Are you a nail girl? Course you are. We’re talking anything sparkly, cute or pastel here… If you're looking to save yourself the hassle of heading to the salon and spending a pretty penny on a fresh set each month, then we think it’s time to try out doing a gel nail from home.
• It’s time to up your hand care regime with the best mani inspo
If the thought of an at-home gel nail kit sounds scary AF, then we’re here to help because it shouldn’t be. It’s all about time and practice. And, we’ve got plenty of that going around now. Follow these simple steps and you should nail doing an at-home gel nail kit every time.
Preparation is key
Girl, get yourself a nail file and scissors because you always want to make sure that they’re good to go. So cut, file and shape them before starting anything.
All about the base
Then it’s time to apply your base layer - make sure that this only a thin going over with because you don’t want to wait around forever.
It’s time to add colour
Once the base is dry, add another thin layer. But this time with your colour gel nail polish. Don’t worry, if this looks a little streaky, we’ll come back to that later.
Grab your top gel
Again, wait until this is completely dry and then paint over your nails. If you have a LED nail lamp, place your hand in it for 2-3 minutes.
Does your problem lie with deciding on a design? No worries hun. We’re all so desperate to hit the salon to get our nails done that there’s even a hashtag on Insta to give you some inspo on what to do at home – search out #gelnailsathome to get some fresh ideas. Here are some of our faves:
Once you've decided on a design, it's time to give it a go with all the best at home gel nail kits. Luckily for you, we've found some lit ones that are mega easy to use. All that's left to do is hit that shop button.
Shop: the best home gel nail kit 2021
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections.
The best home gel nail kit
1 of 6Mylee Complete Professional Gel Nail Polish LED Lamp Kit
Do you want to become a pro at doing gel nails? This unreal set will help you get there for sure!This set includes:Mylee PRO LampMylee Prep & Wipe 250mlMyGEL Base Coat 10ml 4x 10ml MyGEL Gel Polish coloursMyGEL Top Coat 10mlMylee Gel Remover100 Lint Free WipesReview:"This is a great kit and I will be using it a lot! It took a couple of goes to get the routine right. I have found that I need to cure the nails for a little longer than the instructions. 1 minute for basecoat and the colour coats and then 2 minutes for the top coat. The Bluesky nail colour is great although the colour illustrations are way off. The pink is extremely bring and pretty neon in reality and the red is a lovely subtle dark red. I will be saving lots of money on manicures in the future and spending lots of interesting nail colours."
£89.99Â
2 of 6Modelones 18 PCS Soak Off Gel Nail Polish Set
Bolder the better, right? We want all the colours of the rainbow, and this gel polish set delivers. We're going to create nail art for days. This set includes:16 colour gelsOne base coatTop coat30-day money-back guaranteeReview: "I love this set so much, I would much rather have a lot of smaller colours than big bottles with only a few shades. I have used them and they are easy to apply and wear well, definitely recommend these polishes."
3 of 6LED Nail Lamp Kit
Want a mani that looks and feels like its been done by a professional? Then this kit is the only thing you need. This set includes:80W LED UV nail lamp2 x nail separatorsNail cutterSteel pushCuticle forkDead skin shearNail fileSponge polishing strip10 x nail art soak off clipCleaning cottonReview:"This is a great starter kit for beginners. So glad I got myself one. Have saved so much money by doing my own nails. Kit is very good value. Works brilliantly would highly recommend."
4 of 6Nails.INC Gel Manicure Kit
Want to nail the gel manicure? This is a kit that just keeps on giving.**This set includes:Harley Street Base Coat45 Second Top Coat with Kensington CaviarVitamin E Oil PenNails.INC nail fileBest used for:**Creating a fancy manicure/pedicure look! Plus, once it's safe to get your nails done at a salon again, this baby will help keep your acrylics looking fab for longer.
5 of 6Mylee 36W UV lamp
Another gorge nail kit from Mylee... Yes, please! This set includes: 36W UV lampMygel Top & Base CoatMylee Lint Free WipesMylee Prep + Polish WipeMylee Gel RemoverReview:"Easy to set up & use. Clear instructions to follow for preparing nails & using different applications."As someone who has been a "nail-biter" & spent a fortune every few weeks in an effort to stop the habit, this set has been great. Used a couple of times now, so has almost paid for itself in money I've saved at nail salon. Also getting better at applying myself!"Would recommend."
6 of 6Rio Professional UV & Gel Nail Polish Lamp
Got the hang of a starter kit? It's time to upgrade to a pro lamp. Key features:Suitable for hands and feetAuto timer36Watt UV LampFor ages 18 years and overReview:"Excellent product works just the same as the one's (sic) in the nail bars, but at your own pace of life, my wife and daughter swear by it." - Cute!
Now you've bagged yourself some new varnishes and maybe even an LED nail lamp, you've probably got some questions about it. Never fear, we're here to help with some important FAQs.
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Home gel nail kit FAQs:
Are are home gel nail kits safe?
We'd recommend that if you're using a nail lamp that you always cover your skin with a scarf or shirt while waiting for your nails to dry. This is because UV rays can cause damage to your skin. However, home versions shouldn't be as powerful as salon lights.
Will using home gel nail kits damage my nails?
As long as you follow the recommended steps when it comes to after care and give your nails a break, this shouldn't be a problem. Regular use of gel manicures will weaken your nails.