Gel & Acrylic Removal in Florence, KY

Why removal is a service and not an afterthought

Almost every case of "gel ruined my nails" is a removal problem, not a product problem. Product that is peeled, pried or popped off takes layers of nail plate with it, and those layers do not grow back for eight to twelve weeks. Product that is filed back and soaked off leaves the nail intact, if a little dry for a few days.

That is the whole difference, and it takes fifteen to twenty minutes to do right. It is the cheapest insurance on our menu.

What removal costs here

• Shellac removal only — $10. Also listed as a shellac take-off with a manicure.
• Dipping powder removal — $15. Dip is denser than gel and takes longer to break down.
• Acrylic removal only — $20. The bulk is filed down first so the acetone has less to do.
• Removal with another service — $10. If you are having a new set or a manicure the same day, this is what you pay.

Booking removal together with your next service is always cheaper than booking it alone, and it is what most people do.

How it is done

1. The shiny top layer is filed off so acetone can penetrate. On acrylic, the bulk is filed down as far as is safe.
2. Acetone-soaked cotton goes on each nail, wrapped in foil, for ten to twenty minutes depending on the product.
3. Softened product is pushed off gently with a wooden stick. Anything that resists gets more soak time rather than more force.
4. Nails are buffed lightly, and cuticle oil goes on to put back what the acetone took out.

If a technician anywhere reaches for a tip or a stick to lever product off a nail that has not softened, that is the moment to say no.

Doing it at home, if you must

It is doable and it is slow. Pure acetone, not nail polish remover; file the top layer first; wrap each nail; leave it longer than you think. Twenty minutes of soaking beats two minutes of scraping every time. Then oil, and expect the nails to feel flexible for a few days.

Two things not to do: do not use a metal tool to lift the edge, and do not pull a lifted corner because it is loose. That corner is attached to nail plate.

After removal

Bare nails after a long run of product are often dry, slightly flexible and a little ridged. That is dehydration, not damage, and it resolves in a week or two with daily cuticle oil. Nails do not need to "breathe" — they are not alive — but they do need moisture.

If you want to stay bare for a while, a basic manicure tidies everything up and puts oil back. If your nails are thin from previous removals elsewhere, builder gel is the better next step — it protects the nail while it grows out.

Gel & Acrylic Removal pricing

These are the live prices from our booking system. Length, shape and art can add to the total, and we quote before we begin. See the full price list.