11 best gel nail kits for a salon-worthy manicure at home
Gel nail kits have gotten a lot better over the years, making it actually possible (and convenient) to recreate a salon-worthy mani from the comfort of your own bedroom. Which is great for us, since there aren't many beauty treatments that can make us feel as put-together as a good-quality gel manicure can. Sure, we all deserve a pampering sesh at a salon, but wouldn't it be great to have the option to refresh your nails without having to spend any more £? DIY home gel manicure kits are a smart choice, especially considering the hefty cost of visiting your nail technician on a regular basis amidst a cost-of-living crisis.
Not only do gel nail polish starter kits generally ensure a long-lasting result, but they also include a wide range of colour choices. Plus, with the holiday season fast-approaching, they can make a great Christmas gift too. The good news is that Amazon offers an entire range of professional nail kits, as do top online beauty retailers such as Sephora and LookFantastic. And they're genuinely easy to use to help you become a nail care pro in no time at all – so much so that you won't have a cuticle out of place or a chip in sight once you're done.
Still, doing your own nails isn't the most straightforward ordeal, especially if you don't know where to start. Like, are at-home gel nail kits safe to use? What’s the difference between gel and shellac? How can I improve so that my nails look salon-quality? Can I use gel on press-on nails? We’ve got all the FAQs, as well as a full edit of all the best at-home gel nail kits out there, from the more affordable options to top-rated starter gel nail sets.
What is the best at-home gel nail kit at a glance?
- Best home gel nail kit overall: Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, £59.99, Amazon
- Best home gel nail kit for ease of use: Mylee & Bluesky Black Convex Curing Lamp Kit w/ Gel Nail Polish Essentials, £89.99, Amazon
- Best on-the-go mini lamp: ORLY Gel FX Mini Lamp, £29.95, LookFantastic
- Best home gel nail kit for beginners: Modelones Gel Nail Starter Kit, £26.99, Amazon
Is it cheaper to do gel nails at home?
Long story short: yes, definitely. However, bear in mind that some of the best at-home gel nail kits can seem pricey considering you'll need to invest in essential nail tools like nail files, cuticle oils, cut nail buffers, cuticle removers and a decent UV lamp. But these are all one-time costs, and the equipment should pay for itself after two or three uses, saving you money in the long run. Plus, you can use them for both manicures and pedicures too.
What do I need to do gel nails at home?
- Gel remover/acetone – go for an alcohol-free version so you don't dry out your hands
- An LED lamp or UV light
- Nail file
- Wooden cuticle pushers
- Nail buffer
- Rubbing alcohol
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Gel polish colours of your choice
- Cuticle oil
- Hand cream
What lamp is best for gel nails?
Most at-home gel nail kits tend to include either a UV, LED or UV/LED lamp. What's the difference, you ask? Well, UV nail lamps use a broader spectrum of UV wavelengths than LED lamps do. LED lamps tend to me more expensive too, though they offer a much faster curing time and are generally safer for your skin. That said, bear in mind that there are some UV gel polishes that can only be cured under a UV lamp. In this case, your best bet would be to go for a UV/LED lamp to save yourself the trouble.
How to do gel nails at home for beginners:
Figuring out which at-home gel nail kit is only half the job. Next, you'll want to make sure your technique is on point. Of course, it'll take more than a few tries to really nail it (sorry). But generally, you'll want to follow the steps below. Made a slight mistake? Not to worry. Luckily, gel nails are much easier to remove than acrylic nails. Check out our removal process guide on how to remove gel polish at home.
- Prep your nails. You’ll want to apply nail polish remover for banishing your existing polish, before filing, pushing back your cuticles with a cuticle stick and buffing. For best results, cleanse your nails with a nail cleanser or alcohol wipe.
- Apply polish, starting with a thin layer of base coat, followed by a two layers of colour and a thin layer of top coat. Generally speaking, each layer should be cured under the lamp for one minute – but follow guidance from the retailer behind your home gel nail kit of choice. If you’ve never done your own gel manicure at home before, we have a top tip: apply the gel in thin layers, because if you apply too much it’ll bubble under the lamp and look far from what you’re used to. You should also seal the tip of each nail with a light layer of polish to help it last longer.
- Cleanse your nails once more with an alcohol wipe for optimum shine.
Are gel nails at home safe?
Generally, at-home gel nail kits are safe to use. However, you'll want to make sure you don't pick off your nails to avoid peeling and cracking as much as possible. Plus, repeated use of UV and LED lamps can slightly increase the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin on your hands, so make sure to apply a generous layer of your favourite sun cream before curing your nails.
After more nail content? Shop the best press-on nails, top coats for nails, base coats for nails, cuticle removers and cute nail stickers to elevate your nail art game.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll down for our full edit of the best at-home gel nail kits to shop now…
Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, £59.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Great for beginners and more experienced gel nail manicurists alike, Bluesky's Gel Nail polish starter kit is super easy to use – and comes with everything you need for a chip-free manicure.
Pros: There's a big LED/UV lamp which easily fits your entire hand (this isn't always the case), and reviewers reported a chip-free finished for well over a week. The kit comes with a nail file, buffer, pre-application cleanser, base coat, a top coat and three colours (in Pillar Box Red, Blackpool and Musk Pink).
Cons: No gel nail remover or foils are included with this home gel nail kit, so you'll have to pick those up yourself.
