Soaking off gel with acetone?

[Miss Pink23]

This may sound like a stupid question but......

Can I soak off gel with acetone as I do with acrylic?
I use acrylic so dont really know about gel.

Thanks
x

 

[mandaxmx]

depends on the brand of gel some are buff off some are soak off ....

 

[MichelleG]

depends on the brand of gel some are buff off some are soak off ....

This is what I was taught, and what I have learned from reading this board.

However, I'm still confused on this issue. What doesn't help is when clientele spouts at me (with no knowledge of which brand they're talking about or whether or not it's a soak-off or "hard" gel) that THIS nail tech soaked them off or THAT nail tech did and had no problems.

I work with Light Elegance (a "hard" gel) and when I first started, I wasn't 100% sure whether or not it was possible (again -- due to clients/friends spouting off about what THAT nail tech did). So I tried it and after a good hour, all it did was get slightly "mushy" then immediately re-harden as soon as it was exposed to air.

I'm trying very hard now to focus on my own training and experience. I'm just not comfortable going by clientele word of mouth (especially when they often don't have a clue what brands they're even talking about), heating up acetone (something I've never done -- how do you safely heat up acetone?), sticking a client in it to soak and hoping it will work.

But I confess, I remain confused on this issue. Although I assume that's to do with my own confidence. I've only been at this since October 2009.

 

[naturalnails]

As has been said, it depends on the gel whether it is a soak off or a buff off.

Some clients will come to you saying they have gel on their nails because that is what their nail technician has told them, when in fact after being quizzed, it turns out to be liquid and powder - which will soak off in acetone.

There are various ways of warming acetone - NEVER EVER PUT IT IN THE MICROWAVE! - you can use the foil and cotton wool approach, you can use the two bowl method - one bowl with warm water and the other inside it with the acetone or there are products like the easy soak which can warm your acetone.

 

[MichelleG]

Some clients will come to you saying they have gel on their nails because that is what their nail technician has told them, when in fact after being quizzed, it turns out to be liquid and powder - which will soak off in acetone.

Yes, I am beginning to learn not to just a client's word for what she thinks she's been given. In many cases, I'm finding they were given a gel top coat and told the whole thing was gel from start to finish.

There are various ways of warming acetone - NEVER EVER PUT IT IN THE MICROWAVE! - you can use the foil and cotton wool approach, you can use the two bowl method - one bowl with warm water and the other inside it with the acetone or there are products like the easy soak which can warm your acetone.

If I had a nickel for every time I'm told about how the OTHER nail salons just put it in the microwave lol...and no, I won't do it. This topic was mentioned briefly during my courses, but not actually covered to any real degree.

This has become sort of an issue for me because one of my regulars expects a brand new set of tips with every 2nd fill. Essentially, a brand new "pose" as we call it here. Which is great, because I charge accordingly, but too often, it spurs (repeated) discussion amongst whoever else is at the salon I work at about "why don't you just melt her?"

I have explained several times that the Light Elegance line is a buff off gel system but it makes me feel very pressured.

 

[mum]

In answer to the original question, a UV gel is an acrylic also. There just happens to be 2 types on the market with a different bond structure.

A quick way to tell (and a professional should never listen to a client who thinks they know about the product and procedures) is to rub the overlay with a cotton wool pad soaked in remover (acetone or branded remover) If the surface starts to break down then it is a soak off. If it stays shiny it is a buff off.

Any enhanced nail will start to break down while soaking in minutes. If nothing is happening after a few minutes then leaving them in any longer will not make any difference!

 

[Liane]

Sorry to be a pain, I was just reading these threads and am totally confused!! I work with IBD Gel and was advised on my course that it can only be removed with acetone. Whenever I do this, it takes absolutely ages and I also use the white block to gently remove the guey residue as its coming off. Is this right?? :irked:

 

[Divine Beauty Newcastle]

Clients come out with all sorts of rubbish and many times when you correct them it falls on deaf ears. And it is annoying when they pass their wrong information around and I've heard all sorts of allegations against other therapists, and stories about what other therapists do in treatments, you really have to take it with a huge pinch of salt.

Sorry to be a pain, I was just reading these threads and am totally confused!! I work with IBD Gel and was advised on my course that it can only be removed with acetone. Whenever I do this, it takes absolutely ages and I also use the white block to gently remove the guey residue as its coming off. Is this right??

IBD have a soak off gel and and buff off gel. How long is it taking you to remove it? When it starts to go gooey use a dual tool or cuticle pusher to gently scrape and push it from the nail, it should be easy as the gel goes soft. One of the upsides of soak off gel it that buffing isnt required so I wouldn't bother with the white block. It comes off within 10 mins most of the time for me, longer if I've also put a tip on. Obviously a thinner layer comes off faster than thick layers on the nails.