easily, and, more importantly, safely.

How to Remove Builder Gel: Three Ways

Hard gel nails and soft gel varieties are removed differently, and knowing how to do it correctly is imperative to avoid nail damage.

1. How to Remove Soft Gel Nails - Wrap Technique

Soft gel polish is infinitely easier to remove than the hard gel kind. That’s because there are no tools required.

As long as you have acetone and cotton balls or pads, you can succeed at home.

Essentially, removing soft gel is the same as removing regular nail polish - even though it requires an LED lamp to create.

Removing soft gel polish from your natural nails is a cinch.

Just do the following:

• Trim the nails, so you don’t have to worry about removing too much product.
• Buff the top coat of the builder gel nails using a nail buffer.
• Soak a cotton ball or cut-up cotton pad in pure acetone.
• Place securely onto the nails.
• You can wrap the cotton pad soaked in pure acetone with aluminium foil or professional nail clips to hold them in place.
• Let the acetone cotton pads or balls sit on the nails for around ten minutes.
• Remove any extra product by gently wiping it with a lint-free wipe or cuticle pusher.

See? It’s easy to remove builder gel using pure acetone and a few other simple materials you likely have on hand.

2. How to Remove Soft Gel Nails - Soak Technique

Fussing with aluminium foil and cotton products can be a hassle, especially when you’re in a rush to get rid of your gels.

If you don’t want to use the route mentioned above, you can also simply soak your nails in a bowl of acetone. Here’s how to do it.

• Fill a bowl with acetone.
• Place your nails into the bowl and let them soak for about five to ten minutes.
• Wash your hands with warm, soapy water to eliminate any leftover products.
• If there are stuck-on particles, use a cuticle pusher to remove them gently.

Whether you use the cotton pads or soak your nails, you need to apply cuticle oil when you’re done. Massage it into the nail bed generously for the best results.

This will hydrate and moisturize, which is essential after removing builder gel with dehydrating acetone.

3. How to Remove Hard Gel from the Natural Nail

Removing hard gel polishes is a bit trickier. You can’t soak it off.

You will need to have a buffer, nail file, and an electronic nail drill (e-drill or e-file).

To remove the hard gel, do the following:

• Trim the nails, so you have less product to deal with.
• Use your nail file to remove the top coat (a very thin layer of gel polish).
• Use the nail drill to remove all the gel layers underneath the top layer gently.
• Be careful not to hit the surface of the nail plate, or you may accidentally damage the nail.
• You may need to wipe away the dust accumulated on the nail from electronic filing.
• Buff out any leftover builder gel.

Just like the other method, you will want to finish by massaging cuticle oil into the nails.

Cuticle oil will ensure that your nails are strong with an impeccable shine, moisturized, and prepared for their next manicure!

What Not To Do

It doesn’t matter whether you’re removing hard or soft gel.

The number one thing to do is not try to pick, pry, or scrape off your builder gel polish.

Remember - builder gel is not the same thing as regular polish.

It is designed onto the nail using a thick polish cured using an LED lamp, so it is more robust than standard versions.

Trying to remove gel polish without the proper steps (and tools when removing gel extensions) will lead to the devastation of your natural tips.

If you’re having trouble removing your builder gel, you can always have a professional remove the gel.

This may be the better option if you have hard-type gel and do not own an electronic hand file at home.

FAQs

Can you soak builder gel off?

You can successfully soak off builder gel, as long as it is the soft type. That’s because of the product’s chemical makeup, allowing easy gel removal.

The easiest way is to wrap the tips with cotton soaked in acetone. Cover with aluminum foil or professional nail clips to hold them in place.

Does acetone remove builder gel?

Acetone will remove soft builder gel successfully. You can use the wrap technique or fill a bowl and let them soak.

The one thing to remember is that cuticle oil must be applied to the cuticle and surrounding finger skin after using this product.

That’s because it is highly dehydrating to the nails and skin of the finger, so you will want to replenish the hydration.

If you don’t have specific oil for the cuticles, you can opt for hand lotion instead.

Are builder gels good for your nails?

No type of manicure will be necessarily good for your nails, but builder gel is better than some other choices, such as acrylic.

That is mainly because it does not use the same harsh chemicals, so it’s not as harmful for the nail (or your nose).

The thicker layer can also act as a protectant for your real nails. In turn, this can help brittle or weak nails grow stronger away from the elements.