buuk.top / David Carr
Trying your hand at a DIY gel manicure might seem daunting, b0t with the right tools and products, we promise its totally doable. Moreover, doing your nails at home will save you significant time and money.
Deals of the Day
Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit with 12 Gel Nail Colors is 45% off at Amazon
Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit is 25% off at Amazon
essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit is20% off at Amazon
"You have everything you need for a gel manicure at your fingertips, literally, and you dont need to leave the comfort of your home," says manicurist Syreeta Aaron. "Its a little expensive at first, but once you have the kit and any additional supplies you need, its cost-efficient over time."
We tried several kits ourselves, complete with files, buffers, nail preppers, gel lacquers, top coats, and LED drying lamps. After testing nine sets in our lab, we narrowed it down to the user-friendliest options that offer the best-looking results.
Morovan Nail Kit at Amazon
SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit at Amazon
Le Mini Macaron Le Maxi Deluxe Gel Manicure Set at Amazon
Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit at Amazon
Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit at Amazon
Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit at Amazon
Expand
Best Overall
Morovan Poly Gel Nail Kit
Amazon
View On Walmart
Shiny, solid finish
Long-lasting
Easy to remove
Learning curve
The Morovan Poly Gel Kit earned perfect scores in most categories, including drying time, finished appearance, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removal. We only marked it down for ease of use since there was a slight learning curve to applying the gel nails. That said, the directions were thorough yet concise, so we knew what to do each step of the way.
This manicure kit comes with eight gel colors, including two ombrés and six solids, plus a nail dehydrator, a primer, a base, and top coat, various grooming tools, and a drying lamp. Youll also get extension gel and foil for shaping your nails. Once we got the desired shape and length, the drying process was a breeze.
After placing them under the lights for the recommended two minutes, our nails were a little tacky—but they were definitely cured and felt durable. We used the purple-to-white ombré hue and loved the overall results.
With the exception of two extensions falling off, our nails looked just as good two weeks later—still shiny and vibrant without any cracks or chips. The removal process was a piece of cake too. After soaking them in acetone, the gel scraped right off. And while our nail plates were somewhat brittle, they werent completely wrecked.
Included Shades: 8 | Dry Time: 2 minutes| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Best Budget
SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit
Amazon
View On Walmart
Affordable
Dries quickly
Shiny finish
Confusing instructions
Chips after a week
On a budget? The SensatioNail Starter Kit might be your best bet. Since the directions are somewhat confusing, youll want to read through all the steps before getting started. But while this wasnt the most user-friendly set we tested, we think itll be easier after the first go-around.
The gel dried quickly with the included lamp, and we were satisfied with the finished results. (And we think our manicure would look even better if we used thinner coats of lacquer and took our time with the application.) Though the brand promises up to 14 days of wear, it began chipping after about seven days. While it may not last as long as a salon mani, you can expect it to hold up longer with regular polish.
Included Shades: 1 | Dry Time: 3 minutes| Cruelty-Free: No
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / David Carr
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Best Portable
Le Mini Macaron Le Maxi Deluxe Gel Manicure Set
Ulta
Compact
User-friendly
Fun to use
Not long-lasting
Only two polish colors
Need something for on-the-go use? This portable kit earned perfect scores for ease of use, drying time, overall look and nail integrity post-removal. Its like a little party in a box—fun and user-friendly, even for beginners. Since the lamp is so small, youll need to dry your thumb separately. Still, we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly the gel dried and hardened.
The smooth, shiny results exceeded our expectations. However, the gel started peeling within a couple of days, and it was entirely gone shortly after. (You might get better results if you properly prep your nail plates and apply thinner coats.) Our nails werent damaged afterward, though, and while the longevity was disappointing, we still think Le Mini Macaron is a great choice for travel.
