What Kind Of Lamp Is Included
If youre shopping through traditional beauty retailers, youre most likely to find a gel lamp thats preset to a specific time limit usually 30, 60, 90, or 120 seconds. You often cant adjust the setting, and this is intentional so that the light stays on for the proper amount of time to ensure that the brands gel polish cures. The only problem is, if you use gel polish from another brand, you may or may not be curing the polish long enough for it to set properly.
In contrast, other gel manicure kit brands offer LED lamps with an adjustable timer. This can come in handy if you frequently buy gel polish from multiple brands. Gel polish manufacturers will usually share the recommended curing time in the included product details so that customers know how long to cure the polish for it to set properly.
Additionally, you might want to consider UV versus LED lamps. More recently, LED lamps are often USB-powered, meaning that you can even power them with your laptop or a portable battery pack. And in some cases, these lamps come in smaller sizes, making them truly travel-friendly.
How Many Colors Are In The Kit
At a minimum, an all-in-one gel manicure kit should include at least one color polish. However, as you saw in our round-up, we prioritized picks that gave you options. While having one color is nice, this means that if you want to try other colors, youll need to buy more polish. And over time, this can get expensive.
In our guide, we gave preference to brands that offered six or more shades so that you werent limited with options. But before you opt for a larger kit with more colors, make sure that it includes shades you would want to wear.
What Should I Look For In A Manicure Kit
The most important detail to note is what the tools are made of. You’re never going to have these things sharpened and nail clippers that aren’t sharp are basically just pliers–ouch.
These are the most common metals you’ll find and their pros and cons.
Stainless SteelThis metal won’t rust on you so that’s plus. It’s the most commonly used material in quality sets, probably because it’s the most affordable. Stainless steel is better than cheaper metals, but it will still go dull after a year up to a decade depending on the manufacturer.
High Carbon Stainless SteelThe best tools are made of high carbon stainless steel which is durable, resists rust, and will stay sharp about as long as you could ask it to. High carbon steel is more expensive to produce, but if you only have to buy the one set for the next 25 plus years, it’s worth it rather than buying a $10 kit every year or two.
Carbon SteelThis is the best metal to keep an edge sharp for a very long time. However, carbon steel is prone to rust and it won’t matter how sharp your kit is if it turns a gross orange from sitting in your bathroom.
Nickel-Plated SteelOne way to ensure your steel tools stay sharp longer while keeping the cost down is by using nickel plating. This coating of nickel makes your tools harder, rust-resistant, and slows the dulling process.
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What Makes For A Good Travel Manicure Set
If you’re shopping specifically for travel, for a smaller manicure kit that was manufactured in Germany. Yes, that does sound oddly specific but sets made in Asian countries are more likely to contain acne tools as well as nail tools and those can look very dangerous and are more likely to be confiscated by TSA.
Make sure the case as plenty of secure sheathed slots to hold tools as that’s the only way TSA will allow things like small manicure scissors.
For more information see the TSA website.
Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit Is A Salon
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 you’d find at a professional nail salon. I’m 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 don’t 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. It’s a longer time commitment than other UV lamps on our list, but the end result is unparalleled, so I really appreciate Red Carpet Manicure’s attention to detail.
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How To Choose At Home Manicure Kit: The Buying Guide
How do you choose the at home manicure kit? You must consider many things, such as the brand name, price, and product quality. In addition, you should also consider whether it is suitable for your needs or not.
So how do you choose the right at home manicure kit? Here are some tips that you can use to help you find a good product:
What you Should Keep in Mind When Buying at home manicure kit
When shopping for a at home manicure kit, there are several things to consider. You need to think about the quality of the product, the price, and even how much it will benefit your life. However, you also need to keep these factors in mind:
Gel Nail Kit Benefits
A gel manicure usually takes a little more time than a traditional manicure. If youre wondering whether its worth the extra effort to do it yourself, its important to understand the benefits that a gel nail kit offers.
Long wear time: The main reason most people opt for gel nail polish is the longevity of the manicure. Unlike regular nail polish that usually lasts for about a week, a gel manicure can last up to four weeks. Its also less likely to chip.
