12 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits (2024): Sponsorship-Free ...

With numerous options for at-home gel kits on the market, choosing the right one can be quite overwhelming. To simplify this process, we've thoroughly researched and reviewed the top at-home gel nail kits currently available.

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We evaluated each gel polish kit based on various factors such as pricing, packaging, the efficiency of top and base coats, color selections, durability, the inclusion of gel polish remover, and overall kit contents for a comprehensive review experience.

Our assessments are entirely free from sponsorship influences. Be assured that we do not earn any commission from the brands mentioned in this article. (This is unlike many magazines and review websites in this niche.)

By the end of this guide, you should be well-equipped to decide which gel nail kit best suits your needs, whether for professional applications or delightful DIY moments at home.

Here, we present our selection of the 12 best at-home gel nail kits:

What to Consider in an At-Home Gel Nail Kit

Complete Application Essentials

An effective at-home gel nail kit must contain all necessary tools for immediate application, removal of gel nails, and aftercare to promote healthy nails.

Must-Have Items in the Kit: (1) UV/LED lamp, (2) gel base coat, (3) gel top coat, (4) at least one gel polish color

Gel Polish Removal Tools

A gel nail manicure kit should provide the necessary tools to remove gel polish effortlessly, eliminating the need for salon visits.

Required Items: (1) gel polish remover or (2) nail file, (3) nail buffer, (4) acetone, (5) cuticle pusher/wooden stick, (6) aluminum foil

Color Variety

Having the ability to select your preferred colors, rather than being limited to pre-chosen sets, adds to the enjoyment of the experience.

Required Items: At least one gel polish color

Before and After Care Essentials

A kit that includes aftercare products is essential for fostering continual healthy nail growth and enabling repeated applications without damage.

Required Items: cuticle oil

1. Best Overall: S&L Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit

• Salon-quality kit
• Freedom to choose gel color
• Travel-friendly
• Lasts 2-3 weeks, chip-free
• Includes gel polish remover and cuticle oil

• Short USB cord
• No wall charger included
• No back plate on UV Lamp

The S&L Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit provides a complete salon-quality experience, equipped with all essentials for application, removal, and aftercare. It uniquely features a 15ml / 0.5 fl oz bottle of non-wipe off gel polish that boasts a high-gloss finish lasting 2-3 weeks without chipping.

Customers enjoy the freedom to select any gel color they desire, and it comes with the Easy Gel Polish Remover, which effectively dissolves the gel polish in just 5 minutes without the need for acetone or cotton.

The compact and travel-friendly 24W LED/UV lamp is an asset; its design eliminates the backplate, granting ample space for nails to cure without the risk of accidental damage.

The brushes on the gel polish bottles are designed for precision application, and at $56, this kit offers remarkable value with its high-quality polishes and thoughtful packaging, making it a user-friendly experience.

2. Best Value: "Shell We Dance" by Sally Hansen

• Attractive packaging
• Simple-to-use brush
• Easy application
• Wide availability at big box stores
• Pleasing fragrance
• Cures efficiently in 30 seconds

• Dull finish
• Weak acetone strength
• Peeling after a week
• Cramped lamp design
• Gets hot rapidly
• No cuticle oil included
• Small bottle sizes

The Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit "Shell We Dance" priced at $59.99, features a well-packaged kit containing all tools for gel manicure but relies on a wipe-off top coat. This requires an added step, which can be time-consuming and might result in peeling. The included acetone has a weaker formula, prolonging the removal process.

Although the pricing is reasonable given the product content (four 4ml / 0.14 fl oz coats and a 7ml / 0.24 fl oz color), the gel polish's volume feels limited. Overall, it's an accessible yet potentially less appealing choice for hassle-free at-home gel manicures.

3. Best Lamp: "Z-Nude" by The Beetles

• Non-wipe off top coat
• High gloss finish
• Spacious curing lamp
• User-friendly brush
• Generous polish volume

• Thick polish application
• Strong odor
• Chipping after one week
• Some colors lack pigmentation
• Tools may arrive scratched

The Beetles Z-Nude Gel Nail Kit, retailing at $47.99 on Amazon, distinguishes itself with an impressive array of six color options, including various nudes, pinks, and greys. However, application can be tricky due to thick polish consistency and some colors offering insufficient pigmentation. While the top coat provides a high-gloss, non-wipe finish, the odor can be overwhelming, and durability may wane after a week.

The 48W LED/UV lamp is a standout feature, designed for easy curing with generous space for hands and feet, and highlights motion-activated settings along with a gradual heat curative function.

This kit includes various tools that come conveniently packaged in a bag, but lack of acetone or removal materials translates to incomplete kit functionality. Instruction manual could also elevate user experience, making it potentially overwhelming for new users. Overall, it offers colorful and cost-effective entry into at-home gel application.

