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Skip the salon and give yourself a professional-quality manicure

Getting your nails done may be an instant mood-lifter, but regular salon trips can quickly dent your bank balance.

Coronavirus lockdowns have tempted many of us to give DIY manicures a go this year, only to end up desperately missing our beauticians!

It might be true that a bad work-woman always blames her tools, but trusty tools certainly help. That’s where a good gel nail kit comes in.

Our pick of the best gel nail kits will help give your at-home manicure a shiny, salon-worthy finish, so you can enjoy experimenting with new colours and fixing those pesky chips yourself.

Gel nail kits come with either a UV, LED or UV/LED lamp. The difference is in the type of radiation that each bulb emits - it’s a bit science-y, but basically, UV lamps emit a broader spectrum of UV wavelengths than LED lamps.

LED lamps are pricier than UV lamps, but they're much faster at curing polish, making them safer for your skin. However, some gels can only be cured under a UV lamp, so look for a UV/LED blend if you want the best of both worlds.

Once you’ve found the gel nail kit for you, it’s time to perfect your technique. Like most things in life, the best results take practice.

For the glammest, glossiest gels, follow the instructions and timings included with your chosen kit. They’ll probably go something like this:

Picking off gels does a lot more damage to your nails than the polish and application process! To remove your manicure, buff off the top layer before soaking your nails in nail polish remover-drenched cotton pads wrapped in foil for 30 minutes. Use a wooden cuticle stick to gently push the gooey gel off. If in doubt, get them removed by a professional.

Wearing back-to-back gels can be fine, so long as you’re applying and removing them properly, as above. If your nails are feeling weak and brittle, leave them bare for a week or so, once every couple of months. This will give your nails time to rehydrate and repair. Can't stand the thought? Try swapping gel polish for lighter regular polish every now and then.

Our 49 beauty testers trialled six gel nail kits over a two-week period. They judged each set on ease of use, application time, curing time and the overall finish of their nails, while noting how long they lasted before chipping, peeling or dulling.

Beginners will find this starter gel nail kit a doddle to use. You’ll find all the necessary bits and bobs inside, including a big LED/UV lamp that easily fits a whole hand (some don’t!). Our testers loved the choice of colours and most found the application straightforward, fast and streak-free. They unanimously agreed that their nails stayed shiny throughout the trial period, with no peeling or chipping for eight days despite the gel’s thick texture. The downside is that no remover or foils are included and the removal process proved time-consuming and drying for some.

Kit includes: LED/UV lamp, nail file, nail buffer, pre-application cleanser, base coat, three colours, top coat Colours: Musk Pink, Pillar Box Red, Blackpool Chip-free claim: None

This starter gel nail kit scored highly for durability, with our panel reporting shiny, pristine nails for six days after a single coat of colour. Everybody plans to keep using the LED lamp, despite it being too small to cure a whole hand at once. The polish proved a little thick to apply, but gave good coverage and left a smooth finish. The removal process earned mixed reviews, with half our testers finding it time-consuming and damaging to their nails.

Kit includes: LED lamp, cuticle stick, lint-free wipes, cuticle oil, nail file, nail buffer, pre-application cleanser, base coat, one colour, top coat, removal cleanser

Colours: Creme de la Creme

Eco-conscious beauty lovers will appreciate the green credentials of this "clean" gel nail kit. The compatible gel polishes are 84% natural and can be removed in the same way as traditional nail polish. The LED lamp is simple and effective, if a tad on the small side, and most of our testers found applying the polish effortless. Two coats left them with streak-free, salon-standard nails, but they began peeling, chipping and losing their shine after five days. Removal took longer than hoped, but nearly all testers thought their nails looked healthy afterwards.

Key specifications Kit includes: LED lamp, base coat, top coat, removal cleanser Colours: One colour of your choice Chip-free claim: 10 days

Suitable for hands and feet, this SensatioNail gel nail kit promises vibrant, chip-resistant and long-lasting gel nails. It largely lives up to these claims, but one tester found the finish streaky and others found the instructions confusing. That said, the entire panel liked the size of the LED lamp, the consistency of the polish and the built-in timer. It only took 10 minutes to manicure both hands, with most testers reporting no cracks for eight days.

Key specifications Kit includes: LED lamp, cuticle stick, nail buffer, pre-application cleanser, base coat, one colour, top coat, removal cleanser Colours: Made Him Blush (or choose a different set: Red Your Profile) Chip-free claim: 10 days

Gel nails love to chip the moment you leave for a weekend away. Handily, this mini manicure kit is small enough to take on the go, with a USB cord that plugs into your laptop. Its size belies its power - our panel was impressed by its 30-second curing time - but the LED lamp can only fit one finger at a time. Still, our testers were left with smooth and shiny nails that stayed looking tip-top for five days, and those who tried removing the polish found it easy enough. Its compatible 3-in-1 gel polishes combine base, colour and top coat to save on time and space - the box includes one in a shade that matches the lamp.

Key specifications Kit includes: LED lamp, cuticle stick, nail file, removal cleanser Colours: Cassis (or choose a different set in Rum Raisin, Cherry Red, Rose Creme or Milkshake) Chip-free claim: 7-10 days

This faff-free kit was a breeze to set up and use, with all testers giving the LED lamp an all-round thumbs up. The application process was quick, but most of the panel felt they needed longer than the claimed 15-second cure, taking 10-20 minutes to finish both hands. Despite a lack of contents in the kit (no colour, lint wipes or foil), their nails stayed shiny and chip-free for five days. 

Key specifications Kit includes: LED lamp, pre-application cleanser, base coat, top coat, removal cleanser Colours: None included Chip-free claim: 14 days