Taking a trip to the nail salon is an affordable luxury, but if you’re looking to save some pennies and learn a new skill, then a gel nail starter kit is certainly something you should add to your self-care collection.
It may feel a little daunting when considering doing your own nails after your beloved nail technician has been taking such good care of them, especially if you regularly attend appointments.
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But, if after lockdown you began to look at ways to save money, grew desperate trying to get rid of those ugly outgrown cuticles, and are someone who enjoys a pamper session, an at-home gel nail kit is a hugely affordable alternative.
What do I need to do my own gel nails at home?
Once you get your essential gel nail kit built, you won’t have to top anything up for a while. It’s only going to be different gel polish colours that you may buy if you decide to switch up your look more frequently.
The most vital piece of equipment you’re going to need to invest in is a UV or LED curing lamp, a necessary bit of kit that dries your gel polish just like in the salon. When considering the best at-home gel nail kits look for the selection of gel polish colours available, I’d advise you to choose one that has a nude, a bold red or pink, and something dark for winter.
Here is a starter list for your gel nail home kit. Make sure to scroll down for our guide on how to use your manicure kit and apply gel nails at home:
• UV/LED lamp
• Gel nail polish
• Gel nail polish top coat
• Gel nail polish base coat
• Prep liquid or cleanse/dehydrate spray
• Lint-free wipes/cotton wool
• Nail files 100/180 grit
• Nail buffer
• Nail brush
• Orange sticks (cuticle sticks)
• Cuticle remover/cuticle nipper
• Cuticle oil
The best at home gel nail starter kits
Editoru2019s Pick
www.mylee.co.uk
The best at-home gel nail kit to get yourself started. The Mylee Gel Nail Kit is packaged in a neat box, with the curing lamp in its own separate box. If you've never done your own nails before, Mylee has a series of helpful instructional YouTube videos to get the most out of your kit, as well as plenty of tips and designs on its Instagram page. Myleeu2019s pre-built kits will also save you between 30-50 per cent when compared to buying the items separately.
Kit includes:
Mylee Salon Series PRO LED Lamp, MYGEL Top Coat 10ml, MYGEL Base Coat 10ml, 4 x MYGEL Gel Polish 10ml (Pastel Chic, Soft Touch, Requiem For A Pink & Diva), Mylee Lint-Free Wipes Pack of 100, Mylee Prep + Wipe 250ml, Mylee Gel Remover 250ml
Tried and Tested by Natalie Corner, Deputy Commercial Content Editor: "The Mylee brand is well recognised within the nail industry, good quality, long-lasting products that you would be happy to see in your local nail salon. The MYGEL Essential Gel Kit is salon-standard and you will be more than happy to part with £90 considering the vast amount of kit that is included.
"I was seriously impressed with the choice and consistency of nail colours, a nude tone for something classic, and bolder colours for if you’re looking to add a pop to your nails. The UV/LED lamp is also of supreme quality, a stylishly sleek black convex curing lamp it features a magnetic metal bottom that pops off if you need extra room to do your feet. It took me a couple of minutes (of checking the instructions) to discover the preset timers are touch sensors on the back so you can pick between 15, 30, or 60 seconds depending on how long you wish to cure your nails for."
"Quite possibly my favourite part of the Essentials Gel Kit was the inclusion of the lint-free wipes and gel remover liquid. Previously, I have used the technique of standard nail polish remover soaked wipes wrapped around my nails with foil. Using the same process but with the gel remover cut down the removal time. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to standard acetone again, as the gels just peeled off without need a tool to remove it.
"The Mylee MYGEL nail polish (using the luscious pink-red Requiem for a pink) lasted for 11 days until one nail chipped, but with a little more care, my manicure could have lasted another week with a small top-up. If you want to save money doing your at-home gel manicures, this kit comes highly recommended."
