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A quick and chip-free manicure has never been this easy.
It’s no secret that gel nails are the key to a long-lasting manicure. With gel manicures, the polish is cured with a UV or LED light to leave a shiny and hard finish that’s dry instantly. There are few things better than getting a completely smudge-free manicure in minutes. However, depending on the intricacy of your design choice, gel manicures can get really expensive. Plus, compared to painting on a traditional polish, gel manicures have generally been left to the pros. This means, nailing an appointment, trekking back and forth to the nail salon, and actually sitting there for your service. An all-around time-consuming process.
One upside to spending so much time at home over the past two years is that it's given many of us an opportunity to become an expert on many of the beauty services we previously ventured outdoors for—nails included. Of course, we'll always need nails techs to bring us the latest and greatest looks, but there's also value in becoming your own nail artist for those times when getting to the salon just isn't an option.
At-home gel manicure kits may seem scary and intimidating, but I promise they are not. Most at-home kits use the exact same tools and process as the salon. They include a base and top coat, some color polishes, and of course the lamp to cure your masterpiece. Below we’ve rounded up nine at-home options to achieve the perfect mani from the comfort of your own couch, bed, or car if you're really on the go (although we don't suggest the latter option). That’s the beauty of it. If you’re still feeling a bit hesitant about doing it all on your own, we’ve included a few novice-friendly options, as well. Fresh nails are on the way!
The Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit is ideal for any beginner. It comes with a small UV light, base and top coats, and a shade of your choosing. Sally Hansen also sells a range of gel polishes separately so you can test them all out.
If you don’t have any nail tools or are looking to start fresh, this is an ideal beginner's kit. Not only does the set include the base and top coat, six neutral shades, and a UV light, it also comes with cuticle oil, a nail file, clippers, and a cuticle pusher. Basically, everything you need for a precise at-home mani from start to finish. And if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, there's also a mattifying top coat for a funkier finish.
This 19-piece kit brings the salon to you. The kit even comes with a gel cleanser and lint-free wipes to make sure your nails are properly prepped and finished. The uber-fast LED light will cure your polish in a flash.
It doesn’t get more compact and convenient than this tiny on-the-go gel manicure kit. You can skip the base coat and top coat on this one because the colored polish does it all on its own. All you have to do is plug in the USB UV light, paint one nail, cure, and repeat. You can easily use this on your toes, too for a quick pedicure.
Nail stickers can really simplify the whole manicure process. With these babies, all you have to do is stick onto your nail, and then cut and file so they fit properly. Finish by curing the nails under a lamp. Promising reviews say it’s a great time-saving product, and some say it lasts up to three weeks. P.S. This one does require a separate UV lamp.
Periwinkle, teal, and lime green…oh my! This kit has all of the vibrant colors to prepare you for spring. The formulas boast a wear time of 21 days or more, and the 180-degree angled LED light makes sure each nail is evenly cured.
Gelish is one of those brands that really gets it when it comes to gel polish. It says it all right there in the name. The at-home versions of their kits match the pro-grade options. You can’t go wrong with this regimen that comes with several mini polishes to find your favorite shade.
A nail connoisseur needs more than just a few polishes and a UV lamp. Enter this Modelones starter set that comes complete with gems, holographic glitters, butterfly nail stickers, and 12 polish shades so that you can really bring out your artistry with your claws.
Finally, if you’re looking for a simple fix, try Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat. This polish doesn’t require any sort of LED light and gives you a gel-like result with just a few swipes. Apply over your regular polish, allow it to fully dry, and your mani will last up to eight days. For best results, try it with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish.