NEW YORK CITY -- Stop picking off your manicure - it's wrecking your nails ... for a step-by-step tutorial complete with all the tools and ingredients you'll need to safely remove that gel ...

But if you do it correctly and have some patience your nails will be bare ... There’s a lot of layers going on so to help the gel breakdown faster and allow the nail polish remover to penetrate ...

For the last step, you’ll want to lightly buff your nails to smooth out the surface and remove any remaining gel polish. “Remember that excessive buffing of fingernails can thin the nail plate ...

The main concern when it comes to removing your gel nails at home, is not to cause any damage to your natural nails. So to keep peeling and chipping to a minimum, follow our expert guide below. Step 1 ...

Alternatively, you can opt for gel nails instead of acrylics, which are slightly less damaging to the nails. Insider's takeaway Use caution when taking off your acrylic nails at home. As tempting ...

You know when your gel manicure starts to lift at the edges ... avoid scratching the delicate nail plate underneath. Step 3: Soak your nails in acetone using cotton balls and aluminum foil.