How to remove semi-permanent nail polish?

Removing one's semi-permanent nail polish at a salon is often the safest solution to preserve the nails. Indeed, there, professionals have the appropriate equipment and know the correct procedures. The removal of a semi-permanent nail polish begins with a light sanding of the nail surface using a file or an electric sander. The goal is not to attack the keratin of the nail but to eliminate the top coat layer, the finishing polish almost systematically applied at the end of a manicure with a semi-permanent polish. This sanding must be carried out with precision to avoid weakening the surface of the nail.

Once this initial layer is removed, the practitioner saturates cotton pads with acetone and then affixes them to each nail using special clamps or aluminum foil. Present in most nail polish removers, acetone is a potent solvent capable of softening the photopolymerized resin. The cotton pads are then left on the nails for about fifteen minutes. Once softened, the polish is gently removed with a cuticle pusher. A light nail buffing is then performed, followed by the application of a moisturizing treatment or oil to nourish and strengthen the nails.

It is not recommended to reapply a semi-permanent polish immediately after removing it. To avoid weakening the nails, it is better to wait approximately two weeks before a new application.

It's not always easy to secure an appointment at a salon to have semi-permanent nail polish removed. Fortunately, it's entirely possible to remove semi-permanent polish at home, provided you proceed gently. The removal process follows the same steps as in a salon. Start by lightly sanding the surface of the nail to remove the top coat, then soak cotton pads in acetone or an acetone-based remover, which you will leave on each of your nails for about fifteen minutes using aluminum squares. All that's left is to gently rub the softened polish with a cuticle pusher or, if you don't have one, with a wooden stick. Finish with the application of a moisturizing nail treatment or a vegetable oil, such as avocado oil.

Tip : If you don't have aluminum foil on hand, you can also soak your nails in a bowl filled with acetone or acetone-based nail polish remover for about fifteen minutes. This method is less convenient because it immobilizes the hands, and less environmentally friendly due to the amount of solvent used, but it remains effective nonetheless.