When the pandemic first hit, many of us learned to be our own nail technicians. From press-on manicures to dip powder kits, at-home nail products were seemingly sold out everywhere. And while nail salons have reopened with enhanced safety and social distancing protocols in place, there's still something to be said for knowing how to give yourself a good mani from the comfort of your couch.
The good news is there are tons of great kits available to DIY a great gel manicure. Unlike regular at-home manicures, gel requires zero drying time thanks to the curing lamp, so you can get back to business ASAP. Whether you’re trying to save a little money on manicures or your nails simply need urgent attention, we found the best options for getting your gel mani on at home, from starter kits to lights—plus one super-easy cheat.
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Get up to 10 gel manicures with this all-encompassing starter kit from the trusted brand. The shade, Shell We Dance, is a soft neutral you’ll actually want to wear again and again with no chips, and no dry time.
How To Remove Gel Nail Polish At Home: A Starter's Guide
In addition to the usual suspects—LED lamp, primer, polishes—this kit also has a gel polish remover and nail cleanser for when it comes time to switch up your shade.
This starter kit contains everything you need for your first gel mani. From foundation to top coat, plus three mini polishes and a travel-size LED lamp, this set will give you a perfect pink mani.
This set’s macaron-shaped light cures one nail at a time, while the all-in-one polish sets without additional foundation, bond, or top coat steps. And, if you click the product link, there are eight colors to choose from. (Bonus: the lamp will still work with other gel polishes.)
Best At Home Gel Nails Kits
Most at-home kits have smaller LED lights for convenience, but if you have the storage space, this larger lamp lets you cure your whole hand at once, just like at your nail salon. It also includes a rescue serum, if you just need some nail TLC.
Unlike regular polish kits, what makes this kit different is that it actually has ready-to-wear gel tips, which you fit and adhere to your nails (think of it as DIY gel extensions).
Not ready to make the commitment? The shine from Essie’s Gel Couture polishes and top coat ($11.50 each) comes pretty darn close to the real thing and can last up to two weeks, no lamp required.
Mylee Gel Polish Led Manicure Kit
If you don’t want to buy an entire kit, this user-friendly LED lamp has four different time settings, and can be used for pedicures too. One reviewer says this is a "great little lamp! So glad I made the leap and bought one off of Amazon. I highly recommend this. Cures my nails in about 30 secs per layer."
For those who want the full salon experience, this 32-piece kit gives you everything you need to shape and polish your nails like the pros, including six neutral, wearable polishes.
One DIY gel beginner reviewed this kit, saying "this set is phenomenal. It’s definitely worth the value and Gelish has a great reputation so I would definitely try this out if you are a first timer like me!"
Diy Gel X Nails: Here's Everything You Need As A Beginner
No, as long as polish is removed properly. However, peeling and removing gel polish without following the correct steps can damage the nails and nail beds.
It's also a good idea to skip the gel mani about every eight weeks. This allows your nails to rehydrate and strengthen.
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Cuticle oil and strengthening serum can help to strengthen your nails while using gel. You can use these products even while you are wearing polish.
Best Home Gel Nail Kits 2023: Uv And Led Lamps For Salon Worthy Manicures
Most nail technicians say they last two to three weeks, unless removed sooner. If you are looking for a manicure that lasts you longer, you may want to check out dip powder manis. They last five weeks and require no UV light.
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Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer with 10 years of experience covering beauty. She covers all things skincare for , from ingredients to acne advice.
/ David Carr Trying your hand at a DIY gel manicure might seem daunting, but with the right tools and products, we promise it's totally doable. Moreover, doing your nails at home will save you significant time and money. "You have everything you need for a gel manicure at your fingertips, literally, and you don't need to leave the comfort of your home, " says manicurist Syreeta Aaron. "It's a little expensive at first, but once you have the kit and any additional supplies you need, it's cost-efficient over time." We tried several kits ourselves, complete with files, buffers, nail preppers, gel lacquers, top coats, and LED drying lamps. After testing nine sets in The Lab, we narrowed it down to the user-friendliest options that offer the best-looking results. These are the best at-home gel nail kits tested by . Our Top Picks Best Overall: Morovan Nail Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Portable: Le Mini Macaron Le Maxi Deluxe Gel Manicure Set at Ulta Jump to Review Best for Beginners: Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Polish: Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Gel Sticker Nail Kit: Ohora Semi-cured Gel Nail Strips at Ohora.com Jump to Review Best Pro-Style Kit: Red Carpet Manicure Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Basic: CND Gel Basic Kit at Beyondpolish.com Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks Final Verdict How We Tested Other Options We Tested What to Look For FAQ What Is Verified? Why Trust Best Overall Morovan Poly Gel Nail Kit 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon Our Ratings Ease of Use 3.5 /5 Drying Time 5 /5 Overall Look 5 /5 Ease of Removal 5 /5 Quality 5 /5 What We Like Shiny, solid finish Long-lasting Easy to remove What We Don’t Like Learning curve The Morovan Poly Gel Kit earned perfect scores in most categories, including drying time, finished appearance, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removal. We only marked it down for ease of use since there was a slight learning curve to applying the gel nails. That said, the directions were thorough yet concise, so we knew what to do each step of the way. This manicure kit comes with eight gel colors, including two ombrés and six solids, plus a nail dehydrator, a primer, a base, and top coat, various grooming tools, and a drying lamp. You'll also get extension gel and foil for shaping your nails. Once our tester got the desired shape and length, the drying process was a breeze. She said her nails were a little tacky after placing them under the lights for the recommended two minutes. However, they were definitely cured and felt durable. She used the purple-to-white ombré hue and loved the overall results. With some practice, she thinks they'll continue to look even better. With the exception of two extensions falling off, our tester's nails looked just as good two weeks later—still shiny and vibrant without any cracks or chips. She said the removal process was a piece of cake too. After soaking them in acetone, the gel scraped right off. And while her nail plates were somewhat brittle, they weren't completely wrecked. Price at time of publish: $49.99 for All Seasons Kit Included Shades: 8 | Dry Time: 2 minutes | Cruelty-Free: Yes / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples / Tamara Staples What Our Testers Say "The gel extensions felt very durable and solid after they fully hardened. I used the purple-white ombré poly gel, and the final color was beautiful." —Danielle Ransom, Product Tester The 17 Best Base Coats for DIY Polish Best Budget SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Our Ratings Ease of Use 2 /5 Drying Time 5 /5 Overall Look 3.5 /5 Quality 3 /5 What We Like Affordable Dries quickly Shiny finish What We Don’t Like Confusing instructions Chips after a week On a budget? The SensatioNail Starter
Do It Yourself Nail Kit Dip Fiber Extension Glue Set Nail Anti Cracking Manicure
