By the team at The Nail Story, Bawadiya Kalan, Bhopal · Updated
The way your extensions come off matters as much as the way they go on. Most of the damage people blame on extensions, like thin, bendy, peeling nails, comes from sets that were peeled or prised off. Here’s how removal works, what it costs, and how to look after your nails afterwards.
The short answer: have extensions removed by a nail artist, not peeled off. At The Nail Story, extension removal is ₹600 and gel polish removal is ₹300. The product is softened or filed away gently, layer by layer, so your natural nail stays intact.
| Removal | Price at The Nail Story |
|---|---|
| Gel polish removal | ₹300 |
| Extension removal | ₹600 |
| Lash extension removal | ₹800 |
Why you should never peel extensions
Gel and acrylic bond tightly to the top layer of your natural nail. When you peel or bite a set off, that top layer comes with it. You’re left with nails that are thinner, softer and more likely to split, and sometimes tender to the touch. The American Academy of Dermatology also warns that filing, picking and frequent touch-ups are the main ways artificial nails damage natural ones. (AAD)
The good news is that peeling damage grows out. But it takes months, so it’s far easier to avoid it.
How removal works
The method depends on what’s on your nails.
Acrylic
Acrylic is filed down to take off the bulk, then softened in acetone until the rest can be gently eased away. Nothing is forced. Your artist then buffs and shapes your natural nail.
Gel and soft gel (Gel-X)
Soak-off gels and soft gel tips are filed to break the top coat and then soaked so they soften and lift. Hard gels don’t soak off, so they’re filed down carefully instead. Your artist checks your nail as they go, so the file never reaches your natural nail.
Gel polish
The shiny top coat is broken with a file, then the gel polish is soaked off and gently pushed away. Gel polish removal is ₹300.
Removal or refill?
You don’t always need a full removal.
- Book a refill if you’re happy with your set and just need the gap at the cuticle filled. Most sets need a refill every three to four weeks. Gel refilling is ₹1,700.
- Book a removal if you want a different type of extension, want to give your nails a break, or a set has lifted badly.
- Book a removal and a new set if you want a fresh start. For example, extension removal (₹600) and gel polish (₹1,000) comes to ₹1,600.
If a nail chips after your service, you don’t need either: message us and book a fix. We repair it free of charge.
If you can’t get to the studio
If an extension has partly come off or is catching on things and you can’t get to us straight away:
- Don’t pull it. Trim the free edge short with clean nail clippers so it can’t catch.
- Keep it dry, and dry under the edge after washing your hands.
- Book a removal or a fix as soon as you can.
Caring for your nails after removal
- Keep them short for a few weeks while they recover.
- Use cuticle oil every night. It keeps the nail flexible and the skin around it soft.
- Wear gloves for dishes, cleaning and anything wet.
- Don’t use your nails as tools for opening cans or scratching off stickers.
- Consider a gel overlay (₹1,500) if you want extra strength without length while they grow.
If your skin is red, itchy or swollen around your nails, have the product removed and see a doctor. Our guide to nail extension safety explains the signs of a reaction.
Read our aftercare guide, see extension prices, or book your removal.