Quick dry time: While you have to hold your fingertips under a UV or LED light for at least 30 seconds to cure each of the three layers, many people like the fact that their nails are completely dry once removed from the light. As a result, you dont have to worry about the smudges that can happen with traditional nail polish.
High-shine finish: The curing process gives a gel manicure a finish thats much shinier and glossier than a regular manicure.
Natural feel: Unlike relatively rigid acrylic nails, gel-polished nails are flexible, like natural nails. That typically makes a gel manicure feel more natural and comfortable.
Affordability: You can have a gel manicure done at a nail salon, but youll pay a good deal each time you get one. If you invest in a gel nail kit, it can pay for itself with just one or two manicures.
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Buying Guide For Best Gel Nail Kits
These days, many people prefer gel nail polish to traditional polish because it lasts so much longer on the nails. Of course, youll pay quite a bit for a gel manicure at a salon. Fortunately, a gel nail kit enables you to save some serious time and money by doing it yourself at home.
Gel nail polish contains acrylic monomers and oligomers that fuse together when cured under a special light. A gel nail kit typically includes the gel polish, base coat, and topcoat needed for a manicure, as well as the light to dry the polish. When fully cured, the polish develops a hard, shiny layer that helps the manicure last two to three times longer than one done with regular polish.
However, not all gel nail kits are created equal. To find the best one for your next manicure, you have to understand what gel nail polish is and its benefits compared to traditional polish, decide whether you prefer LED or UV gel polish, and determine what components to look for to ensure you wind up with a gel nail kit that fits your needs.
Olive & June The Everything Box
This Los Angelesbased clean brand has packed up everything that makes their in-salon service so specialand then some. The brand offers three different sizes, ranging from a 9-piece set to a 14-piece set. The Everything Boxor the most luxe and all-inclusive optioncomes with a nail polish remover pot to erase old polish and prep nails, a thinner brush for easy touchups, a flat-edge nail clipper, dual-sided nail file, and buffer cube for shaping and smoothing, The Poppy universal polish bottle handle , six of their 7-free polishes of your choice, their custom formulated Top Coat, and nourishing Cuticle Serum. What else could you ask for?
The Everything Box, Olive& June
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How Easy Is The Application Process
Most at-home gel manicure kits are designed to be fairly goof-proof, although they do require more steps than a regular polish manicure. While you might have some issues with thick polish, the majority are designed to be applied similarly to if you were giving yourself a manicure with regular polish.
But some options are more advanced. For example, our Best Natural pick has gel polish in squeeze tubes instead of bottles and requires a more complex process to create gel nails especially on yourself. If youre not the best at more advanced tricks, stick to whats familiar and opt for traditional bottle applications.
Makartt Press On Coffin Nail Set
If youre a fan of long acrylic tips, this simple DIY set is your best bet. Press on the clear tips with the enclosed glue and file them to your desired shape and length. You can choose whatever color polish you like and simply throw on a top coat to lock in the color for weeks. The kit comes with 500 nail tips for many applications.
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Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit
This is a premium kit that comes with everything you need to get started. Its perfect for experienced users and it includes a wide variety of colors.
The gel nail polish kit is perfect for beginners as well as experienced users. It contains all of the tools that you will need plus instructions to help you with your first application.
The kit comes with 72 different colors of gel polish and a UV light to cure the polish. It also includes a base coat and top coat to protect your nails.
This kit is perfect for those who want to try out shellac nails for the first time. It includes everything you need to get started and its very affordable.
Do You Need To Wipe The Nails
As you shop for gel polish, youll see many brands market their products as no-wipe. This means that the gel polish doesnt need to be wiped down after curing to remove any tacky or sticky residue. While not the end of the world, some people find this step annoying especially if you dont have the proper tools for it.
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Figure Out What You Want From Your Kit
Whether you love a sheer, neutral mani or a vibrant neon-colored one, there’s a nail dip powder kit for you. Be sure to choose a kit that has colors that fit your vibe and aesthetic, and then scan the customer reviews for real-life pics! Do the colors in the pots look like the color on testers’ nails? If so, you can expect true color payoff from your kit.