Included Shades: 2 | Dry Time: 1 minute| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Best for Beginners
Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit
Ulta
View On Ulta
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Dries fast
User-friendly
Smooth, hard results
Not long-lasting
Only one polish color
For gel nail novices, we recommend Sally Hansen. The brands beginner-friendly starter set clocked a perfect score for ease of use, thanks to the exceptionally simple three-step process and 30-second dry time.
Once cured, our nails were hard and smooth without any tackiness. The pro-level polish and top coat deliver extra-shiny, streak-free results, though she noticed one small bubble. While it promises up to two weeks of wear, the gel started peeling when our tester cleaned her kitchen. Her nail beds were slightly brittle after it all came off but not entirely damaged.
The other thing to note is that the set comes with only one shade, but you can buy more individually. Although it might not be ideal for folks who work with their hands, we still think its a good choice for those interested in exploring at-home light-cured nails.
Included Shades: 1 |Dry Time:30 seconds| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / David Carr
Best Value
Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit
Amazon
View On Walmart
12 gel colors
Several grooming tools
Smooth, shiny results
Chips after six days
For a more comprehensive set, go with Gellen. The brands starter kit earned a perfect score for ease of use, thanks to the straightforward instructions. It comes with a base coat, 12 bottles of gel lacquer, a top coat, several grooming tools, nail embellishments, and a UV drying lamp. While it says to dry each coat for one minute, we found that leaving our nails in a little longer allowed them to fully harden without any tackiness.
We were very pleased with the results, specifically the stunning color and smooth, exceptionally shiny finish. Unfortunately, they didnt last the full two weeks and ended up chipping after about six days. While we wish it had better staying power, this feature-rich set is an excellent value.
Included Shades:12 | Dry Time: 90 seconds| Cruelty-Free:
Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Best Polish
Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit
View On Ulta
View On Target
No lamp needed
Professional-looking results
Easy to remove
Minimal instructions
May require three coats for opaqueness
Essies Gel Couture Polish was also a hit in our lab. Its not exactly a kit, though the two-step system only works with this specific polish and top coat. The lacquer applies evenly and sets without dripping. After swiping on two coats of polish followed by the top coat, we simply let our nails dry for the recommended 15 minutes—no lamp needed.
Once dry, we were basically rocking a professional manicure. And at the two-week mark, our nails were still evenly coated and looked perfect from a distance. The gel also came off easily with a regular drugstore acetone remover and didnt damage the nail plates in the process.
Dry Time: 15 minutes| Cruelty-Free: Yes
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
buuk.top / David Carr
Final Verdict
Overall, we liked the Morovan Poly Gel Kit. This DIY nail set earned perfect scores for drying time, finished look, staying power, and ease of removal, and taking the extensions off wont ruin your nail beds. For something a little more affordable or user-friendly, we highly recommend Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish. The two-step system doesnt need to be dried with a lamp and offers professional-looking results.
How We Tested
We chose nine gel kits to try in The Lab, our Manhattan product-testing facility. Our in-house testers carefully followed the directions to see how well the formulas, lamps, and finished results performed in a real-life setting. Each set was assessed for drying time, ease of use, overall look, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removing the gel.
While we planned to wait the full 14 days before removing it, most gel formulas we tried began peeling off prematurely. Since several kits had disappointing staying power, we ultimately selected easy-to-use options that delivered professional-looking results.
buuk.top / Tamara Staples
Other Options We Tested
Red Carpet Manicure Pro Gel Kit
Though this user-friendly set offered quick results, it was missing a few essential pieces. The LED lamp seemed cheap, and we wished it plugged into a regular outlet instead of through a USB adapter. While the results looked decent, some of the gel peeled off after a couple of days.
buuk.top / David Carr
Gelish Mini Basix Complete Starter Kit
Since this set didnt come with instructions, we had to look up the steps online, and even then, they werent very clear. Beyond that, the gel layers never seemed to fully dry, which resulted in a clumpy effect. And the polish didnt last more than 24 hours, leaving our nails slightly damaged in its wake.
