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The best at-home gel nail kits for a salon-worthy and long-lasting mani
Cheap, cheerful and chip-free
If traditional nail polishes aren’t cutting it anymore, it may be time to invest in an at-home gel nail kit. A.k.a, the next best thing to an in-salon treatment at much less cost.
These compact kits are uber-easy to use and, as an added bonus, a good gel kit means you can swap up your nail look whenever you please. Because, let’s be real, we’re all dangerously indecisive when it comes to nail designs.
The best gel nail kits...
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How to use an at-home gel nail kit
Today's best at-home kits contain everything you need to master the art of gel nails in the comfort of your own living room. But, first things first, it’s vital to master the craft.
The trick is to ensure your nails are perfectly prepped before you start to paint. Make sure they’re totally clean and free from polish. Take care of your cuticles too, gently pushing them back with cuticle cream and a hoof stick (yes, that's what they're called).
If you don’t want to invest in a full nail kit, there’s nothing stopping you from buying the essential components separately – and it works out to be cheaper.
So what do you need? It may be the most expensive part of making the transition to at-home nails, but you won’t get far without a lamp to set the gel. The SUNUV lamp is always a reliable pick, but there are some great pocket-friendly alternatives that do the job just as well. You'll also require a top and base coat to ensure your polish stays shiny and chip free.
To ensure maximum success with an at-home kit, the most crucial thing is to keep your layers of gel thin: paint them too thickly, and they won’t set properly. There are so many different gel polish brands on the market, but Mylee is a brand that really stands out to me. It's bottles are well priced and will leave that salon-like shine once dried.
You can end your gel journey here: with a lamp, a top and base coat and a few colours, you’re set to go. But, if you want to up the ante and invest in a kit that includes everything (and more!), here are the six that impressed the most. Drum roll please….
The best at-home gel nail kits
Mylee's The Full Works Gel Nail kit is the full package. It features everything needed to create salon-worthy gels at home.
There are eight shades to choose from, including both classic and colourful hues. As for the essentials: the kit comes with the lamp (of course) a gel, remover, nail tools and the top and base coat.
And cause we all love a bit of nail pampering, there's also a cuticle oil to keep your polish looking polished for as long as poss. The reasons to invest just go on and on...
Mylee Complete Professional Gel Nail Polish LED Lamp Kit
Mylee's Mighty Mani Polish Kit contains everything a newbie could possibly need when it comes to at-home nails.
Of course it comes equipped with the UV lamp to cure your nails, but it's also stocked with four nail shades, top and bottom coats, and the prep and remove duo. Just think about how much you'll save on salon manicures...
If the thought of removing gel nail polish is enough to make you heavily cringe, take a look over here. Manucurist's Green Flash Pro Kit contains high-shine colours which can be removed in one minute without having to use acetone. That's right, no dry or irritated nail beds over here.
Oh, and before the point of removal, the mani will last up to 10 days chip-free. Not convinced? Our own Lia Mappoura swears by this brand.
A great add-on to the set above, these colour kits are like eyeshadow palettes for your nails. You can pick colour combos from Fall Harvest (rich maroons and oranges) to Manhattan (grown-up neutrals). We'll take one of each, please and thank you.
Inside each kit is 20 nail polishes alongside a base coat and two top-coat finishes: one glossy, one matte.
Beetles Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
This Beetles gel polish kit (with glowing reviews, we might add) has all you need for a salon-worthy look.
You get twelve chic nail polish colours, an LED lamp, one base gel, a duo of shiny and matte top coats, and a collection of glitter and nail-art add-ons – all for the price of a single salon visit. You can sign us up.
The lamp for this one has no bottom, making it less bulky for your bag – great for last-minute pampering or if you can’t go without having your nails refreshed on holiday.
The good news is that this chicer-than-most kit comes with three totally classic nail shades: a pretty pink for everyday, a true black for when you are feeling vampy, and a perfect pillarbox red.
Bluesky polishes actually contain 1% more gel polymer (the stuff that makes it solid, glossy and shiny) than traditional Shellac, making this brand's polishes as hard as, well, nails.
The bad news is that there is no remover or foils included, so consider investing in those to save time when removing.
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
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