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The best at-home gel nail kits for salon-worthy nails
Cheap, cheerful and chip-free
If traditional nail polishes aren’t cutting it anymore, it’s time to invest in an at-home gel nail kit: the next best thing to an in-salon treatment, at much less cost (horrah!).
Since I’ve been trying to cut back on unnecessary spending, I’ve been reaching for my gel nail kit every month: as much as it’s great saving a few pennies, having salon-worthy nails is something I’m not willing to give up. These compact kits are uber-easy to use, and a great alternative if you can't get out to the salon every month.
Plus, as an added bonus, a good gel kit means you can swap up your nail look whenever you please (as let’s be real, we’re all dangerously indecisive when it comes to nail designs).
How to use an at-home gel nail kit
Today's best at-home kits contain everything you need to master the art of gel nails in the comfort of your own living room. There's one small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, one that'll give you a professional-level pedicure, and even one that'll help you master all that Instagram nail art.
First things first, it’s vital to master the craft. The trick is to ensure your nails are perfectly prepped before you start to paint. Make sure they’re totally clean and free from polish. Take care of your cuticles too, gently pushing them back with cuticle cream and a hoof stick (yes, that's what they're called).
If you don’t want to invest in a full nail kit, there’s nothing stopping you from buying the essential components separately - and it works out to be cheaper. So what do you need? It may be the most expensive part of making the transition to at-home nails, but you won’t get far without a lamp to set the gel. The CND LED lamp is always a reliable pick, but there are some great pocket-friendly alternatives that do the job just as well.
To ensure maximum success with an at-home kit, the most crucial thing is to keep your layers of gel thin: paint them too thickly, and they won’t set properly. There are so many different gel polishes on the market, but Mylee and CND are two brands that really stand out to me: they’re well priced and leave that salon shine once dried. What’s more, you’ll also need a top and base coat to prevent those pesky chips in your paint work.
You can end your gel journey here: with a lamp, a top and base coat and a few colours, you’re set to go. But, if you want to up the ante and invest in a kit that includes everything (and more!) you’ll need, here are the seven that impressed the most. Drum roll please….
The best at-home gel nail kits
Mylee Black Convex Curing Lamp Kit
Mylee Black Convex Curing Lamp Kit
Mylee's professional-standard gel nail kit contains every single thing you could possibly need to perfect your at-home mani game. Alongside the full-sized UV lamp is a host of prep and finishing products – including that all-important remover solution – base and top coats, and four totally classic gel varnish shades. Just think how much you'll save on salon manicures. We LOVE this one.
Mylee Full Works Complete Gel Polish Kit
If you want to take things to the next level, the Mylee Full Works kit contains everything a newbie could possibly need when it comes to at-home nails. Of course it comes equipped with the UV lamp to cure your nails, but it's also stocked with eight autumnal nail shades, top and bottom coats, the prep and remove duo and a selection of tools that will support you in the process. It's your one-stop shop to salon-worthy nails.
Beetles Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
Beetles Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
This Beetles gel polish kit (with glowing reviews, we might add) is now on offer at Amazon and it has all you need for a salon-worthy look. You get twelve chic nail polish colours, an LED lamp, one base gel, a duo of shiny and matte top coats, and a collection of glitter and nail-art add-ons – all for the price of a single salon visit. You can sign us up.
The lamp for this one has no bottom, making it less bulky for your bag – great for last-minute pampering or if you can’t go without having your nails refreshed on holiday.
BLUESKY Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
The good news is that this chicer-than-most kit comes with three totally classic nail shades: a pretty pink for everyday, a true black for when you are feeling vampy, and a perfect pillarbox red.
The bad news is that there is no remover or foils included, so consider investing in those to save time when removing.
Bluesky polishes actually contain 1% more gel polymer (the stuff that makes it solid, glossy and shiny) than traditional Shellac, making this brand's polishes as hard as, well, nails.
Elite99 Nail Lamp Starter Kit
This kit really is the full package; it contains an LED lamp, six gel polishes, top coat, base coat, remover pads, nail cleaner, cuticle tongs, cuticle pushers, cotton pads, toe spreaders... the list goes on.
So if you want a seriously comprehensive kit and a salon-like finish for a fraction of the price, this is the set for you.
Beetles Gel Nail Polishes
A great add-on to the set above, these colour kits are like eyeshadow palettes for your nails. You can pick colour combos from Fall Harvest (rich maroons and oranges) to Manhattan (grown-up neutrals). We'll take one of each, please and thank you.
Inside each kit is 20 nail polishes alongside a base coat and two top-coat finishes: one glossy, one matte.
Sensationail Gel Polish Starter Kit
If you’re wanting to test the waters before doing the deep dive, we recommend the Sensationail Polish Starter kit. Containing just the essentials you’ll need for an at-home job, the kit is a great starting point to building salon-worthy nails. There are many appealing features of this kit, but the best part is that the lamp is fool-proof to use – it’s uber-quick and does all the cure timing for you.
And wait, there’s more! It’s also pretty compact which makes it a great option for on-the-go manicures. If there’s a downside, the kit doesn't come with a gel remover, so you’ll have to buy one separately (this £7 one works and won’t blow the budget).
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