Are Home Gel Nail Kits Worth It

How To Remove Nail Glue

As for the removal process, youll want to use acetone. It will penetrate through the glue for easy removal, says Boyce. The technique is similar to removing a gel mani. Simply soak a cotton ball or cotton pad with acetone, place it on your nail, and wrap it with foil, says Boyce. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and the nail glue should come off easily.

Are Gel Manicures Safe

With sales of nail polish nearing $800 million a year in the United States, theres a sea of decorated digits out there. But spending your cash on polish that chips or flakes in a couple of days can be a waste of time and money. Now, women have the option of gel polishes that offer 2 to 4 weeks of staying power.

Gel polishes last longer and resist chipping, says cosmetic chemist Nikita Wilson, CEO and co-owner of Catalyst Cosmetic Development in Union, N.J. A long chain of molecules in the gel polishes gives them strength by forming a durable yet flexible coat upon hardening. The polish sets with exposure to ultraviolet light.

The downside with gel manicures stems from the crucial UV-curing step. A recent study found that the cumulative damage from the light frequencies the nail lamps emit can cause DNA damage to the skin that can result in premature aging and possibly cancer.

To be honest, theres not a simple answer about the danger of the UV rays in gel nail lamps, says Chris Adigun, MD. Shes a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

But I wouldnt spend time worrying about the UV exposure from these lamps, she says. The risk of malignant cancer due to nail lamp exposure is extremely low.

Even so, Adigun suggests you apply sunscreen to the tops of your hands, or buy sun-protective gloves with the fingers cut off.

Continued

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Lagunamoon Gel Nail Polishes Set With 36w Uv Led Nail Lamp

• Lagunamoon Gel Nail Polishes Set with 36W UV LED Nail Lamp, £26.99 from Amazon – buy here

Amazon’s Lagunamoon Gel Nail Polishes Set has everything you need to create an at-home gel manicure.

Complete with six high-quality polishes that are vegan and cruelty-free, this set comes with an LED nail lamp with a timer of 30secs, 60secs and 90secs.

For less than £33, you can’t go wrong with this as a quick-fix, especially if the reviews are anything to go by.

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Top 10 Ranking For The Best At

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Best Gel Nail Starter Kit

• Vibrant color
• Polish works with LED or UV lamps

Best DIY Gel Nail Kit With LED Lamp

• Great LED Lamp

Best Nail Gel Kit for Basic Manicures

• Great colors
• Lasts up to three weeks

Best Gel Nail Kit With UV Light

• Great tool variety

Best Gel Nail Kit for Traveling

• Generous tool assortment

Best At-Home Gel Nail Extension Kit

• Excellent value

Best At-Home Gel Kit on Amazon

• Excellent value-to-price ratio
• Nail art stickers and glitter included
• Different color series available

Best at-Home Gel Kit to Practice With

• Variety of colors and themes
• Dip-powder based
• Doesnt need a lamp to work

Best DIY Gel Nail Kit on a Budget

• Impressive color variety

Best Gel Nail Polish Kit to Gift

• Great value

Best Gel Nail Starter Kit

• Includes: Top coat, base coat, pink gel polish, dehydrator and cleansing wipe, soak-off solution, mini LED curing lamp, bonder
• Shipping: Free over $35.00

If youve only just embarked on your DIY nail journey, this starter kit is definitely worth looking into. It might be expensive in some peoples eyes, but the value for money is unbeatable. Since the kit includes all the tools you need, the only thing youll have to buy are additional gel shades. Still, this is probably the best athome gel nail kit for beginners.

Pros

Cons

Pros

At Home Gel Nail Kit Is It Worth The Investment

Gel nails are all the rage but heading for your regular salon appointments does not always fit into a busy schedule – and can be a hefty burden on your wallet. There’s currently a raft of at home gel nail devices, promising a salon look all from the comfort of your own home – they’re particularly popular overseas and are just starting to hit Australian shores. But should you buy one? Read on for our hacks to perfecting at home gel nails all by yourself and the top kits you might want to add to cart ASAP…

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Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit

• Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, Gel Nail Kit, £59.99 from Amazon – buy here

This Amazon exclusive kit has 80% five-star reviews on the site, with reviewers saying it ‘did not disappoint’ and raving about the ‘salon quality.’

