Where To Buy An E Nail Kit

The Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits for a Long-Lasting Manicure

The Cherry-red Carpet Manicure Pro 45 Starter Kit is our favorite

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you lot buy something through our links, we may earn a committee.

Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

While it can admittedly seem similar a daunting DIY beauty task, giving yourself an at-dwelling house gel manicure isn't as hard as you might call back. Particularly when in that location'southward a whole world of gel smash kits bachelor that tin can make the process that much easier. "You have everything you need for a gel manicure at your fingertips, literally, and yous don't demand to go out the comfort of your dwelling," says manicurist Syreeta Aaron. "It's a petty expensive at start, but once y'all have the kit and any boosted supplies you need, it's cost-efficient over time," she adds. (Not to mention it saves you the time y'all'd spend in and traveling to and from the salon as well.)

Really good manicure kits come with piece of cake-to-follow instructions, essential tools, and a few nail color shades and base/top coats to become you started. Nosotros scoured the internet, read through endless reviews, and tapped Aaron for her expert recommendations to observe the best kits available for creating a gorgeous mani that lasts for weeks.

Read on for the all-time at-dwelling house gel blast kits, beneath.

Ulta

What Nosotros Similar

• Includes all essential tools and nail care

• LED lamp auto shuts off

• Contains gel remover

What We Don't Similar

• Expensive

We get it; doing your own gels tin seem intimidating at first, but that's where this stand-out set up comes in. It ranks at the acme of the listing for including everything you lot need for a stunning gel mani—and it has the added do good of coming with a bottle of remover, to kicking. Aye, the bottles are a bit modest, but proceed in listen that gel manicures last the longest when y'all apply sparse coats of polish, and reviewers rave about how long this lacquer lasts.

The size and shape of the lamp are best suited for doing only a few fingers at a time, simply the entire process is however fairly quick and efficient. While the price may seem steep at offset, go along in mind how much of your difficult-earned cash yous'll be saving by skipping biweekly trips to the salon.

Shades: 1 included with kit | Dry out Fourth dimension: 30 seconds to 2 minutes | Cruelty-Free: No

Walmart

What Nosotros Like

• Includes all essential tools and blast care

• Included brush ensures streak-free, total coverage

• Contains gel remover

What We Don't Similar

• Expensive

One of the category's best-sellers, this kit has all the essentials. It comes with an LED lamp (which cures polish in 45 seconds), though the shine can as well exist cured under a UV lamp, should you lot happen to have one of those on paw. Yous will need to buy the colour separately—the brand has over 200 hues to option from—but there is a primer, base coat, topcoat, and cuticle oil included, all of which have unique light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation-cut, domed bristles to make polish swiping a breeze.

Shades: 2 included with kit | Dry Fourth dimension: 45 seconds to 2 minutes | Cruelty-Gratis: Yes

Le Mini Macaron

What We Like

• Charges with USB

• Cures in thirty seconds

• Peachy for travel

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Only cures ane nail at a fourth dimension

This itty-bitty choice is so small and streamlined that you could fifty-fifty take it with you on your travels; the lamp has a USB string then you tin even charge it through your laptop. Information technology takes only nearly 30 seconds to cure a coat of shine, a major plus, given that you will need to do ane finger at a time. The lamp comes in three colors, each of which comes with polish in a corresponding shade.

Shades: ii included with kit | Dry Time: threescore seconds | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Aye

What Our Editors Say

"Cheeky packaging can sometimes be meant to distract from a poorly made product, merely that definitely isn't the case here. This little macaron-inspired device creates a gorgeously cured, durable gel manicure that lasts just as long as in-salon gel manis. You just demand a little patience and a steady hand." — Holly Rhue, Senior Editor

 Ulta

What We Like

• Doesn't demand to be cured

• No base coat required

• Piece of cake removal

What We Don't Similar

• Not as long-lasting every bit traditional gel

For those who desire to skip the curing footstep, this swipe-and-go polish is ideal. It goes on exactly like whatever other nail lacquer—the only divergence? In that location'southward no base glaze needed. Just swipe on 2 coats of any shade you cull (at that place are tons and tons to pick from, in true Essie fashion), then top that with the special topcoat. The color lasts up to 2 weeks and stays super shiny that entire fourth dimension, yet withal comes off extremely easily, no soaking or filing required.