Best gel nail starter kit for beginners
This gel nail kit is as simple as they come, the polish selection is varied but doesn't come with a lighter nude shade. Nor does it have any added extras like gel nail remover fluid or any lint-free wipes. However, it's simple and straightforward to use, with a convex black UV/LED lamp that is a little on the smaller side but still fits your whole hand in. This would make a great birthday gift for someone who is keen on painting their own nails rather than heading to the salon.
Kit includes:
24w UV/LED Lamp, Top Coat, Base Coat, Cleanser Wipes, Nail File, Nail Buffer and 3 x 10ml Gel Nail Polishes - Pillar Box Red, Musk Pink and Blackpool
Review: "After doing a bit of research I decided to go for a little bit more expensive starter kit. Bluesky was coming out at pretty good reviews too as a product. I’ve used this 4 times so far and I’m really pleased with the kit. Very easy to use with an online video to watch. After receiving the kit, there is also a further discount voucher on their UK website to purchase gel nail colours. Again a bonus. I’ve painted families nails too and saving a fair bit of money too. All in all, I highly recommend this Bluesky starter kit."
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Best gel nail starter kit for learning technique
If you've already been dabbling in gel nails and possess a UV lamp but wanted to get fully kitted up, then this starter kit by Gellux available on Just My Look is a great option for getting all the essentials without the lamp. This also includes three colour wheels so you can test out shades and even practise some nail art designs.
Kit includes:
Fast Bond, 4 x Gellux Gel Polish (Oriental Poppy Red, Purely White, Pink Violet, Midnight Satin), Gellux Gel Polish Clear Top/Base Coat, Prep + Wipe, Remover, Protect Nail Oil, Sanding Sponge, Black Diamond File, Duraboard, 3 x Colour Wheel, Instruction Manual
Tried and Tested by Natalie Corner, Deputy Commercial Content Editor: "The first thing I noticed when it came to applying my chosen Poppy Red colour, was the wide brush and the consistency of the polish. Not something you would probably think about, but a wide brush certainly makes it easier to apply one thin coat without having to dip in and out of the bottle to make sure you catch the edges. The texture of the polish is also very different to the usual. The "hybrid" consistency between traditional and gel polish made it a lot thicker and I was even tempted to do just one coat it came out that well!"
"All the other bits in the kits were to a high standard, and it was great to see the colour white included as it means those practising their nail skills can learn how to do a classic French manicure without having to buy extra colours.
"My manicure lasted for about 10 days before it seriously started to chip and I wasn't able to rescue it with a quick top-up. I think this starter kit would be perfect for someone who wants to hone their nail skills and learn new techniques."
Best on-the-go gel nail starter kit
The thing we love about Le Mini Macaron nail varnish is how cute the bottles are and the colours look truly delicious on your nails. The brand has its own patented mini LED lamp that fits one nail in at a time and has branched out into a 'le maxi' full-size lamp that can easily be transported in the gorgeous red drawstring bag it comes in for this limited edition set. If you're looking to give yourself a pamper while away on staycation or round your friends' house, this gel starter kit is the best for on-the-go.
Kit includes:
Le Maxi LED Lamp, USB cable, 4 x Gel Polish in ‘Rose Glacée’, ‘Rose Antique’, ‘Rouge Coquelicot’ and ‘Rouge Dahlia’, 1 x Nail File, 1 x Cuticle Stick, 20 x Remover Wraps
Review: "Bought this gel set for the first time trying gel nails at home. Always thought it was super complicated and hard to do but I was so wrong. I am so happy with my purchase, not only did it come quickly but it was so easy to understand and use. It comes with instructions in case you do get easily confused (like myself) and all the gel colours are pretty, I started with the lightest pink and it honestly came out beautiful. For anyone trying gel nails for the first time or looking for a new collection, I would 100% recommend this product. Great value for money, great products, and easy application!!"
