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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. Few manicure kits will give you everything you need and everything you wanttoo. With a background in color cosmetic development, Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, has spent years evaluating nail polishes and nail treatments in the Lab and with consumers. Post-mani, we recommend using a hydrating cuticle oil and a top-rated hand cream — and a few weeks post-gel mani, be sure to follow our experts' instructions for how to remove gel nails at home without damaging your natural nails.
"The base polish dries quickly and the clear gel easily spreads across each nail," the tester says. "Plus, the light is easy to set up — just be aware that you need your own charging block." While all different types of at-home nail kits virtually pay for themselves after one or two uses, the options can range from professional quality to beginner-friendly. Reviewers love the professional-looking results this Red Carpet Manicure kit gives, saying not only does the polish in this kit stay on nails, it's also fast and easy to apply. "The detailed instructions are very helpful and the products that come in the kit are easy to use and seem to be good quality," a reviewer reported.
Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit
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.
It also comes with two full-size polishes in sheer pink and opaque white, so you can really DIY the look without stress. While lamps do produce UV light, the FDA views nail lamps as low risk when used as directed by the label. "If you are still concerned and want to take extra precaution, you can put sunscreen on your hands prior to your appointment or wear gloves with the tips cut off during your manicure," Stone says. Since this set didn't come with instructions, we had to look up the steps online, and even then, they weren't very clear. Beyond that, the gel layers never seemed to fully dry, which resulted in a clumpy effect.
Lilaque Soy Gel Manicure Kit
For someone looking to dip their toes into doing their own gel manicures, this kit is an excellent place to start. The comprehensive set is equipped with all of the essentials you need to prep your nails and craft unique designs from the comfort of your home. With six bottles of regular gel polish and two bottles of temperature-changing ombre polish, you'll never get bored with your nails. The instructions were somewhat confusing at first, but once she got it figured out, our tester said this kit was easy to use. She appreciated that it came with all the essentials for an at-home gel manicure, but the polish itself wasn't dry after the recommended 60 seconds under the light.
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. Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail stories, like fall nail colors. She’s an authority in all nail categories, but is an expert when it comes to manicure sets, thanks to years of doing her own nails at home. She regularly tests and analyzes nail polish and nail care for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top nail artists to assess new formulas and brands. When prepped and applied properly, gel manis can last up to a month, or until your nails are grown out.
Sensationail Gel Nail Polish Kit
Right now, I’m living with a drab, grown-out gel manicure because I absolutely despise getting my nails done . I obviously love how pristine dip manicures or acrylic nails look, but I just can’t deal with sitting in the chair for an hour or two while the magic happens. So after many years of dreading the salon—and learning my way around gel nail polish remover—I’ve officially switched to the DIY side with the help of the internet’s best manicure sets. When my nails feel brittle, dry, and bumpy from months of getting dip-powder manis and UV gels, I take a few weeks off, then reach for this all-in-one manicure set.
Gurung has reached for CND’s shellac products for years because of their high quality and great coverage. She notes, “You don’t have to file the top layer of the gel, all you have to do is wrap it in an aluminum foil for mins and it just falls off in one piece.” For that reason, she notes it would be great for at-home use. We can’t get rid of all of them, but the worst offenders have been removed from these dreamy shades. Aside from being a quick and convenient way to get a gel mani at home, the results speak for themselves.
Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit
Say hello to the ultimate one-and-done kit for touching up your mani when you’re out and about. This manicure set holds everything in a sleek steel and pink case that’s just the right size for stashing in your carry-on bag . Inside, you’ll find three sets of clippers in varying sizes, a file, cleaners, and nail scissors. The tester shares that she was pleased with the long term results.
You get a whopping seven pieces in this manicure set, including two sets of stainless-steel clippers for your fingernails and toenails. Open up the zippered pouch and you'll also find tweezers, cuticle pushers, and even a glass nail file for a simple at-home pedicure. It's not only nice to look at — the entire process is a breeze, too. Our tester notes that she was shocked at how fast the LED light cures each nail. "My nails look fantastic even though my hands are far from steady," she shares. "The quality of the gel and the curing process covered my many mistakes and the cuticle tool was great at removing polish from my skin."
Its sized-down versions of the essentials—a clipper, file, cuticle pusher, and cuticle trimmers—are just a effective as the full-sized originals. Just be sure to pack your fave polish shade and you'll be ready to go. Danusia (she/her) is a chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. Apply two coats of your chosen color, curing for the recommended amount of time in between coats. The name Lilaque is a reference to “lacquer” and “lilac,” a wink to the product’s plant-based formula. The nail lamp, while small compared to others, is also shaped like a pretty blossoming flower.
A lux cuticle oil containing argan oil, cottonseed oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and vitamins A, D, and E. If you're trying to hop on this trend, you definitely need to try this at-home dip powder nail kit. It comes with everything you need to DIY your French tips, including ten different base color options and two different white polishes to create your tips. TBH, some of the professional-looking at-home dip powder kits can get really complicated really fast if you don't know what you're doing. So, if you're a newb to dip powder, you might want to try out this beginner kit. It's super easy to use—like, if you can paint your own nails with basic polish, then you can easily figure out this kit.
All of the ingredient labels on the gel nail kits we evaluated contained at least one methacrylate monomer, a known allergen. Consumers should avoid skin contact with these lacquers due to the sensitization potential. The good news is that any sensitization or contact dermatitis can be “resolved after removal ...
But if you’re trying to make the switch to doing full-blown manis while you’re binge-watching Dexter for the eighth time (okay, don’t @ me), a kit with multiple clipper sizes and tools for trimming your cuticles could come in handy. 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. Start with clean, washed hands, then prep your nails by wiping them with an alcohol pad to help remove the natural oils.
And the polish didn't last more than 24 hours, leaving our tester's nails slightly damaged in its wake. Let's say that you have a whole rainbow of colors but you also have a big time splatter problem. If coloring within the lines has never been your forte, OPI's simple home manicure kit is a worthwhile buy.
Dip powder manis have a slightly grainier texture and are a little bulkier than regular polish, so if you're DIYing at home you may need a few practice rounds to get it right. And while a lot of that depends on how fast your nails grow out, this kit boasts an impressive three weeks of wear-time without dulling or chipping before you need to remove the polish. Most gel polishes last 2-3 weeks, depending on the person’s lifestyle. However a shellac manicure might not last as long, closer to 1-2 weeks, but the benefit there is that it is gentler on nails.
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