Shades: Each color sold separately | Dry out Time: 30 to threescore seconds | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yep

Amazon

What We Like

• Includes all essential tools and boom care

• Large lamp can fit total hand

• Affordable

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Lamp gets very hot

Aye, this comes with a curing LED lamp and six colors of polish (plus base of operations and top coats), but it also has the stardom of coming with 31 different tools. At that place'due south everything you demand for basic manicuring—think files and a brush—forth with unique tools to assist yous create boom art, too. Aaron notes that it's another great option for beginners and is great for anyone looking to master the at-home gel mani.

Shades: half-dozen included with kit | Dry Time: 30 seconds | Cruelty-Free: No

Amazon

What Nosotros Like

• Dries fast

• Easy-to-follow instructions

• Provides upward to 10 manicures per kit

What We Don't Similar

• Lamp is relatively small

A truthful juggernaut in the at-dwelling house nail intendance space, it should come as no surprise that this brand offers an splendid gel mani kit. It boasts an LED lamp, one colour, pinnacle and base coats, plus all kinds of manicure essentials, call back a file and buffer, cuticle stick, and more. The unproblematic and easy-to-follow instructions get in a great pick for beginners, and you tin can score up to 10 manicures per kit, making this a great value, too.

Shades: 1 included with kit | Dry Time: Up to 3 minutes | Cruelty-Gratuitous: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Skyline Beauty

What We Like

• Includes all essential tools and nail intendance

• Has tips for adding length

• Contains sculpting gel

What We Don't Like

• Lamp must be purchased separately

This option is pick for proficient DIYers, as well as for those who are going for more of a dramatic outcome. Considering it also comes with tips, information technology's great for anyone who's looking to add extra length to their nails, says Aaron.

Shades: 2 included with kit | Dry Time: Up to three minutes | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Make clean: No

Amazon

What We Like

• Mess-complimentary removal

• Includes essential removal tools and foil wraps

• Affordable

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Foil strips are very large

In case you missed the memo, peeling off a gel manicure, as tempting every bit it may be, is a major no-no. Proper filing and soaking are imperative for keeping your nails strong, and this kit makes it easy to do exactly that. Credit the included buffer, remover, foil wraps, and orangewood stick, all the essentials y'all need to correctly and safely take off that gel polish once it's time to practice and then.

Shades: 0 | Cruelty-Gratuitous: No

Zoya

What We Like

• Smashing for travel

• Includes reparative serum and base glaze

• Contains gel remover

What We Don't Like

• Color polish must be purchased separately

While this set doesn't come with colored smoothen, it does come with everything yous need to ensure your nails stay strong, no matter how many at-home gel manis yous requite yourself. Namely, the make'south reparative nail serum and base coat, along with a clear smoothen that can be used to seal those in. Add the Zoya hue of your choosing or not; either way; your nails are guaranteed to look great.

Shades: 1 included with kit | Dry Time: Up to 3 minutes | Cruelty-Free: Yeah

Amazon

What We Similar

• Powerful lamp with cool features

• Affordable

• Includes all essential tools and smash care

What We Don't Like

• No products/accessories for removal included

An Amazon fan favorite, this one-stop-shop consistently pulls in rave reviews with users lauding things such every bit the affordable cost and how smashing the LED light is. To that signal, it's a 72W LED curing light, much more powerful than many other comparable options on the market. (Other nice features include four automated timer settings, a removable tray that makes it piece of cake to use on toes, and a no-affect on and off.) And per the toll tag bespeak, this comes with all the tools you need, boom design accessories, and 12 dissimilar colors; choose from a range of nudes, brights, and more.