Best budget gel nail starter kit
Lagunamoon is a vegan and cruelty-free make-up brand and its gel nail starter kit falls way under budget. For less than £30, you can bag yourself six different polish colours along with a 'no wipe' top and base coat, not to mention loads of added extras for your manicure kit. Just be warned that the polish isn't consistent across colours, some shades are thicker and others are thin. You will need to adjust your curing time, otherwise you may end up with more chips quickly.
Kit includes:
36W Nail Lamp, 6x 8ML Gel Nail Polish, No Wipe Glossy Top Coat, No Wipe Matte Top Coat, Base Coat, Nail Brush, Cuticle Pusher, Nail File x2, Cuticle Nipper, Nail Remover Wrap x 50, Nail Prep & Cleanser Wipe x 30, Cuticle Oil Revitalize Pen
Review: "I’ve spent years going to salons to get my nails done and it cost so much. So seen as this was cheaper than getting them done I said I’d purchase to see if I could manage to do my own at home. And I’m so glad I did was so easy to use after years of watching someone else doing it it was easy to know what to do and how to do it. This is going to save me so much money. The kit is fabulous great value for the price colours are ok but I’ve just purchased some more and also have a friend calling later to do her nails. The lamp does need to be turned on about 3-4 times to build up some heat but who cares about that when it’s going to put £45 a month back into your ass pocket. Would highly recommend."
Best gel nail starter kit with tools
Another popular gel nail starter kit on Amazon, with over 2,000 ratings of an average of 4.6 out of 5. This gel nail kit goes the extra mile with plenty of added extras, like a dotting pen for nail art, striping tape, nail separators and a cuticle fork. You may need to be a little more on the confident side when it comes to using all the tools in the kit, but it's well worth it as an option purely for value.
Kit includes:
Gel Nail Polish x 6, 40W Nail Lamp, top coat, base coat, nail file, nail buffer, nail brush, cuticle fork, dotting pen, cuticle pusher, nail separators, revitalising nail pen, French stickers, gold and silver striping tape.
Review: "I never usually write product reviews, however, I felt like I needed to for this product. After reading mixed reviews I was sceptical when I bought this nail set however I am 100% impressed and thought I would add my opinion to those negative reviews. The lamp works perfectly, I cured my nails for 60 seconds each time and that worked well. I would say to make sure you get a gel nail cleansing wipe as well, as you do need to wipe off the tacky residue but then they are super hard. The colour selection is great. They look similar in the bottles but once on the sample sticks, you can easily see the variation in colours. I found if I used my cleansing wipe before and after application (like advised to do when you follow correct instructions for gel nails) then they last for ages and I have had no chips in the last week."
Best express gel nail starter kit
SensatioNail has revolutionised the at-home gel nail kit by taking out two steps to save you time. The Sensationail Express Range removes the need for a base and top coat, so all you need is one coat, cure and go. SensatioNail says the express manicure can last up to 10 days and there are over 40 shades to choose from (it comes without a lamp, but you can purchase the full gel kit here). The brand also has a clever starter kit that will turn any of your normal polishes into gel polish, so nothing will go to waste if you have a favourite colour you can't live without!
Kit includes: Gel polish colour (UV/LED lamp sold separately)
Review: "I love it. It doesn't chip. it lasts at least two weeks. It isn't cheap as you have to have the whole kit, but it is worth it."
How to apply gel nails at home?
The key to achieving the best gel nails at home is all in preparation. You wouldn’t stick a coat of paint on your walls without priming first, and the same goes for your own nails. These things will take practice, so please be patient with yourself when it comes to honing your technique.
Follow these steps for gorgeous, glossy and glam gel nails:
- Your nails need to be clear of any polish, so remove any remnants with nail polish remover or gel remover - depending on which you have to hand.
