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Our Best Overall pick, the Morovan Poly Gel Nail Kit, comes with a professional-grade, 48-watt LED light to cure nails. With that said, check whether or not the kit you're eyeing requires a lamp. If it does, opt for a kit that contains one, otherwise you'll need to purchase one separately. "You shouldn't mix products or lamps because some of them have a higher or lower output which can cause under- or over-curing of the gel," she explains.
We did find the gels to be of quite a thick consistency, so applying them as thinly as possible is probably a skill we'll need some practice at. The colour choice was great though, with a range of pastels, rich hues and glittery gels to suit all tastes. Attaching the macaroon to a power socket is super easy, and the light turns off when your 30 secs is up – all in all, it's straightforward and safe enough for any nail-painting age. If you’re looking for a kit that’s easy-to-use, reasonably priced and delivers a good result, this nifty little number might just be for you.
Best home gel nail kit for speed
There’s no need to invest in a larger kit if you won’t wear most of the shades, so look for one that contains a variety of colors you love. While we planned to wait the full 14 days before removing it, most gel formulas we tried began peeling off prematurely. Since several kits had disappointing staying power, we ultimately selected easy-to-use options that delivered professional-looking results. She said her nails were a little tacky after placing them under the lights for the recommended two minutes.
No matter how tempting it is, do not pick your gel nail polish off, it will weaken your nail bed and your nails will be prone to breakage. Once it's fully dry, apply your topcoat and cure this for 60 seconds also. Whilst some topcoats do not require a wipe after curing, most do, as this removes any sticky residue.
The best at-home gel nail kits for salon-worthy nails
Many of us on the Closer team have recently made the change and purchased an at-home gel nail kit, and we all agree it was a fabulous decision. Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. ‘Use cuticle oil at least once a day, preferably twice and if possible, more! ‘Your nails and skin can’t get enough of it and will thank you for it.
First things first, are at-home gel nail kits actually worth it? Some can be expensive and if they're just going to chip, peel and damage your nails then we'd be better off booking in for a professional treatment, thank you very much. She was pleased with the results of her gel nails, commenting on the stunning color and smooth, exceptionally shiny finish. Unfortunately, they didn't last the full two weeks and ended up chipping after about six days. While we wish it had better staying power, this feature-rich set is an excellent value.
ELLE Edit: The 5 Best Gel Nail Kits For A DIY Mani
First, I love the idea of a non-toxic polish formulated with bio-sourced ingredients. Also, the most labour-intensive part of maintaining gel nails has to be the removal process, so any brand that promises to remove colour just like regular polish gets my full attention. When prepped and applied properly, gel manis can last up to a month, or until your nails are grown out. "The longevity of a gel mani can also depend on how active you are with your hands and how well you take care of them," Stone says. When it comes to nail care, Kandalec recommends using cuticle oils and hand lotion to maintain the integrity of your manicure at home.
This will help the polish bind to your nail, making it last longer and preventing chipping or peeling. The trick is to ensure your nails are perfectly prepped before you start to paint. Take care of your cuticles too, gently pushing them back with cuticle cream and a hoof stick (yes, that's what they're called). Theresa Holland is a product reviewer and commerce writer specializing in cosmetics.
We've Now Tested a Lot of Home Gel Nail Kits—These Ones Are the Best
Choosing the best at-home gel nail kit depends on what you’re hoping to achieve and how often you plan on using it. Are you only looking to give yourself a manicure or touch-up in between salon appointments? The main essentials, as recommended by Gurung and James, include a UV or LED lamp to cure the polish, a gel base and top coat, a nail shade you like, nail file, buffer, cuticle pusher, rubbing alcohol and acetone. The instructions highlight the importance of prep, so I tidied up my cuticles with the cuticle sticks first and swiped over the prep lotion before applying the base coat. The lamp has three curing times , and I did two coats of my chosen colour, Solo Act, which is a cashmere grey, before finishing with the topcoat.
The white shade had a great consistency and with two coats was completely opaque. There’s few things that can make you feel put together as fast as a freshly painted manicure. It can also be one of the few times to enjoy some alone time, sitting in a comfortable salon seat, flicking through a magazine.
They assessed each set on ease of use, application time, curing time and the final look of their nails, while keeping an eye on how long they lasted before chipping, peeling or dulling. Once you've set your gel nails, you'll need to clean them off. This is usually done with another wipe, that removes any residue that's not set properly from the lamp. Don't be tempted to skip this step as gel nail polishes won't 'dry' like regular varnishes. If you don't clean the nail afterwards you'll likely end up with sticky nails that attract dust and dirt onto your polish — not chic. Both Gurung and James agree that gel polish itself isn’t bad for your nails, the issue typically lies in how users or professional manicurists prep beforehand and later remove the gel.
Just because the price is low, it doesn’t mean the product skimps on quality, either. Users praise it for its easy application process and note that the setup is great even for rookie DIYers. We've got a whole Sun Selects beauty section for you to explore. Thanks to this, it's also gentle on your nails and can be removed easily with an acetone-free nail polish remover.
“It helps to hydrate and strengthen your nails, making them look fresh, but also preventing them from chipping and breaking,” she says. Brands such as Mylee have a whole range of at-home gel nail kits, which you can buy direct. Green Flash is a totally green, 12-free, vegan and cruelty-free polish with no nasty ingredients.
So with that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best gel nail kits to get your fingers looking mighty fancy. We also put a couple to the test ourselves to see just how easy it is. However, peeling and removing gel polish without following the correct steps can damage the nails and nail beds.
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