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Here’s how to get the semi-permanent polish off your nails.

Shellac and gel manicures have been a revolution in the nail polish market – finally, we have a varnish that stays on our nails no matter what, making glossy manicures last for weeks rather than days (or, at worst, hours). But this longevity, as gorgeously groomed-looking as it initially is, can prove a little tricky when you actually want to remove shellac or gel at home.

Firstly, to be clear, the way to soak off both shellac and gel at home is the same – the (small) difference between the two is that shellac is a hybrid polish-gel formula, while gel is simply, well, gel. But both are designed to be semi-permanent, so picking off either is a big no-no, as it will leave your nails underneath weak, vulnerable to damage and liable to break.

So, we spoke to expert nail technicians Lucy Mackenzie at blow LTD. and Christine Thompson to find out how to remove shellac and gel polish safely at home.

Firstly, you need your kit. "Get five cotton pads and split them in half, 10 large tinfoil squares, acetone polish remover and a nail file," says Lucy.

Then, crucially, before you get started make sure all your surfaces are covered. "Be sure to lay down a towel to prevent any acetone damaging your furniture," advises Christine.

Christine advises to start with your less dominant hand, as you'll have more patience at the beginning of the process.

"Next, using your nail file, gently buff over the tops of your gel polish, then soak a piece of cotton wool in acetone and place it onto the nail," says Lucy.

Secure this on the nail by wrapping the foil square around it and over the tip of the finger.

"Leave the acetone to soak for 15 minutes. By then your gel polish will have lifted from the nail bed," Lucy says.

She adds: "My top tip is to keep your nails warm during the soaking process by wrapping your hands in a towel – this will speed things up."

When removing what's left of the polish from your nails, you can very gently lift it off with manicure sticks – but make sure you are not scraping the nail. If it doesn’t lift off easily, you need to soak for longer.

"If the shellac or gel is being stubborn, just reapply the cotton with more acetone added, cover with the foil again, and leave it for another 5-10 minutes – don’t be tempted to pick the polish off!" says Christine.

After removal, Lucy says: "You should buff the nail and apply cuticle oil for hydration."

It's also always a good idea to pop on a coat of your favourite nail growth product or repairing polish to keep the nails healthy. They (and the technician at your next salon visit) will thank you for it.

Our GHI experts put lots of nail products to the test to bring us the best products for nail polish removal, nail growth, nail strengthening. Here are the products that came out top of their tests:

The winner of the GHI's nail polish remover test was the bestselling Cutex remover. It's designed with weak nails in mind, enriched with lots of nail strengthening ingredients. Our testers loved how healthy their nails felt after using this product. 

This was a joint-winner in the best nail strengthener test, loved for the texture. Our testers found it left their nails harder and healthier, smoothing out any ridges without chipping. 

The other winner earned a place in the top spot as our testers found a noticeable difference in their nails in just a couple of days. It's packed with proteins and AHAs to help nails become stronger. 

The best nail growth treatment is particularly good for those who have gel or acrylic nails. Our testers found it improved strength of the nails, and prevented chipping and flaking.