Answers · 17
How to remove gel extensions without damaging your nails
How to remove gel extensions without damaging your nails: what to avoid, what a careful removal looks like and the price at our Kilpauk, Chennai studio.
The safest way to remove gel extensions is to have a nail technician take them off gradually, without prising them away from your nail. Please do not peel, pick, bite or pull a set off yourself, because the product can take a layer of your natural nail with it.
At Based Aesthetics in Kilpauk, Chennai, a removal is ₹700. Here is what to avoid, what to look for and what to do afterwards.
Why peeling does the damage
A set is made to hold on to your natural nail for about 3 weeks. That hold is why it lasts, and why it should never be forced off.
A set that is peeled or pulled does not always let go cleanly. It can take the top layer of your own nail with it, leaving that nail thin and weak.
A loose set is no exception. One lifted edge can look like an easy start while the rest is still holding on firmly.
What a careful removal looks like
Whichever salon you choose, look for these signs:
- It is unhurried. The product comes down gradually. Nothing is levered up from the edge or prised off in one go.
- It suits your set. The steps depend on whether you wear gel, soft gel or polygel. If you are not sure which, say so when you book.
- Files and buffers are new. Ours are single-use and go home with you.
- Metal tools are sterilised. Ours are sterilised in a Class-B autoclave at 134°C, sealed in a pouch with an indicator strip and opened in front of you.
- Cuticles are pushed, never cut. That is the rule at our studio.
When to book it
A set lasts about 3 weeks. Around that point, decide what you want next:
- Keep wearing extensions. A refill, from ₹1,500, keeps the same set going.
- Go back to your natural nails. Book a removal, which is ₹700.
Try not to wait until the set starts coming away by itself. A lifted edge is easy to catch and tear.
If it lifts before your appointment
- Leave it alone, however tempting the edge looks.
- Do not glue it down, clip it or file into it yourself.
- Wear gloves for long jobs in water, and dry your nails properly after washing.
- Send a photo on WhatsApp to +91 98848 96963.
After the removal
Look at your nails before you decide what comes next. Use the free nail scan online, or book the free 30–40 minute nail assessment in the studio.
If you want colour without extensions, gel polish on your own nails is ₹1,000, and long-wear gel lasts about 3 weeks. BIAB, from ₹2,200, is another option to ask about at your assessment. For the full picture, see do nail extensions damage your natural nails.
If a nail is sore, discoloured or looks infected, please see a doctor before you book anything else. Our line is simple: a doctor comes first, a salon second.
Visiting the studio
We are at 11/5 Sundar Lal Nahata Avenue, Kilpauk, open daily from 11 to 8, with parking on site. Women and men are welcome. Every service and its time is on the full price list.
PriceExtension removal ₹700 · Refill from ₹1,500 · BIAB from ₹2,200 · Gel polish ₹1,000
Questions people also ask
Can I take gel extensions off at home?
We do not recommend it, because peeling, picking or pulling a set can lift away the top layer of your own nail. Book a removal in the studio instead, which is ₹700.
Is removing gel polish the same as removing extensions?
No, they are separate services at our studio. Gel polish removal is ₹400, and removing a set of extensions is ₹700.
Should I get a refill or a removal?
A refill, from ₹1,500, keeps the same set going if you want to keep wearing extensions. A removal, at ₹700, is for when you want to go back to your natural nails.
Written by Based Aesthetics, Kilpauk. If something on your nails worries you, a doctor comes first, a salon second.