Nail polish remover quick picks
Conditioning nail polish remover: Zoya Remove 3-in-1
Salon-grade nail polish remover: Pronto 100% Acetone Professional Remover
Non-acetone nail polish remover for kids: Piggy Paint Nail Polish Remover
Travel-friendly nail polish remover: Diamond Wipes Nail Polish Remover Pads
There’s lots of fun to be had in flaunting vibrantly colored or elegantly designed nails, but when the time comes to take off the manicure, we want only the best nail polish removers for a hassle-free clean. While choosing the right nail polish remover — be it to switch up the look of your polish, gel, acrylic or dip powder — may seem as simple as picking out whatever’s on sale at your local drugstore, the experts recommend knowing the difference between the two main nail polish remover formulas before swiping.
Non-acetone vs. acetone-based nail polish remover
As you peruse nail polish removers, you’ll come across two primary formula types: non-acetone based and acetone based. Though, the type of the remover you grab will depend on the style of manicure you’re looking to take off.
“The best way to remove your gel, acrylic or dip nail polish is by soaking it in an acetone or acetone-based nail polish remover,” says celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann.
Acetone is a strong chemical solvent that helps break down nail polish so you can remove it from your nails more easily. It’s powerful enough to even lift paint from furniture, so taking caution when using it at home is a must. Lippmann says acetone removers have a lot going for them not just for the removal of gel polish but for acrylic artificial nails as well (which are notoriously pesky and harsh to remove with a drill at the salon).
Acetone removers also work well to remove regular nail polish and even stubborn glitter-based formulas, but they have their downsides too. Michelle Nguyen, nail expert and founder of PLA Nails, cautions that while “acetone remover is effective in removing any polish, it has a strong odor and can cause nausea if exposed to it for a long period of time.”
Thea Green, nail expert and founder of Nails.INC and INC.redible Cosmetics also adds that acetone is slightly drying on the cuticle and surrounding skin. Hence why some people may prefer a non-acetone based remover, which is generally less drying and even sometimes formulated with additional moisturizing ingredients.
“Non-acetone nail polish removers tend to be gentler on your skin and nails,” Lippmann says, adding that non-acetone removers are the preferred nail polish removers to use on nail extensions to prevent them from lifting or becoming brittle and breaking. While they might require a little extra soaking, she says non-acetone nail polish removers “are the better alternative [that] won’t strip your nails of essential moisture.”
Michelle Nguyen says the biggest con associated with non-acetone remover is that its lower acetone percentage makes removing polish a slower process. “When it comes to removing glitter polish, dip and acrylic, non-acetone remover is not as effective as acetone remover,” she says.
What type of nail polish removers do salons use?
For salon-worthy results and squeaky clean nail beds, you’ll want to opt for acetone-based nail polish removers. Why the intense stuff? “It’s what professional salons use, as it removes polish of any kind effectively,” says Michelle Nguyen.
How to remove nail polish
If you’re currently wearing regular nail polish, Lippmann says any type of nail polish remover and a cotton ball should do the trick (though Michelle Nguyen says an acetone-based remover will speed things up if you’re short on time).
Donna Charloff, director of service operations at MiniLuxe, says to make sure you saturate the cotton ball or pad with enough remover and concentrate on pressing into the nail plate to avoid getting polish all over your skin and fingers.
If you’re working with particularly stubborn polish like glitter formulas, Charloff, who is partial to non-acetone polish removers for at-home use, says to “gently go over the nails with a medium grit buffer to break the seal of the glitter, and finish with a well-saturated pad with non-acetone remover.”
Similarly for gel manicures, Lippmann says the best way to start is by buffing the top layer of the manicure and then soaking your nails in an acetone-based or standard nail polish remover. “This will help loosen the polish on your nails and anything remaining can be buffed off,” she says.
Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen says that after buffing off the shiny layer of your gel nails with a file, you can soak cotton balls or pads with acetone and wrap them around your nails using aluminum foil to hold them in place. You’re nails can be soaked for up to 10 minutes or slightly longer if the gel coat seems thicker. She then recommends using a wooden cuticle stick to “gently push the gel polish off the nail plate” before following up with a gentle buffer to help smooth the surface of the nail.
Whether you’re using acetone-free or acetone-based removers, nail care doesn’t just stop when the polish comes off. As a last step, Queenie Nguyen says to apply a nail strengthener to help condition the nails post-gel removal, while Green likes to end with a cuticle oil to help keep the nails and skin hydrated.
And while you can certainly remove regular polish easily at home, there is also value in knowing when your nail removal might be better handled by professionals.
“I highly recommend going to the salon to leave the removal process to professional nail artists for nail enhancements like acrylic, hard gel, gel extensions, dip powder, etc,” Queenie Nguyen says. “Harsh removal of nail enhancements can lead to long-lasting nail damage and weakness.”
