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Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections. Some buyers say the lamp does not work well or that the gel peels off nails. This article was updated in October 2022 to include only products we believe meet the FDA’s Cosmetic Labeling Requirements, as vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. We also included updated information on safety criteria to keep in mind.
Are you the gal who was fine to spend upwards of two hours in the salon having an artist do an install on your nail beds? After doing an at-home try-on to make sure the pieces fit, you'll receive a completely custom lineup truly as good as an in-salon set. Extra points awarded for the wide range of ever-changing styles.
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
Guring also recommends taking breaks every once in a while between gel-based manicures to give your nails a break. As mentioned above, Aaron stresses the importance of not peeling off the polish, as this will peel away layers of the nail plate and end up damaging the nail. Start by filling the top of the nail until you see a white, chalky color, she says; this indicates you’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.
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
And with practice, she's confident her nails will look even better. It features eight MYGEL Colours, including a top and base coat, a curing LED lamp, a prep and wipes set, cuticle oil and gel remover. You also get a number of nail tools to help you create a really neat and professional manicure.
Each of our top picks comes with an LED/UV lamp, so we've got you covered. Our top pick is the Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit because it comes with everything you need—and nothing that you don’t—for an at-home gel manicure. The kit comes with one versatile gel polish, but you can purchase additional colors separately to build your collection. The polishes have an ultra-glossy finish and the formula lasts up to three weeks, according to the brand. While this kit does not include a lamp, the polishes can be used with both UV and LED lamps, depending on what you have on hand.
Best Portable Gel Nail Kit
To do so, we rounded up a handful of testers to research the most popular kits and try them out in our testing lab to determine which ones are worth the splurge. After thorough testing — taking into account ease of use and removal, drying time, quality, and post-mani nail health — we picked the best-performing kits. Ultimately, the Morovan Poly Gel Nail Kit impressed us most due to its salon-quality results and top scores in the aforementioned categories. Start with clean, washed hands, then prep your nails by wiping them with an alcohol pad to help remove the natural oils. The base coat usually needs to be cured for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the brand, says Aaron, but your best bet is to follow the instructions of the particular products you’re choosing.
Once our tester got the desired shape and length, the drying process was a breeze. Popov explains that gel polish should last two weeks “with proper care along with correct application.” Some types of gel nail polish can last even longer, which is when it’s time to soak it off in acetone. Removal is one of the most difficult parts of gel manicures, especially for beginners. If you dread having to soak the polish off in acetone, then this kit is for you. After you get two weeks of wear from your manicure, the SensatioNail gel formula is designed to be peeled off without damaging your nails.
If you’re ready to become a professional in the at-home gel manicure game, the Morovan Poly Gel Nail Kit is a great place to start. It comes with eight different polishes, which vary depending on the color palette you choose . It also includes full-sized bottles of the brand’s base and top coats, as well as a primer and dehydrator—both of which will protect your nails. Both Gurung and James agree that gel polish itself isn’t bad for your nails, the issue typically lies in how users or professional manicurists prep beforehand and later remove the gel. Gurung says, “If you or a nail tech files a lot before the application, that’s not good and can thin out the nails.” The same applies to the removal process. “Filing the top layer of gel with an electric file—a regular file would be okay depending on the gel—forcefully scraping off the gels, or even picking or peeling them is bad for your nails,” she says.
Our tester said the LED lamp seemed cheap and wished it plugged into a regular outlet instead of only through a USB adapter. While the results looked decent, some of the gel peeled off after a couple of days. While we planned to wait the full 14 days before removing it, most gel formulas we tried began peeling off prematurely. Since several kits had disappointing staying power, we ultimately selected easy-to-use options that delivered professional-looking results. Naomi is a Lifestyle News Writer with the Women's Lifestyle team and has recently earned her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ. She has a background in design, having studied Illustration at Plymouth University but has taken a leap into the world of journalism after always having a passion for writing.
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