With nail salons currently closed in Hong Kong, we’re offering some advice on how to keep your manicure looking perfect at home, including how to remove old gel polish and the products you need
As part of the government’s new restrictions to battle Hong Kong’s third wave of Covid-19, nail salons are among the business that have had to close their doors. While the current restrictions are currently set to expire on July 28, there’s no guarantee that beauty businesses will be able to open their doors on this date – and that you’ll be able to get an appointment if they do.
Can't wait that long for a fresh manicure? Tackle chipped nails and grown out polish with these easy to follow tips on how to perfect the gel manicure at home.
Removing old polish
Though it can be tempting to peel off old polish, this can be damaging to your nails, so it’s worth taking the time to remove old polish properly. As acetone is needed to remove gel polish, be sure that you’re in a well-ventilated space or open a window before you begin.
Begin by lightly filing or buffing the top of your nails to remove the very top layer of your gel polish, which will speed up the removal process.
After buffing, Jenny Lam, owner of Holly Nails, states that “the easiest way to go is to wrap your gel nails with foil and inside have a cotton ball that soaked in acetone or nail polish remover. It will slowly peel off in about 30-40 minutes.”
For this, you’ll need small squares of foil (or re-useable soak-off clips), a good quality acetone and cotton wool balls. If you are short on time, you can leave the acetone on your nails for 15-20 minutes and then use a steel nail pusher to help peel of any remaining polish. Alternatively, Jenny states the you can "dip your nails into a bowl of acetone only and it will peel off on its own" if you're in a hurry.
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