Ahead, we’ve rounded up expert-recommended nail polish removers — both acetone-based and non-acetone based — for whatever intensity your manicure removal demands.
Best non-acetone nail polish removers
Charloff says this non-acetone remover from Dr. Dana will take some more effort and a bit more time to remove your polish, but you’ll be left with hydrated, moisturized and clean nails.
Queenie Nguyen recommends this soy nail polish remover from Ella+Mila, which she says contains ingredients like vitamins A, C and E to help promote healthy and moisturized nails while removing polish.
Michelle Nguyen recommends this nonirritating and highly moisturizing non-acetone polish remover for its “pared down formula that can effectively remove darker shades.”
“I’d recommend NailsINC’s [Rapid] Remover,” says brand founder Green. “It’s by far the easiest and most convenient way to remove your regular polish. It’s a simple and mess-free option that produces less waste. The super-easy, travel-friendly pot removes nail polish in seconds with the pre-soaked sponges inside without the need for cotton wool. The sponges are enriched with moisturizing ingredients to promote nail strength, growth and cell renewal in the nail. It’s mess- and fuss-free and can easily be popped in your bag for on-the-go removal.”
Finally, an acetone-free solution to soaking off pesky gel manicures — sans aluminum foil. This glide-on formula made of biocellulose and surfactants works to break down gel and gently lift it off your nail beds in as little as two minutes.
Queenie Nguyen sites this Zoya remover as one of her all-time favorite polish removers. “ZOYA 3-in-1 nail polish remover offers removal, prep and conditioning to the nails,” she says. “It is also gentle and doesn’t dry out the skin while removing polish.”
Skip the messy cotton balls and plunge and swirl your fingers right into this lightly scented nail polish removal pot for quick and effective polish elimination. Because removing pedicure nail polish is a whole other beast, this one allows you to use the sponge-soaked cap to easily remove toe polish in a single swipe.
Not only will this acetone-free nail polish remover look stunning displayed on your beauty counter with its chic and minimalist aesthetic but it’ll keep your nails in tip-top shape even after polish removal, thanks to the addition of ingredients like neroli oil, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, rosehip and vitamin E.
Whether you’re working on your little one’s first-ever mani or can’t bear the scent of harsh chemicals, you’ll love this eco-friendly biodegradable polish remover infused with nourishing aloe and vitamin E.
Best acetone nail polish removers
“For at home use, a jar with pure acetone and a sponge applicator is the cleanest, simplest way to remove polish,” Charloff says. “It does not leave lint and typically is very fast and effective.” At just 2 ounces, these tiny jars are perfect for throwing in your travel cosmetics bag or keeping in your purse.
“My personal favorite and go-to nail polish remover is the Stripper Nail Polish Remover because it removes my nail polish in seconds, has a lavender scent due to added lavender essential oil and aloe vera extract, and leaves my nails looking moisturized and healthy,” says brand founder Lippmann.
Infused with vitamins E and B5 and hydrolyzed silk, you can be sure this nail polish remover with a soothing lavender fragrance will leave your nail beds in better condition than you left them.
“My personal favorite is Eternal Cosmetics Professional Nail Polish Acetone Remover,” says Michelle Nguyen. “It’s 100% acetone and will remove even the most stubborn polish.”
This salon-grade nail polish remover will get your chipping polish off in seconds flat with its pure acetone formula. It even works swimmingly against nail glue, artificial nails and stubborn glitter.
Say goodbye to that old gel manicure with this genius gel nail polish remover kit. Its remover is made of pure acetone and just a little fragrance for a sensory experience. To use it, simply buff off the top layer of your manicure using the included file. Then pour the conditioning acetone into the included pot and place all five fingers inside for 10 minutes. Brush your nails against the inside of the pot to remove even more polish and gently scrape off any remaining polish with the included cuticle pusher. Rinse and repeat on the other hand.
If you’re traveling, save space and your sanity with these potent individually wrapped acetone wipes infused with soothing aloe. One acetone-soaked pad can effectively take care of up to all 10 fingers and the 2-in-1 solution will save you from having to run around in search of a cotton ball.
This kit gives you some serious bang for your buck with a 16-ounce 100% acetone polish remover and a 7-inch nail file to buff off the top layer of your manicure so the remover can work its magic on everything from acrylics to gel and glitter to glue.
Remove even the darkest of shades (yes, even OPI’s famously pigmented Big Apple Red) with this nonirritating acetone-based remover, ideal for regular polish, gel and dip powder. It’s infused with soothing ingredients like aloe, grape-seed oil and kelp to keep nails nourished without stripping them of their natural protective barrier.