Is Dip Powder Damaging To Nails
As long as you’re following your nail dip powder kit’s directions and practicing good nail health habits, you shouldn’t experience any damage. A few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure the brand and formula you’re using are tested for safetyotherwise, there might be nasty chemicals in there that can cause irritation.
- If you’re getting a nail dip powder mani in the salon, NEVER dip your whole finger into the powderdoing so can expose you to bacteria and germs from other clients.
- When it comes time to remove your mani, don’t rush it. The key to not damaging your nails while removing your powder mani is being super gentle.
- As with any nail treatment, make sure to give your nails a breather in between manicures.
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What Is Gel Nail Polish
Gel nail polish includes a combination of monomers and oligomers in a brush-on formula. A gel manicure requires a base coat, a colored polish, and a topcoat, and each layer must be cured for 30 to 90 seconds under a UV or LED light. Once the gel polish cures, it transforms from a liquid to a hard, shiny finish thats highly durable and chip resistant.
Best Gel Nail Polish Kits For A Professional Manicure At Home
It’s easier than you think.
A gel manicure can afford you up to three weeks of chip-free nails. The first step to perfecting the gel mani process at home is taking off any remnants of your last color with a strong nail polish remover . Next, you’re going to want to reach for one of these gel manicure kits. And if you’re thinking “whoa, this looks intimidating”, fear not, as most of these can be easily operated by beginners. In addition to the base coat, gel polish , top coat, and UV or LED light, many also come with basic grooming essentials like clippers and embellishments for nail art. Depending on your nail needs, we’ve rounded up a couple of gel nail polish kits to cover all bases – from the simple to the extras. No matter which one you choosethe Essie shade that doesn’t require a lamp, or the comprehensive package that comes with seven summer-ready shades and nearly a dozen extrasone thing’s for sure: You’ll be a professional in no time.
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The Bernadette Thompson Hand And Nail Treatment Kit $110
Beyond sleek and chic, this Bernadette Thompson set is for those who truly demand the best for their digits. Flanked by two eccentric shades and the usual top-base set of polishes, it includes a cuticle cream and a strong and moisturizing nail polish remover. To top it all off? A lux cuticle oil containing argan oil, cottonseed oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and vitamins A, D, and E.
Whats The Hype Around Hailey Biebers Nails
Recently, Bieber has been spotted sporting nails in a nude hue with a gorgeous pearlescent shimmer. Fans across the globe have been desperate to know what products she uses to get this look. And lucky for us, Bieber has posted a TikTok listing the exact products required.
Unfortunately, the OPI items she uses are unavailable for us to shop in the UK unless youre a nail professional. But dont sweat it, weve found these affordable gel nail polish kits that will get the job done from the comfort of your own home. And without a hefty price tag.
Mylee Complete Professional Gel Nail Polish Kit
Mylee Complete Professional Gel Nail Polish Kit
£ 89.99
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Olive And June The Everything Box $80
Oh, and when we say everything, we mean everything. Well, okay, nearly. The Everything Box allows you to draw six shades from Olive and June’s vast collection of 7-free polishes alongside a topcoat, a cuticle oil, and more. If your nail polish collection is currently dried up half-bottles of Wet n’ Wild from the Dark Ages, look no further. Olive & June even helpfully grouped polishes by difficulty level, so the most unsteady fingers can nail it.
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Ella+mila Nail Care Collection $39
Super cute, 7-free, and vegan, Ella + Mila’s Nail Care Collection is here to give your cuticles some serious TLC. Among your classic matte top, base, and top cop coat, it features cuticle oil and cleansing nail prep solution. Oh, and if you’re can’t bear to smear your polish while running out the door, their quick-dry drops should take care of that.
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Why Shellac Nail Kit
If you are looking for long-lasting, durable nail polish, then shellac is the best option available. It is perfect for people who lead active lifestyles or who have trouble keeping their nails in good condition. Shellac nails will not chip or crack even after weeks of use. They are also resistant to chipping, scratching, and peeling.
When applying shellac nails, you will first need to apply a base coat. Next, the colored gel is applied on top of the nail. The final step is to seal the design with a topcoat that will ensure your nails are protected for up to 14 days.