Save when you shop for the best gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
ORLY Gel FX Mini Lamp, £29.95, LookFantastic
Why we love it: This is perfect for the girlies that want the kit somewhere accessible for fast and last-minute setup and use.
Pros: It’s portable size with foldable legs, which means it’s fuss-free and perfect for easy storage as well as travel and arrives equipped with a USB cable, which is compatible with any micro USBs.
Cons: It only comes with the lamp, so no nail polish, nail buffers, or other nail accessories. You will have to purchase those separately.
Enjoy savings when shopping for gel nail kits using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Vishine Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, £34.99, Amazon
Why we love it: The Vishine Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit comes with a speed-drying nail lamp which offers a drying speed equal to twice the speed of the normal UV LED lamp, making it one of the most fast-working home gel nail kits in this edit.
Pros: You get a top coat, base coat, tools for shaping your nails and six different shades of nail polish that are flattering for all skin tones.
Cons: Some reviewers reported that the polish peeled off more quickly in comparison to Mylee and Bluesky models.
Save when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit, WAS £34.99 NOW £27.95, Sephora
Why we love it: With a chip-free claim of 7-10 days, this handy little home gel manicure kit is small enough to pack away in your luggage. It comes with a USB plug that slots into your laptop, and is surprisingly powerful for its size.
Pros: Polish remains chip-free for five-seven days, and it's easy to use. Removal is easy, too, and the compatible gel polishes combine base, colour and top coats into one to save you time and space.
Cons: The curing lamp only fits one finger at a time, so a full manicure might take you a little longer.
Save when you shop for the best home gel nail kits with these Sephora discount codes.
Modelones Gel Nail Starter Kit, £26.99, Amazon
Why we love it: This starter kit is one of the most complex on the market, with an array of tools included – from cuticle pushers to nail clippers, files and nail separators.
Pros: The gel polish is eco-friendly, and comes in six gorgeous colours. This is a much wider choice than most other home gel nail kits on the market.
Cons: Some reviewers reported that the nail polishes are too thick to achieve thin, even layers.
Save when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
Nail Gel Polish Kit, £59.99, Amazon
Why we love it: If you're not too fussed about selection of colours and like to stick to your classic pinks and nudes, this four-shade gel nail kit gives you everything you need to achieve a holiday-ready gel manicure.
Pros: It comes with prep wipes, a lamp, a top and base coat and gel polish remover for easy removal.
Cons: You need to buy extra tools like a cuticle pusher and nail buffer yourself.
Enjoy savings when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
Mylee & Bluesky Black Convex Curing Lamp Kit w/ Gel Nail Polish Essentials, £89.99, Amazon
Why we love it: It's easy to set-up, very easy to use and the LED lamp cures in just 15 seconds. The Bluesky polishes included apply like an absolute dream, with reviewers agreeing they were streak-free, and they stay chip-free for a solid week.
Pros: You can carry out an entire manicure in around 20 minutes with this gel nail kit.
Cons: This home gel nail kit is a little pricier than some of the others in this edit, and it doesn't come with a file, buffer or foils.
Save when you shop for gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
Green Flash Pro Kit, WAS £126 NOW £85, Manicurist UK
Why we love it: Coming with one colour of your choice, this “clean” gel nail kit is one for eco-conscious beauty shoppers. The gel polishes are 84% natural, and can be removed in the same way your bog-standard nail polish is. That said, they're still very durable.
Pros: You get an LED lamp, base coat, top coat and removal cleanser with this kit, and two coats of the polish leaves you with an even, streak-free finish. Plus, since you can remove the gel in the same way you would normal polish, nails feel healthier afterwards.
Cons: Reviewers reported the polish started chipping after five days, and you don't get any added accessories like a nail file or cuticle pusher.
Elite99 Nail Lamp Starter Kit, £26.99, Amazon
Why we love it: This is a great at-home gel nail kit for long-lasting colours that are genuinely easy to soak off. And if you're into nail extensions or clip-on nails, you're also going to find plenty of helpful tools too.
Pros: You get six different shades in the kit, plus the LED lamp and all the tools you need to make your job easy. The lamp is big enough to put your foot in, if you want to try your hand at a pedicure.
Cons: Some reviewers reported the polish as being too thick to achieve thin layers.
Save when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
Beetles 20 Pcs Gel Nail Polish Kit, £26.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Offering one of the longest-lasting gel manicures from all the kits in this edit, the Beetles Gel Nail Polish Kit leaves you with a gel mani that'll last up to two weeks.
Pros: You get 20 different colours with every order, leaving plenty of room to experiment with all the autumn/winter-y hues.
Cons: Though you get a “No Wipe” prep base coat and glossy and matte top coats, you don't get an extra accessories like a nail file or buffer.
Enjoy savings when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
SensatioNail Polish to Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, £35.65, Amazon
Why we love it: SensatioNAIL is an American company with a whole range of kits on offer, but this one is the most impressive. This nifty little kit contains everything you need to turn any normal nail polish into a gel manicure. How cool is that?!
Pros: If your ordinary polish lacks shine and longevity, you can either mix the polish and the transformer liquid together or simply use the transformer as a top coat. And there you have it. A super quick at-home gel manicure.
Cons: Results aren't as long-lasting as using actual gel, but if you're in a bit of a rush, it's a great alternative.
Save when you shop for home gel nail kits with these Amazon discount codes.
