How Soon After a Mani or Pedi Should You Remove Your Nail Polish?

Truth time: I used to leave on the nail polish of my pedicure until my next pedicure without ever giving it much of a thought. That is until recently when in the salon chair I noticed my bare nails looked worse for wear with white ridges I’d never seen before (that thankfully buffed away). Unsettled, I mentioned it to a friend who said she’d heard wearing polish for too long essentially “suffocates” nails. Now unsettled and horrified, I reached out to Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, to get it straight: How soon should we remove nail polish?

How Long Can You Leave Nail Polish On?

The reasonable period of time you can wait to remove nail polish depends on the type you’re using, Hanna explains. “For regular nail polish, it’s best to remove the polish once it starts to chip, which will typically be around seven to 10 days.” (That rule goes for both at-home and salon manicures.) Gel polishes are longer-lasting. Hanna says gel can safely stay on for two to four weeks, or when it starts lifting or chipping, whichever comes first. “In general, if you experience any lifting or chipping or a lot of regrowth, it’s time to remove the polish,” Hanna recommends. And if you’ve gotten a professional nail treatment, Hanna strongly suggests letting experts handle the removal. “It’s best to get any sort of nail enhancement like dip, acrylic, or Gel-X removed professionally, since they can be much tougher to remove at home.”

The Risks of Leaving Nail Polish On Too Long

If removing a manicure you got done seven days prior sounds frustrating, I share that frustration. But my friend wasn’t too far off that nail polish left on too long can “suffocate” the nails. “Moisture can get trapped underneath the polish which creates the perfect environment for fungal infections to develop,” Hanna clarifies, and then also adds, “If you experience any signs of a fungal infection, you should seek help from a medical professional.”

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Hanna continues, “When structured manicures like builder gel, acrylic, dip, or Gel-X are left on too long, they can weaken and break your nails as the balance of the apex shifts with regrowth. To keep your nails strong and healthy, it’s best to refresh your manicure after two to three weeks of growth.”

How to Remove Nail Polish Safely at Home

If heading to the salon every week, or even every couple of weeks, is not realistic, Hanna recommends two nail polish-removing systems that help to safely remove nail polish at home. “I love the Gelcare Gel Removal Set ($31) because it comes with everything you need to remove your gel at home,” says Hanna. “Gelcare also has a strong focus on education and every kit comes with a step-by-step guide that teaches you how to safely remove your gel.”

For traditional nail polishes, Hanna says you can’t go wrong with Manucurist’s Green Nail Polish Remover ($14). “It’s a non-acetone nail polish remover that’s formulated with solvents that are less harsh than acetone and enriched with vitamins A, B, D, and E to nourish and moisturize the nails.”