Shades: 12 included with kit | Dry out Time: 30 seconds to 99 seconds

Final Verdict

Y'all tin't get wrong with the Carmine Carpet Manicure Pro 45 Starter Kit, a complete system that reviewers say can exist used quickly and efficiently to score a shiny, fleck-free mani that will last for weeks. For an affordable selection that includes everything y'all need and more, opt for the Vishine Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, which boasts an impressive 31 different tools for shaping, nail art, and more than. If you lot're a beginner, the Sally Hansen Gel Polish Gel Boom Color Kit is an easy-to-use (and affordable) selection with clear instructions; a wide range of colors also works with the included lamp. For those who want to become light-free, Essie Gel Couture Polish is substantially the same equally a traditional lacquer, just with a much longer-lasting, super-shiny color.

Run across the Expert

Syreeta Aaron is an educator for LeChat Nails, the company behind cutting-edge products such every bit the Gelée Pulverisation Gel Organization, Perfect Match Gel Smooth & Smash Lacquer, and thermal-activated Mood changing polishes.

What to Expect For in an At-Home Gel Kit

Gel Lamp

When it comes to choosing the right at-home gel kit, Aaron first says to check whether or not the contents of the kit require a gel lamp—and if they do, bank check whether the kit contains ane or if yous'll need to purchase one separately. If you're only starting out, information technology's all-time to opt for a kit that contains all the tools you'll need, gel lamp included.

Quality Polish

If you're fully committed to at-habitation gels and looking to cutting dorsum on salon visits, Aaron recommends investing in a kit that contains quality, professional person polishes, such as the LeChat Perfect Match Gel Polish. On the other hand, if you're simply testing the waters between your usual salon appointments, she doesn't retrieve it'due south necessary to invest also much money into the process.

Good Color Offering

Finally, Aaron recommends looking for a kit that comes with colors you'll really desire to vesture. Some kits volition only come with one or two shades, while pricier ones may contain an entire set. In that location'southward no demand to invest in a larger kit if you won't wear most of the shades, and then wait for ane that contains a variety of colors you love.

FAQ

• How do y'all use an at-dwelling house gel blast kit?

  Start with clean, washed hands, then prep your nails by wiping them with an alcohol pad to help remove the natural oils. Apply 1 coat of primer, and so the base coat. The base coat normally needs to exist cured for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the make, says Aaron, merely your best bet is to follow the instructions of the particular products yous're choosing. Employ two coats of color, curing in between coats, and finish with one layer of topcoat. If the topcoat leaves backside a viscid residue, simply wipe it off with another alcohol pad, suggests Aaron.

• Is gel bad for your nails?

  In brusk, no. "The application and use of the kit are safety, but what isn't e'er rubber is the removal procedure, which needs to be done properly," cautions Aaron. "Don't peel the gel off your nails—when you lot do this, yous're removing layers of your nail forth with information technology. This will make your boom thinner and weaker. What tin as well be damaging is if you don't utilize a removal product that fits quality standards and may incorporate harmful chemicals."

• How practise you remove gel nails?

  Equally mentioned above, Aaron stresses the importance of not peeling off the shine, as this volition peel away layers of the nail plate and stop up dissentious the nail. Beginning by filling the top of the nail until you lot see a white, chalky color, she says; this indicates yous've filed through the topcoat. Then soak your nails in pure acetone for seven to 10 minutes, finishing by scraping off any polish with a cuticle pusher. She says that you should keep in mind that you may need to re-soak several times.

• How long exercise gel nails last?

  If applied properly, Aaron says that gel nails typically last upward to two weeks.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty manufacture, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. A devoted gel manicure kinda daughter, she prefers the professional route over the DIY options. Still, considering she knows what's important to look for in a proficient gel manicure, she knew how to figure out which calm products were best.

According to our Diversity Pledge, fifteen% of products in our newly-published marketplace roundups will characteristic Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any at-abode gel boom kits from a Black-owned and/or Blackness-founded business. If you know of one nosotros should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Source: https://www.byrdie.com/best-at-home-gel-nail-kits-4588497

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