Easy Ways to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes: 9 Steps (2024)

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Co-authored byKristin Pulaskiand Hannah Madden

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

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   Saturate a cotton pad in isopropyl alcohol. Dab a small amount of alcohol onto a cotton pad and wait about 30 seconds for it to soak in. Only use a small amount so that your cotton pad isn’t dripping wet.^[1]

   • You can find isopropyl alcohol at most grocery and home goods stores.
   • If you don’t have a cotton pad, you can also use a nail wrap.
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   Wipe the cotton pad over the handle of your brush. Gently swipe the pad from the end of the handle to just above the bristles. Don’t use the cotton pad on the bristles of your brush just yet.^[2]

   • Wiping down the handle will get rid of any sticky residue that could get on your hands the next time you use your brush.
   See Also

   How to Clean Acrylic Nail Brushes: A Step-by-Step Tutorial - nailhowHow to Clean Acrylic Nail Brushes Correctly2 Ways to Safely Clean Acrylic Nail Brushes Without Monomer - Easy Nail TechHow to Clean an Acrylic Nail Brush: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

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   Set the cotton pad down and wipe the bristles on it. Lay your cotton pad soaked in alcohol flat on a table or countertop, then gently swipe the bristles of your brush over it. Go back and forth about 10 times until the majority of the gel is gone.^[3]

   • Be gentle as you clean your bristles so you don’t damage your brush.
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   Add clear nail gel to your brush if you are having trouble getting the color out. Dab a small amount of clear gel onto a flat surface and pick it up with your brush by swiping it back and forth over the gel. The colored gel that is stuck in the bristles will start to pull out toward the surface.^[4]

   • Don’t let the clear gel dry on your brush, or you will just have more to clean up later.
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   Wipe your brush back and forth over the cotton pad. With your cotton pad sitting on a flat surface, gently swipe the bristles back and forth over it. Do this 9 or 10 times until there isn’t any color left on your brush and it looks clean.^[5]

   Warning: Some nail technicians recommend soaking your brush in alcohol for 1 minute, but this has the potential to dry out your bristles.

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   Brush the excess gel onto a towel after each use. Lay down a lint-free towel and brush any leftover gel off the brush. Make sure you wipe off as much of the gel as you can to make cleaning easier.^[6]

   Did You Know? Gel nail brushes are usually made out of synthetic fibers, which is why they don’t need as intense cleanings as acrylic nail brushes.

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   Wipe the bristles with a lint-free cloth after you use them. Pick up a clean towel that doesn’t have any lint or hair on it and gently swipe your brush through it. Go from bristles to the end of the handle to take off any residual gel on the brush.^[7]

   • Make sure your towel is super clean so that you don’t get anything stuck to the gel on your brush.
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   Get any stickiness off the handle with isopropyl alcohol. Pour some alcohol onto a cotton pad and let it soak in for about 30 seconds. Gently swipe the pad onto the handle of your brush so you can use it again without getting gel on your hands.^[8]

   • The bristles of your brush don’t need to be cleaned with alcohol every time you use them. Using alcohol less will make your brush last longer.
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   Keep your brush away from UV light. Since you aren’t cleaning your gel brush off all the way, it will still have residual gel in the bristles. If it is exposed to UV light, the bristles will harden and be super hard to unstick. Make sure you keep your gel brush away from any UV lights as you work on your nails.^[9]

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Things You’ll Need

Doing a Deep Clean

Caring for Your Brushes

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