The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

9 best gel nail kits for salon-quality manicures at home

These tried-and-tested sets deliver glossy, long-lasting colour and are easy to use

Lauren Cunningham,Louise Whitbread
Monday 23 September 2024 11:50 BST
From budget buys to salon-quality finishes, we’ve got you covered
From budget buys to salon-quality finishes, we’ve got you covered (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

DIY manicures are having a resurgence, with regular polish, press-on nails and gel manicures all picking up in popularity. After all, our monthly budgets are getting smaller, our lives busier, and, sometimes, it can feel more like a treat than a chore to pamper ourselves with these little at-home treatments.

Gel manicures, however, have come under fire, with people claiming the products can trigger allergic reactions, which, in some cases, have been described as “life-changing”. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) issued a warning, adding emphasis on at-home kits being “riskier because of the lack of experience the public has with these products”. So, it’s definitely better to be well-informed before deciding to give at-home gel manicures a go.

To help clear up any confusion, Dr Yuliya Krasnaya, specialist dermatologist at Evolution Aesthetics Clinic, said: “UV lamps and gel nails have gained popularity in the beauty industry for achieving long-lasting, chip-resistant manicures.” She added that the “lamps are commonly employed to hasten the drying process for regular manicures and are essential for setting gel manicures. However, it is imperative to consider the safety implications linked to their usage”.

“UV lamps emit ultraviolet radiation, and extended exposure can present risks to the skin, such as the possibility of skin damage and an elevated risk of skin cancer. To err on the side of caution, I recommend applying a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen, limiting exposure time and airdrying your nails to protect your hands from UV rays,” added Krasnaya. Plus, you can also find UV gloves designed especially to help protect your hands from UV lamp rays while your nails are still free to be painted.

Regarding the more recent allergy concerns, Dr Krasnaya added: “Though uncommon, skin irritations or allergies can arise from chemicals in gel nail products or UV light exposure during manicures. Sensitivity to the base coat, colour gel, or topcoat components may cause redness or itching”. So, she recommends shopping from reputable, trustworthy brands to try and reduce potential concerns as much as possible.

If you’re tempted to try your own at-home mani, we’ve reviewed the best gel nail kits, all of which have our seal of approval.

How we tested

A selection of the best gel nail kits tested
A selection of the best gel nail kits tested (Lauren Cunningham)

We’ve spent months testing a range of different nail kits, to bring you a list of the very best ones to buy. Taking the expert advice, we focused our search on well-known, reputable brands stocked at some of our favourite trustworthy beauty retailers, such as LOOKFANTASTIC. When selecting, we considered price, what’s included in each kit, the number of shades available, ease of use and lasting time, before comparing the results and compiling a list of our absolute favourites.

The best gel nail kits for 2024 are:

  • Best overall – 14 Day Manicure signature gel polish starter kit: £79, 14daymanicure.com
  • Best budget buy – Phoenixy gel nail polish starter kit: £19.54, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for a professional manicure – Mylee complete gel nail kit: £89.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for beginners Red Carpet manicure hema-free gel polish pro kit: £92.70, Sallybeauty.co.uk

14 Day Manicure signature gel polish starter kit

best gel nail kits 14 Day Manicure signature gel polish starter kit Indybest
  • Best: Overall
  • Items included: LED digital lamp, four gel polishes, base coat, top coat, nail buffer, nail file, acetone remover, steel cuticle pusher
  • Time before reapplication: 14 days plus
  • Why we love it
    • Long-lasting manicure
    • Can choose your nail colours
    • Easy to use

You may recognise 14 Day Manicure from social media – and it really is a product that lived up to its online hype. Included in the kit is, of course, the gel nail lamp, alongside four small polishes (you can choose the colours), a base and top coat, a nail file and buffer, cuticle pusher and acetone removal solution. You’ll certainly be set up for a good amount of time and can also easily purchase new polishes if you wish to grow your options as well.

What puts 14 Day Manicure above the rest is the fact you can choose the colours you’d like to receive. Plus it’s incredibly easy to use, thanks to the brand’s application guides. What’s more, the manicure lasted us the longest amount of time, stretching more than two weeks before we took it off with the included solution.

Back to top

Phoenixy gel nail polish starter kit

Best gel nail kits Phoenixy gel nail polish starter kit Indybest
  • Best: Budget buy
  • Items included: LED UV lamp, 12 gel nail polishes, nail files, toe separators, handful of tools
  • Time before reapplication: Almost 14 days
  • Why we love it
    • Lots of colours included
    • Easy to use
  • Take note
    • Questionable brand

The expert advice to minimise the risk of allergic reaction or UV damage from gel nail kits is to opt for reputable, well-known brands. Although, of course, Amazon and similar online retail giants have plenty of unknown options to choose from, so, in the name of beauty journalism, we decided to give one a go. Priced at close to £20, this kit was the most affordable option we tested and came complete with an impressive number of extras – 12 gel nail polishes, two nail files, toe separators and a handful of tools.