The kit contains a LED and UV Nail Lamp that cures nails in 60 seconds and includes two timer settings.

You’ll also receive a top Coat, Base Coat, Cleanser Wipes, Nail File, Nail Buffer and three 10ml Gel Polish Colours – Pillar Box Red, Musk Pink and Blackpool.

What You Need For Gel Nails At Home

Getting gel nails done is unlike a traditional nail polish procedure where equipment is not needed. With gel nails, you will need a kit of tools in order to properly apply gel polish.

What you need for a seamless at-home gel mani is:

• LED lamp or UV Lamp
• Glass or crystal files

Without a curing lamp that emits UV light, you wont be able to cure your gel nails.

Its possible to go au naturel by sunbathing your nails and taking advantage of the suns UV rays, but its not the most effective method for curing your DIY gel polish manicure because youd have to wait for the weather to be right.

A UV lamp or LED curing lamp is the right choice here. However, our recommendation is to stick with a LED curing lamp as it omits less UV light and dries the gel polish the quickest.

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And Is The Ring Selfie Worth It

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Its hard to imagine life before gel manicures, isnt it? No drying time, a glossy finish, and two-week staying power is the stuff nail dreams are made ofespecially for those about to say I Do who want chip-free nails from the rehearsal dinner through their honeymoon. But are they all that safe?

Its a question thats been contested and debated almost since the gel manicure has been invented: Should you really be placing your hands under UV lamps in the name of ring selfies? Since there have been hot takes all around, we decided to ask NYC-based dermatologists Dr. Joshua Zeichner and Dr. Shari Marchbein for their expert opinions.

Meet the Expert

• Dr. Joshua Zeichner is the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
• Dr. Shari Marchbein is the Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

Read on for expert intel on the long-term effects of UV lamps, protective measures to consider, and manicure alternatives that deliver similar results without the worry.

Is It Worth Getting My Own Nail Lamp And Gel Varnishes

I get my nails done every 3-4 weeks. Ive been going there 3 years and pay £17 a time. However, there is not a lot of choice plus there has been a couple of times when its not been put on that well.Anyway looking into Ebay I can pick up a lamp, some colours, acetone and supplies for a little under £60.Im considering just doing it myself every week or two at home. The thing is how much money would I spend on replenishing stock? Would it work out more expensive? Plus where I go puts on gel before the colour. I would just put on the colour Im asking because once I decide not to go to my regular place Id feel uncomfortable going back if I decided it is better going to a proper place.Does anyone else do it themselves? How does it compare with going to a nail place?

Don’t know from personal experience but a friend has just bought her own kit and is delighted

I use Sensationail and love it. Do mine once a fortnight and have a good collection now of polishes.It definitely won’t work

DO it . It’s the best purchase I’ve made lately . I bought the mylee kit off amazon . I buy polishes from eBay for £5 each so not too bad . So much cheaper than salon .

I think I might do. Had them done on Saturday and have had to sort one this morning. I’ve not even knocked it either.

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The Gel Manicure Do’s And Don’ts:

DO: Give yourself enough time to neatly paint your nails before applying a gel top coat. There’s nothing worse than having messily painted nails for 2 weeks. Also, make sure you give enough drying time before applying the gel topcoat, otherwise it will go bubbly.

DON’T: Paint the polish on too thick – it will just make it easier for the nail varnish to peel. It’s better to do three really thin coats than one thick one.

DO: Pay attention to the tips of your nails, run the polish wand horizontally across the top edge of the nail to seal in the ends. This should prevent chips.

DON’T: Throw away all your non-gel nail varnishes. There are so many great kits out there that turn ANY nail polish into a gel, so invest in one of these and all of your favourites can be used in your gel manicure.

Manucurist Green Flash Gel At Home

• Manucurist Green FLASH GEL at home Full KIT with Lamp 18W – Dark Pansy, £69.00 from The Elementary Beauty Company – buy here

Looking for a vegan and cruelty-free gel nail polish? Green Flash is a totally green, 12-free, vegan and cruelty-free polish with no nasty ingredients.

Thanks to this, it’s also gentle on your nails and can be removed easily with an acetone-free nail polish remover.

Kind to the planet and to your nails but still giving you up to ten day’s wear? Sounds like a no brainer.