4. Best Ethical Kit: Starter Kit by Manucurist

• Non-toxic, clean ingredients
• Variety of colors
• Vegan and cruelty-free

• Higher price point
• Color prone to chipping
• Weak color pigmentation
• Long curing process

Manucurist's commitment to ethical practice makes its starter kit appealing, especially since it offers vegan and cruelty-free products at a price of $145. The spacious lamp fits all fingers for curing simultaneously, although the color consistency and pigmentation can detract from results. The long curing times and the possibility of color chipping quickly, along with unpleasant odors, diminish overall satisfaction.

5. Best Color Variety: Gel Nail Starter Kit by Modelones

• Affordable price for a gel nail kit
• User-friendly brush design
• Low odor formulation

• Discrepancy between advertised and actual shades
• Thick polish formula
• Gel tends to clump
• Dull finish post-curing
• Small bottle size

The Modelones Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit is available for $31.99, offering a budget-friendly choice for at-home gel enthusiasts. Unfortunately, its performance does not match its affordability. The colors provided often appear significantly different from what is promoted. While application may yield a lumpy finish, removal proves easy despite rapid peeling within a couple of days.

The gel polish consistency can be thick, dulling the expected shine, and with small bottle sizes, frequent needs for refilling may arise.

While some commendable aspects exist, including low odor formulation, numerous issues detract from overall satisfaction.

6. Best Salon-Quality: Gel Beginner Starter Kit by Bioseaweed Gel

• Lasts 2-3 weeks without chipping
• Includes patented gel mask nail remover
• Roomy lamp design

• Overall value is low; overpriced at $246.50
• Loose items may arrive
• No effective acetone included

The Bioseaweed Gel Beginner Starter Kit tops the pricing charts at $246.50 offering high-quality components within the kit, albeit lacking the ideal packaging. Their patented gel mask nail remover does not achieve the same efficacy as traditional acetone and foil methods, taking longer for gel polish removal. The lamp featuring motion-sensor programming excels in usability and comfort but falls behind in overall cost-benefit analysis.

7. Best Travel Kit: Le Mini Macaron Rose Gold Gel Manicure Kit

• Chic and compact design
• 3-in-1 formula
• High gloss finish

• Strong chemical scent
• Cures one finger at a time
• Impractical bottle cap
• Low gel polish volume

The Le Mini Macaron Rose Gold Gel Manicure Kit offers a portable solution at $38, characterized by its compact form and efficient 3-in-1 formula. An impressive finish can be achieved, though the strong chemical odor can be overpowering. The lamp provided has usability drawbacks due to its design, in addition to the small size of polish bottles.

8. Best 2 in 1: Sensationail Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit

• Compact interior packaging
• Easy-to-use brush
• Fast curing process

• Dull finish
• Peeling observed after a week
• Small polish bottle volume

The Sensationail Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, priced at $23.99, is notable for its unique 2-in-1 base/top coat feature. While the compact kit hosts a variety of accessories, overall results may fall short in terms of polish fineness.

9. Best Kit Supplies: Gellish Intro Starter Kit

• Available at retail
• High gloss finish
• Comprehensive start-to-finish kit

• Wipe-off top coat present
• Weak acetone

Accessible in retail stores, the Gellish Intro Starter Kit offers a comprehensive start-to-finish experience with gel layers; it remains a solid option despite minor setbacks.

10. Best Shade Options: Gellen Home Gel Manicure Kit

• Includes glossy and matte top coats
• Roomy lamp design

• Incomplete removal tools included
• No tool instructions provided

Despite minor drawbacks, the Gellen Home Gel Manicure Kit represents outstanding value. While it offers a plethora of features, it fails slightly in providing complete guidelines.

11. Best Polish Brush: Gel Polish Pro Kit by Red Carpet

• High gloss finish
• Complete start-to-finish kit

• Wipe-off top coat included
• Packaging leaves room for improvement

$79.99 at publication, Red Carpet’s Gel Polish Pro Kit is alluring for those seeking a comprehensive option; yet, several drawbacks hinder overall satisfaction.

12. Noteworthy: ASP (All Season Professional) Soak off Gel Polish Complete Starter Kit

• Lasts 2-3 weeks without chipping

• Lacks sufficient polish removal tools

ASP's starter kit brings moderate value, yet its lacking aspects can hinder the overall experience.

Essential Insights Before Attempting Gel Nails at Home

Before starting, it's vital to understand that gel nails require specific supplies: (1) a UV or LED lamp, (2) a gel top coat, (3) a gel base coat, (4) gel polish. Additionally, tools for gel polish removal, such as acetone and cotton, are necessary. Alternatively, a gel polish remover can streamline this process.

Are Gel Nail Kits Worth It?

Ultimately, investing in a gel nail kit proves cost-saving compared to regular salon visits. A $45-60 salon visit can total $540-720 annually, while a starter kit offers much of the same experience at a lower cost.

Investing in a kit curtails salon scheduling hassles and empowers you to switch colors at convenience, making it a worthwhile investment for many.

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