5 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits of 2022, Tested in Our Lab
"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." Whether you're embarking on a long vacation and want to toss a kit in your carry-on or are on the hunt for a gel set that won't take up counter space, this Orly option is the way to go.
It comes with eight polish shades, including six solid opaques and two ombrés. You'll also get a primer, a dehydrator, a base coat, a top coat, an LED lamp, and various tools for grooming your nails and cuticles. Whether you’re looking for a kit that you can bring on work trips and vacations or simply want a beginner-friendly way to try at-home gel nail manicures, this one from Le Mini Macaron is the perfect option.
Nail files
A lover of nail polish, gel and otherwise, she wrote this article based on the findings from Wnek's report and by gathering additional recommendations from prior Beauty Lab evaluations. Reviewers do warn that the color pictured may not be the one you get in the box, but still say the well-stocked kit is worth the coin. It's worth noting that because there's no curing process involved, the final result isn't as hard as a typical gel manicure. The reviewer didn't seem to mind, though, given that the polish stayed intact without it. It's pretty incredible that the kit contains everything you could ever need to do a gel manicure, but with that said, it can be overwhelming for a first-timer.
This gel nail starter kit is the perfect way to begin doing your own manicures. It features an LED lamp, top and base coats, polish, and many extras. There are tip guides, files, and other nail tools included as well. "Damage from nail enhancements comes from improper prep, application, and/or improper removal — not the product itself," says Kandalec. "One way to prevent damage is to visit a reputable salon that doesn't rush the removal process." Gel needs to soak for at least 20 minutes and should never be peeled or picked off, she adds. To remove gel polish at home, Poole explained to InStyle that you should start by buffing the top layer of your mani with a coarse nail file.
Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit
The brand's starter kit earned a perfect score for ease of use, thanks to the straightforward instructions. It comes with a base coat, 12 bottles of gel lacquer, a top coat, several grooming tools, nail embellishments, and a UV drying lamp. While it says to dry each coat for one minute, our tester found that leaving her nails in a little longer allowed them to fully harden without any tackiness.
From there, apply the base coat, gel color, and top coat, placing your hand in the LED lamp for 30 seconds between each coat. Then, wipe your nails with the cleanser pad, which will leave behind a glossy finish. Your manicure should last up to two weeks without chipping or losing its sheen. The most expensive kits contain gel nail polish, topcoat, base coat, and LED lamp.
Gel polish
Avoid any kit that requires you to buy the base coat and topcoat separately. There's essentially no other way to harden the gel which gives the manicure its signature rock-solid finish. 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.
For example, gel nail kits typically include bottles that hold 0.25 to 0.3 fluid ounce, while regular polish generally comes in bottles of 0.5 fluid ounce. This Sally Hansen gel nail kit includes all the basics you need for a great manicure. The kit consists of a base, color, top coats, an LED light, cleanser pads, and more. The process advertises only 3 steps for fabulous nails, perfect for anyone who wants a great manicure. Gel nail polishes are cured using UV or LED lamps and some gel nail polishes can even use both. While both are effective, according to the International Journal of Women's Dermatology, “LED lamps accomplish photocuring more quickly because they emit a narrower spectrum of light.
Best Portable Gel Nail Kit
Get a glossy gel-like finish — no LED or UV light needed — with this top-tested polish from Sally Hansen. You won't get the fast-drying, crack-proof finish of traditional gel, but the learning curve is nonexistent. Here are the top gel nail kits you can buy, according to reviewers and vetted for safety by our experts. The praise for this kit doesn't stop at the simple application and longevity either. The polish comes off with regular acetone polish remover you can find at the drugstore.
It's critical to make the best choice among the numerous possibilities. Make sure the product meets your needs before you click the "purchase now" button or add goods to your shopping basket.
Saturate ten cotton balls with acetone, place a ball on each nail, and wrap a piece of foil around each ball to hold it in place. Let your nails sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before checking them. The acetone should lift the polish from your nails so you can then use the cotton ball to push off the polish. A. Start by using a coarse nail file to gently abrade off the top layer of polish and remove the topcoat.
LED nail lamps can cure gel manicures more quickly than UV nail lights. While the price of LED lamps is higher, LED bulbs are longer lasting than UV bulbs, so the cost may be lower in the long term. Note that some gel polishes are specifically formulated to be used only with UV nail lamps, so an LED nail lamp will not work for those polishes. We selected nine at-home gel kits to try first-hand by our testers. Each set was evaluated for ease of use, drying time, finished look, staying power, ease of removal, and nail integrity post-removal. Our testers carefully followed the brands' step-by-step instructions to see how well the tools, lamps, and formulas performed in a real-life setting.
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