- For a thorough pamper session, we recommend using a liquid cuticle remover to tidy up those cuticles, like this one from Mylee. A tiny blob is needed on each finger and should be rubbed in. Leave it to soften for a couple of minutes and with your orange stick wrapped in a piece of cotton wool, push your cuticles back. Any dead skin will appear white as you push back, which can carefully be removed by a cuticle nipper. Rinse the cuticle remover with warm water and brush away any leftover cuticles with a nail brush. Then, buff using a nail buffer.
- Clip and file your nails into your desired shape - DO NOT saw back and forth, gently file one way into the centre of your nail.
- Cleanse your nails with a lint-free wipe doused in polish prep or a cleanse and dehydrate spray. Your nails are now ready to be painted.
- Use a base coat and cure for 15 seconds. Choose your desired gel polish colour and paint one thin layer and cure for 60 seconds. Paint a second slightly thicker layer and cure for 60 seconds. A third layer is optional depending on how thick your polish is. Paint with a top coat and cure for 60 seconds.
- Some top coats are "no wipe" which means you are good to go after you have cured your nails. Most gel top coats will require you to wipe them with the prep solution to remove any sticky residue. Make sure you don’t forget this step otherwise you will end up with irritating hair fibres stuck to your nails until you remove the polish.
Are home gel nail kits any good?
To achieve salon-worthy results, you want to invest in high-quality products, so we suggest investing in the Mylee MYGEL Essentials Gel Nail Kit. At £90, it has everything you will need to teach yourself how to do your nails whether you’re just starting out as a beginner or a seasoned pro, and the kit is super simple to use.
If you already have a UV/LED lamp, then opting for a gel starter kit like the Gellux Gel Polish Kit will be a good option, because it includes a variety of added extras and different colours you may not already have.
At-home gel nail kits have become a lot more popular since lockdown when no one could attend their cherished beauty appointments. As we look to make our manicures last a bit longer now we’re able to go back to our nail techs, having a gel nail kit at home means you can tend to any pesky chips without revisiting a salon. It also means you can experiment with a variety of colours, designs, and styles and if your friends have one too, you can do a nail polish share and paint each other's nails!
Check out these cute nail art designs for inspiration!
How do I remove gel nail polish at home?
First things first, no matter how tempting it is, do not pick your gel nail polish off. Yes, you can see there is a really nice chunk lifting off in one go, but it will weaken your nail bed and your nails will be prone to breakage.
Instead, get a nail polish remover, acetone is stronger but non-acetone will work, but it will just take longer, or a specific gel polish remover like this one from Mylee, and douse cotton wool or lint-free wipes with the remover placed on each nail and wrap with kitchen foil.
You can also snap up this Magic Gel Remover from Mylee, which is designed to remove gels in just six minutes and can be a huge time-saver for gel nail polish users who are used to spending a long time removing their gel manicure.
mylee.co.uk
Tried & Tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "I have spent many hours sat with my nails wrapped in foil, so was eager to try out this product from Mylee that promised to save me so much time. I was a little too precious with the product at first, and after waiting a few minutes nothing was peeling but I could feel a tightening sensation which shows that it was working. Impatient as ever, I added a few more dollops of the thick gloopy liquid to my nails and after about 10 more minutes I had some results. I would however say that it worked better where there were thinner layers of clear gel. For colour polish layers it took a few attempts to scrape it off. I think if I had a simple design this remover would be my go to. I need something stronger for the intricate patterns and layers of gel I usually do!"
You may need an extra pair of hands to help you wrap the foil but it is achievable by yourself. Make sure you have a brew ready-made because you'll need to sit and relax for 20 minutes while the remover gets to work. Check the first nail you wrapped to make sure the polish is weakened and scrape off with an orange stick.
Feel free to jump straight back into the prep steps mentioned above to reapply your gel nails, but it is recommended after a few back-to-back gel sets to give your nails a break to breathe and rehydrate. Cuticle oil and hand moisturiser are your friends here.
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Natalie Corner is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Bauer Media, working across brands such as What’s The Best, Yours, Mother&Baby, Heat and Closer, specialising in lifestyle and fitness content.
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