You’ve got yourself a roll of Kinesiology Tape. You’ve used it for a couple of days and felt the benefits. Now, you’re faced with a problem… how the hell do I remove Kinesiology Tape?
We understand just how sticky our K Tape is. It can be a literal pain to remove.
Follow this guide, to keep your skin in one piece, and learn exactly how to remove Kinesiology Tape correctly. Not only that, but these steps will also reduce the chances of irritation caused by improper removal.
How to Remove Kinesiology Tape:
What is kinesiology tape?
Kinesiology Tape or K Tape, often seen as those brightly coloured strips stuck to your favourite athletes, is more than just a fashion statement. This stretchy, adhesive tape is designed to support and stabilise muscles and joints without restricting movement, making K Taping a popular choice among both weekend warriors and elite athletes.
- Football players use it for stability.
- Gymnasts rely on it for support.
- Cyclists appreciate the pain relief it can offer.
- Yoga enthusiasts and weightlifters find it handy for muscle support and injury prevention.
Essentially, if you're moving and grooving in any athletic activity, Kinesiology Tape can help keep you in the game and performing at your best.
We're ready and waiting to give you our very best tips on exactly how to remove your Kinesiology Tape. But, if you're still having some trouble getting your roll to stick effectively, don't fear, because we've got you covered. Once you're done here, have a read of our 'how to get your K Tape to stick everytime' guide.
1. REMOVE IN THE SHOWER/BATH
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Warm soapy water is always worth an attempt. It’s the equivalent of turning something off and back on again. Get that shower running or treat yourself to a bath. From there, it should feel far more comfortable to peel off.
2. OILS AND BALMS
Oils are a tape’s worst nightmare. That’s exactly why you wouldn’t apply tape to freshly moisturised skin. Massage oils are particularly bad for getting Kinesiology Tape to stick. But, for K Taping removal, they can be a dream. Just soak your tape in a little oil for a few minutes, and the Kinesiology Tape will come off much easier and pain-free.
That bottle of baby oil you’ve had in the cupboard forever is finally going to get its opportunity to shine.
3. STRETCH THE SKIN OUT WITH YOUR FINGERS
Tape doesn’t want to be removed. It will grip to your skin tighter than Gareth Southgate to the England manager's job.
Using your fingers to really stretch the skin and pull the Kinesiology Tape off slowly, gives a really firm surface to remove your tape. Combine that with some oils or the classic warm soapy water, like we mentioned earlier, then you’re really on to a winner.
4. DON’T REMOVE TOO QUICKLY
When it comes to Kinesiology Tape, ‘grip and rip’ is a bad idea. This is a sure-fire way to cause skin irritation and take some skin and hair with you in the process.
Peel it off slowly and do so, in the direction that the hair grows, on whatever particular part of the body you’re removing tape from. This will give your hair the best chance of staying put and feeling comfortable afterwards too.
5. PATIENCE
If none of the above appeals to you, then your final option is to wait it out. Eventually the glue on our Kinesiology Tape will give up and admit defeat. However in some cases, you could be waiting 7+ days, at which point the best effects of the tape will be long gone, so it’s worth leaving patience as more of a last resort and giving all our other tips a fair shot at saving the day.
So there you have it. You now have the very best tips and tricks on how to remove Kinesiology Tape safely. Do you have another genius way to remove your tape? Or do you still need some more info on how to remove Kinesiology Tape? Get in touch. We're more than happy to help!