It was incredibly easy to set up, the polish applied easily (although the colours are much subtler in real life than they look on the product image) and the whole process was incredibly quick. What’s more, it lasted for almost two weeks (this will probably stretch longer the better you are at applying it). Plus, we didn’t find ourselves needing anything other than what was included. Despite this seeming like a pretty impressive gel nail kit, we can’t help but shake the concern that it goes against the expert advice, so, please make sure you do your research and understand the risks before choosing this option.

Back to top

Manucurist green flash kit 24

Best at-home gel nail kits Manicurist green flash kit 24 Indybest
  • Best: Vegan option
  • Items included: LED lamp, base coat, nail polish, top coat, remover, five nail clips
  • Time before reapplication: 10 days
  • Why we love it
    • Kinder to skin
    • Incredibly easy to remove
  • Take note
    • Not as long-lasting as some other gels

If potential irritation is a real concern of yours, this Manucurist gel nail kit will be your best bet. The key selling point of the brand is that Manucurist has swapped harsh ingredients for more natural, planet-friendly alternatives. All of the products are plant-based and free from methacrylate monomers, an ingredient that can cause irritation. If you think this may lead to the colours not being as vibrant or tricky to apply, you’d be mistaken, as, at first glance, you’d never notice it isn’t ‘real’ gel polish.

Included in the kit is an LED lamp (you’ll have to provide your own plug), top and base coats, one colour of choice (we went for poppy red) and a removal solution and clips to help with the removal process. We did find it takes around double the time to cure as most of the other options included in this list – two minutes for each coat – and the lamp isn’t activated by movement, you will need to press the buttons, but the result was incredibly sleek and lasted us around 10 days. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to remove, thanks to the included solution that wipes it right off.

Back to top

Rio 14 day gel nails

Best gel nail lamps Rio 14 day gel nails Indybest
  • Best: For transforming regular nail polish
  • Items included: LED UV lamp, gel base and top coat, lint-free wipes, high shine finishing wipe
  • Time before reapplication: 7 days
  • Why we love it
    • Works on any nail polish
    • Easy to use
  • Take note
    • Takes a little longer than other kit

Turing any polish into a long-lasting gel, this simple set includes a UV lamp (you’ll need to add your own plug), a two-in-one base and top coat and a finishing wipe. The main draw is you can use any polish of your choosing, which is certainly incredibly useful for anyone who has quite a large nail polish collection.

In theory, it should work incredibly well, and it does, so long as you master the technique. We found it’s best to let the regular polish air dry before adding the gel top coat, which, of course, makes the whole process a little bit longer but is well worth it for the sleek, shiny result. We also managed to make our manicure last for around one week before chipping, which is a good deal longer than regular polish, although not quite as long-lasting as traditional gel.

Back to top

Mylee complete gel nail kit

Best gel nail kits Mylee black convex curing lamp kit with gel nail polish essentials set Indybest
  • Best: For a professional manicure
  • Items included: LED lamp, top coat, base coat, four gel polish, lint-free wipes, gel remover
  • Time before reapplication: 21 days
  • Why we love it
    • Long-lasting
    • Four colours included
    • Easy to use

Mylee polishes have been our go-to gel polishes for quite a while. In fact, when we find a colour we love, we’ve even brought it to our go-to nail tech to have it professionally applied. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from, including the nail-boosting builder gels. So, it felt rather seamless to start applying them ourselves at home as well, especially considering this kit has everything you need to get going. Inside, you’ll find four pretty pink polishes, a base and top coat, a prep and remover liquid, along with wipes, a nail file and, of course, the LED lamp.

The addition of four different colours really did impress, as there’s more than enough to get you going, and the price is incredibly reasonable as well. Plus, the kit is very straightforward to use, so you can’t go too far wrong. Although the lamp does seem a bit more professional than some of the other options, with three different settings that work a little faster than the other sets we tried – you will need to play around with the time settings, to see which works best for you. To be safe, we kept to 60 seconds to cure each layer, just in case. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was also the longest-lasting result we had, stretching to nearly three weeks before we removed it with the included removal liquid.

Back to top

Red Carpet manicure hema-free gel polish pro kit

Best gel lamps Red Carpet manicure hema-free gel polish pro kit Indybest
  • Best: For beginners
  • Items included: LED light, base coat, top coat, gel polish, nail oil, remover foils, nail wipes, orangewood sticks, buffing stick, buffing tab, emery board
  • Time before reapplication: 14 days
  • Why we love it
    • Great for beginners
    • Long-lasting
    • Easy to remove
  • Take note
    • Need to buy more colours

When we first opened this kit, we were pretty surprised at how small the LED lamp is. While this was great for storing it, as it fits nicely in our bathroom cabinet (and it’s still pretty powerful), it does mean you’ll have to cure your thumbs separately, making the whole process a little bit longer. Although, you’ll have to source your own plug to get it to power up, as only a USB cable is provided. Within the kit, you’ll receive one coloured polish, a top and base coat, a nail primer and cuticle oil and some tools to help shape and buff. What impressed us the most was the inclusion of a gel nail polish remover and removal pads, making the whole process pretty seamless from start to end. We’ve dubbed this option as perfect for beginners, as it really does have everything you need to get started.

