Who doesn't love getting a manicure? It helps us feel refreshed, more put together and if you want to be extra (we do) there's plenty of designs – from swirls and french tips to gold accents – and more nail art inspo on social media to swoon over.

While we absolutely do love getting our nails done, we don't love how much it costs us, a couple of trips to the salon can soon add up to a small fortune, especially if you love your extensions and nail art. We'll admit, it's an expensive beauty treatment that we can't always afford.

And, if the thought of doing your own nails with a dip powder nail kit sounds scary AF, then we’re here to help as it's easier than you think.

In fact, many of us on the Heat team have recently made the change and purchased an at-home dip powder nail kit and OMG it was an awesome decision!

Make sure your nails are clean of any residue, be it nail polish or other, using a nail polish remover. File and buff your nails, ensuring you've got your desired shape, like oval, coffin, or square. Make sure to cut any excess cuticles, as well as pushing them back.

Apply your nail primer before anything else.

Next, you'll need to apply your base coat.

Select your powder colour, and dip your nail into it. Use a duster brush to remove any excess powder. Put on another base coat, and dip your nail again into the nail powder.

Now paint your nails with an activator, this bonds the colour powder.

Once it's fully dry, apply your topcoat and cure this for 60 seconds. Whilst some topcoats do not require a wipe after curing, most do, as this removes any sticky residue. We also recommend adding some cuticle oil to your cuticles and hand moisturiser as the UV lamp can dry out your skin. Voila! Your dip powder nail manicure is complete.

We love the variety of colours this kit comes with, plus it lasts a whole three weeks which is so helpful! We don't have time to keep doing our nails every Sunday.

Review: "So so impressed with this system, lots of colours and a really good finish with practice! My most recent set lasted 2 weeks with no lifting or breakage, I only removed them as I wanted a new colour! To stop lifting the nail surface needs to be roughed up a little with a nail file. When my nails are longer I use a couple of extra layers to increase strength as if the colour is too thin it can be brittle. A nice shape is easier if you apply more layers (repeat steps 1 & 2) then buff down the surface to a nice curve, and file edges to created desired shape before going on to step 3. The top coat (step 3) took me a while to suss; once nail is shaped and washed and ready for top coat, you have to apply a layer of step 2, wait a few seconds then apply thin layer of step 3 (it will look uneven as it dries) then after around 30 seconds apply a second layer of step 3 and you get a perfect shine! Definitely recommend this system!"

SO many bright colours. This dip powder nail kit by Tomicca comes with a nail file and dust brush too, making it ideal for beginners. Ngl, we're slightly obsessedud83dude0d

Review: "Would definitely buy again. One of the best products I've bought and does nails perfectly."

If you love being extra AF and you want all of the glitz and sparkles u2728 then this nail kit is the one for you. Although we must warn you, it doesn't come with a top coat, activator or base coat, so if you're more of a beginner and need these items, this probably won't be the best kit for you.

Review: "This product was so easy to use, I love it!! After paying so much to get my nails done time after time, then coming across this! I'm so happy with my nails right now. Even if you're not confident doing nails etc, you literally cannot go wrong with this. Will definitely buy again."

If you're just starting out or you're on a bit of a budget, then this dip powder nail kit is fab! It's got all of the basics for any beginners.

1 x Clear Acrylic Dip Powder

Review: "I love this set. I wanted to do my own acrylic nails for agessss especially now we are in lockdown. I saw on Tiktok people doing dip nails and they used sooo many products and tools and it was all going to be too expensive. but I found this set and bought some nail tips that came with nail cutters and that's all I use! I also bought a cheap nail lamp but I think I'll have to get a better one. But this set is great! Just glue the nail on and file it down to blend in with your natural nails. Then put some glue on and dip into the pot, brush off excess with a sponge in the set and repeat to build it up. File down any lumps put the activator on and ur done! I paint one with normal nail polish no need for gel nail polish and let them dry! It's a lot more simple than you think."

This handy and compact dip powder starter kit has everything you could want and need. We love the cute pastel colours tooud83dude0d

Review: "This dipping powder set is amazing. I have previously ordered a set from Amazon that just did not work but this one does. The instructions are easy to follow, the colours come out just like the colour in the pot. The brush is super soft, once you put the activator on you can file it to your heart's content and the powder won’t budge! It all looks so professional, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants to do their own dipping powder nails at home. I did use a separate pot to put the powder in but that is only because the nails I used were super long and didn’t fit in the pot."

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On the whole, they're safer than gel nail kits as you don't need to use a UV lamp, and it's the UV rays that cause damage to your skin. However, you should still ensure you keep all your tools clean and sanitised as otherwise, this can lead to infections.

In general, any product that covers your nails dehydrates them and breaks the sealing layer of your nail. However, they can help grow and strengthen your nails, especially if you have weaker nails. Something you can do to avoid making them weaker is to not pick or try to remove the dip powder layer from your nails.

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