Manicures have come a long way since our sleepover days. Whether you opt for using an at-home kit or you have a standing salon appointment, there are a lot of polish varieties to get your nails looking their best. If you're looking for a finish that's tougher than regular lacquer but more versatile than acrylic, opting for gel nail polish is the way to go.

　　For those who've never gotten a gel manicure, you may be wondering what it is — and perhaps more importantly — how to remove gel nail polish. While the process is a little more involved than giving your fingertips a quick wipe with nail polish remover, it's still simple enough for anyone to do themselves at home.

　　We’ve asked a nail expert to break down everything you need to know about how to remove gel nail polish, including the products to have on hand.

　　What Is Gel Nail Polish?

　　For many manicure lovers, gel nail polish provides the best of all worlds: The finish is incredibly durable but not permanent.

　　What makes gel manicures stand out isn’t just that they’re sealed under an LED or UV nail lamp. Per Teen Vogue, the ingredients in gel polish are formulated to hold up to the wear and tear of daily life without you having to worry about chipping. If you can protect the finish by avoiding soaking your hands in hot water, your gel nails can last up to a month.

　　Related Story

　　The Best Gel Nail Kits for a Flawless DIY Manicure

　　How to Remove Gel Nail Polish

　　While you can always visit a salon to get it done, it's a good idea to know how to remove gel nail polish at home. This way, you don't compromise the health of your nails.

　　For expert insight on how to remove gel nail polish, we spoke to Kayla Ouertani, a New York City-based nail technician who's professionally known as Ourie. Here, she walks us through each step of the process:

　　File the nails

　　Before you apply acetone nail polish remover, you'll first use a 180-grit nail file to etch off the surface of your gel-covered nails. This is meant to help the acetone penetrate the tough outer layer of nail polish.

　　“Attempting to soak off the gel without at least scratching the surface of the top coat will have you sitting in the acetone forever,” Ourie says.

　　She recommends using — they're just under $10 for a set of 25!

　　BTYMS 100/180 Grit Double-Sided Emery Boards (Set of 25)

　　BTYMS 100/180 Grit Double-Sided Emery Boards (Set of 25)

　　$8 at Amazon

　　Moisturize your hands

　　After filing most of the gel off, the next step is to moisturize your hands. “This preps the fingers by protecting them from overdrying in the acetone,” she says.

　　Ourie uses a homemade cuticle balm, but argan oil or jojoba oil will also work.

　　Wrap nails with acetone

　　Wrap each finger with an acetone-soaked cotton round, and hold each one in place by covering it with a piece of aluminum foil. Make sure you're using 100% acetone on the cotton rounds, and check that there aren't any gaps in the foil that expose the nail. Otherwise, it won’t get the job done.

　　“I prefer using this foil method to use as little acetone as possible,” Ourie says. “Soak-off clips are good for trapping the foil in place.”

　　Teenitor Nail Polish Gel Remover Kit with Nail Clips

　　Teenitor Nail Polish Gel Remover Kit with Nail Clips

　　Shop Nail Care Products:

　　Pronto 100% Pure Acetone Gel Polish Remover$14 at Amazon

　　Cliganic Premium Cotton RoundsNow 14% Off$9 at Amazon

　　GA&EN Metal Cuticle Pusher Set$6 at Amazon

　　Badger Organic Cuticle Care Balm$7 at Amazon