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The 6 Best Gel Nail Kits For A DIY Mani
Our runner up is £100 off!
Few things in the beauty realm feel as satisfying as a fresh set of gel nails – but feeding our manicure habit can be time-consuming and costly. The solution? Do your own gel nails at home – no, seriously.
Today, there's a host of genuinely brilliant at-home gel nail kits that anyone can get the hang of, no matter how unsteady their hand. Trust us: you'll be refreshing those tips with one eye on Netflix in no time.
You may be sceptical about an at-home gel nail kit being as good as the professionals, but we’ve tried and tested the best on the market for salon-worthy results. Whether you just want a classic French manicure or are brave enough to experiment with some nail art, there’s a kit that can sustain all your gel nail needs.
How To Apply Gel Nails
While you may not be able to do the job quite as quickly as a manicurist, we've simplified the process so it doesn't seem like such a daunting task. A DIY gel manicure is the ideal night-in activity, if you ask us, and remember, practice makes perfect.
- Prep nails by filing them to your desired shape. Then buff the nail's surface and push back the cuticles. Finish by cleaning with a cleanser or alcohol wipe to ensure they're squeaky clean.
- Apply a thin layer of base coat before putting your nails under the LED lamp for 60 seconds (most lamps will time this for you). Top Tip: go over the tip of your nail with a coat of polish to seal and prevent premature chipping.
- Apply a thin layer of the colour of your choice, then cure for 60 seconds. Coat, cure, repeat at least twice, or until the colour is opaque.
- Finish by applying a layer of your top coat and curing for 60 seconds.
- Clean your nails to remove any stickiness and you're good to go.
The Best Gel Nail Kits For An At-Home Mani
Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Assistant, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Julia Garner and Emily Ratajkowski. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
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