This kit includes base coat, top coat, nail polish remover and a Nomad lamp – plus the Pansy Green Flash gel polish thrown in for free.

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Looking To Save Money Or Hone Your Manicure Skill These Are The Best At

Taking a trip to the nail salon is an affordable luxury, but if youre 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.

Glass Or Crystal Files

There are numerous types of nail files like emery board, glass, or crystal files. We recommend glass or crystal as they last longer. They have the file pattern etched into the glass or crystal, hence the longevity.

Good to note cheap glass files have patterns that are glued to the surface rather than etched, which can wear off quickly. Glass or crystal are also best for your natural nails, as they smooth the nail tip to seal it rather than shredding the nail tip.

If you have a durable glass or crystal file, it can serve you many years since the pattern is etched on the glass and will not wear. They’re perfect for personal use so minimize sharing. Also, make sure to clean them after a while to keep them safe for use. It’s a tool you can’t miss if you want to start your journey to do home gel nails.

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Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit

This kit looks good enough to eat! But its cutesy packaging is not all thats special about the Le Mini Macaron Gel Kit. Its just the thing you need if youre travelling out of the city for the weekend and need to keep your nails in tip top shape.

Dont let looks deceive you. The pint-sized LED lamp is super powerful. It can cure your nail polish in 30 seconds. But the only drawback is that you need to put in one finger at a time. But hey, thats still 10 minutes flat.

The USB charger of the LED lamp can fit into your laptop too. So you dont have to worry about finding the right plug point.

Whats more, the nail polish isnt just that. It functions as a top coat and base coat as well. This saves you more time and space in your travelling kit.

Whats Inside:

Best Diy Gel Manicure Kit Overall

Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit is a salon-quality system with salon-quality results.

Pros: Last up to 21 days, comes with all the tools you need for a salon-quality manicure

Cons: Longer time commitment, removal process is very messy

Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit not only has rave reviews from customers, but their queue of UV lamps look like something youd find at a professional nail salon. Im pleased to report it performs like salon equipment, too.

The Pro Kit includes a pre- and post-application cleanser, remover, base coat, top coat, one gel nail polish, cuticle oil, adhesion sanitizer , a UV lamp, and prepping utensils. While the multi-step manicure can feel overwhelming, each serves a purpose and adds to gorgeous nails, so I dont recommend skipping them.

This UV lamp also works on a timer, and cures nails in about 45 seconds. The entire process takes about 20 minutes. Its a longer time commitment than other UV lamps on our list, but the end result is unparalleled, so I really appreciate Red Carpet Manicures attention to detail.

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More From Sun Selects Beauty

Enjoyed our roundup of the best gel nail kits? Weve got a whole beauty section for you to explore.

Just fancy the lamp and not the full kit? Then take a look at our selection of the best nail lamps , here.

For more amazing product recommendations across fashion, parenting and more, check out the Sun Selects main page.

This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.

Gel Nails At Home: A Simple Diy Guide For Beginners

Looking to do gel nails at home to avoid a trip to the nail salon?

Doing gel nails at home isnt so different from the nail salons. So long as you have the right equipment and have the patience to learn, youre going to find this to be rather enjoyable to do.

Will it work? Yes, perfectly but only if you know how to do it right!

In this guide, youll learn:

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How Do I Get Gel Nails At Home Without Uv Light

While UV light lamps are the best way to quickly and effectively cure your nails at home, theyre not fit for everyone. Thankfully, there are some alternative ways to cure your nails. You could use a LED light, look exclusively for non-UV gel polish, soak your nails in ice water, or even purchase a drying agent.

Get Alluring Nails With Salon Worthy At Home Gel Nail Kits

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The happiness ones get after having a fresh set of matter nails is to another level.

But getting the same nails done every week is not everyones cup of tea which is why purchasing at home gel nail kits is your safest bet. Want to know something better?

These kits are absolutely easy and quick to use.

The only factor you need to take care of is purchasing the right kit for the procedure. Along with it, you also need to make sure that every single step is followed.

Only then you will be able to acquire the desired nails.

Continue reading ahead to know more about using a gel nail kit and everything else that comes along with it.

This article will be very useful and by the end, you will be able to learn how to get the best nails just in the comfort of your home.

So let us get started without any more delay.

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