buuk.top / David Carr
Zoya Gelie-Cure Foundation Pro Travel Kit
The instructions were somewhat confusing at first, but once we got it figured out, this kit was easy to use. We appreciated that it came with all the essentials for an at-home gel manicure, but the polish itself wasnt dry after the recommended 60 seconds under the light. Not only that, but it didnt seem to adhere completely to the nail beds and peeled off completely within two days.
buuk.top/David Carr
Meet the Expert
Syreeta Aaron is an educator for LeChat Nails, the company behind cutting-edge products such as the Gelée Powder Gel System, Perfect Match Gel Polish & Nail Lacquer, and thermal-activated Mood changing polishes.
What to Look for in At-Home Gel Kits
Gel lamp
When choosing the right at-home gel kit, Aaron first says to check whether or not the contents of the kit require a gel lamp—and if they do, check whether the kit contains one or if youll need to purchase one separately. If youre just starting, its best to opt for a kit containing all the tools youll need, plus a gel lamp.
Quality polish
If you’re fully committed to at-home gels and looking to cut back on salon visits, Aaron recommends investing in a kit that contains quality, professional polishes, such as the LeChat Perfect Match Gel Polish. On the other hand, if you’re simply testing the waters between your usual salon appointments, she doesn’t think it’s necessary to invest too much money into the process.
Good color offering
Finally, Aaron recommends looking for a kit that comes with colors you’ll want to wear. Some kits will only come with one or two shades (like the Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit), while pricier ones may contain an entire set (like the Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Gel Nail Color Starter Kit). There’s no need to invest in a larger kit if you won’t wear most of the shades, so look for one that contains a variety of colors you love.
Whether youre using a gel or poly gel kit, start with clean, washed hands, then prep your nails by wiping them with an alcohol pad to help remove the natural oils. Apply one coat of primer, then the base coat. The base coat usually needs to be cured for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the brand, says Aaron, but your best bet is to follow the instructions of the particular products you’re choosing. Apply two coats of color, curing in between coats, and finish with one layer of topcoat. If the topcoat leaves behind a sticky residue, simply wipe it off with another alcohol pad, suggests Aaron.
In short, no. “The application and use of the kit are safe, but what isn’t always safe is the removal process, which needs to be done properly,” cautions Aaron. "Don’t peel the gel off your nails—when you do this, you’re removing layers of your nail along with it. This will make your nail thinner and weaker. What can also be damaging is if you don’t use a removal product that fits quality standards and may contain harmful chemicals.”
As mentioned above, Aaron stresses the importance of not peeling off the polish, as this will peel away layers of the nail plate and end up damaging the nail. Start by filing the top of the nail until you see a white, chalky color, she says; this indicates you’ve filed through the topcoat. Then soak your nails in pure acetone for seven to 10 minutes, finishing by scraping off any polish with a cuticle pusher. She says that you should keep in mind that you may need to re-soak several times.
If applied properly, Aaron says that gel nails typically last up to two weeks.
What Is buuk.top Verified?
Did you notice the Byrdie Verified seal of approval at the top of this story? This seal means that our team has researched and tested every product on this list using a unique methodology that’s designed to focus on what our readers really want to know—and to deliver insights that you can’t find anywhere else. Occasionally, beauty brands and PR agencies will send us samples for coverage consideration, but our thoughts and opinions are fully our own. If you visit links within our content, we may receive commissions from your purchases, but we never receive any compensation or consideration for the content of our recommendations. In short, the buuk.top Verified seal stands for product recommendations you can trust.
Why Trust buuk.top
Theresa Holland is a product reviewer and commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. A decades-long DIY nail painter, shes tried multiple at-home gel formulas and drying lamps over the years. Of the above brands, she has personally used products from Sally Hansen, Gellen, Gelish, and Essie. Theresa has been covering nail care, makeup, skincare, and lifestyle products at buuk.top since 2020. You can read more of her stories on People and Travel + Leisure.
Jill Di Donato
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