It’s straightforward and easy to use, and we did find that the result looked pretty professional, too (especially considering our tester is still very much a beginner). It also lasted a good two weeks before we started to notice any peeling or chipping.

Back to top

Bluesky starter kit

Best at-home gel nail kits Bluesky starter kit  indybest
  • Best: For a speedy manicure
  • Items included: An LED/UV lamp, top and base coat, a 20 pack of cleanser wipes, a nail file and buffer
  • Time before reapplication: 10 days
  • Why we love it
    • Very fast
  • Take note
    • Rather small

This compact kit contains all the essentials for a fuss-free gel manicure at home. It comes in a neatly packaged box containing a LED/UV lamp, top and base coats, a 20-pack of cleanser wipes, a nail file and buffer and three full-size gel polishes (bright red, glossy black and dusty pink). Our favourite part of this kit was its speediness, requiring only 30 seconds of curing under the lamp for the base coat, then 60 seconds per coat of paint, and finally 60 seconds once you’ve applied the top coat.

The instruction booklet is clear and easy to follow, and the cleanser wipes do a great job of tidying up the cuticles before you put your hand under the lamp, which meant the end result was a lot neater. This is ideal if you want to invest in a gel nail kit without spending a huge amount, and we think the price is quite reasonable, as the three colours it comes with are full size. Just be careful to ensure you only apply a very thin layer – the first time we used this kit, we made the mistake of applying a layer that was too thick, which meant keeping it tidy was tricky.

You can’t, however, fit all five nails under the lamp comfortably, so, make sure you’re careful not to touch freshly applied gel polish, which would ruin your handiwork. We opted for the pillar box red, which resulted in a beautiful glossy finish that lasted a full 10 days.

Back to top

Le Mini Macaron gel manicure kit

Best gel nail kits Le Mini Macaron gel manicure kit Indybest
  • Best: Mini gel nail kit
  • Items included: A one-finger LED lamp, a nail file, 10 remover pads and a double-sided cuticle pusher
  • Time before reapplication: 7 days
  • Why we love it
    • Very speedy
  • Take note
    • Easy to remove

This is an adorable kit that delivered a better quality, longer-lasting gel manicure than we had anticipated. It’s the most compact we tried, too, taking up a minute amount of space, thanks to its adorable one-finger LED lamp. It’s fuss-free and easy to use, and a great way to start practising gel manicures at home.

It comes with the lamp and USB cable, a mini bottle of polish, a nail file, 10 remover pads and a double-sided cuticle pusher with a slanted tip for cleaning up around edges. Simply buff and shape the nails, then apply two coats of polish and put under the lamp until the light turns off (30 seconds), et voila, a glossy colour that lasted us well over a week without chipping.

It’s surprisingly speedy, taking just 15 minutes to complete a manicure, and the remover pads work well.

  1.  £32 from Asos.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Vishine UV LED nail lamp gel nail kit

Best at-home gel nail kits Vishine UV LED nail lamp gel nail kit Indybest
  • Best: For French manicures
  • Items included: A lamp, top coat, base coat, nail file, nail buffer, a nail brush, cuticle fork, dotting pen, cuticle pusher, nail separators and striping tape
  • Time before reapplication: 14 days
  • Why we love it
    • Lots of colours
    • Wide range of extra accessories
  • Take note
    • No remover included

We enjoyed the unusual shades in this kit, which were a mix of blue, grey and brown-toned pinks, which were highly pigmented and flattering even on our pale skin. The polishes have wide brushes, which made for simple application, although, patience is key. The lamp has three timer settings and will instantly turn off when you remove your hand.

It’s an extensive kit, coming with – deep breath – six polishes, a top coat, base coat, nail file, nail buffer (which is washable), a nail brush, cuticle fork, dotting pen, cuticle pusher, nail separators and striping tape. Our favourite feature, though, is the French manicure stickers in two designs – straight and curved – so you can perfect traditional white or colourful tips with ease.

Back to top

Gel nail kits FAQs

How to remove gel polish at home

Luckily, most of these kits come complete with removal solutions that can be soaked onto a cotton pad and left on your nails for a couple of minutes – simply wrap each finger in tin foil to keep the pads in contact with your nail. If that isn’t available, though, you can go to your closest chemist and pick up a bottle of acetone that will do the same job. If you’re still struggling to get the polish off, you can also gently buff the product away while reapplying the removal solution.

How to fix gel nails that have lifted at home

The golden rule for any gel manicure is to not pick your nails, even if they’re starting to peel and chip. Now you have an at-home kit, you can quickly remove them and start again, ensuring your nails are nice and healthy. However, if it’s only one pesky peel and you’re in a time crunch the experts suggest simply filing it back and applying a similar colour of regular polish on top until you have time to sort it out properly.

Are gel nail kits worth it?

With the average salon set of gel nails costing anywhere between £25 (if you’re lucky) and £50, investing in an at-home gel nail kit will undoubtedly save you money further down the line. From experience, doing your gel nails personally can take longer than your manicurist’s swift 45 minute in-and-out service, and we’ve found ourselves attending to our nails for nigh on two hours previously. That said, once you’re in the swing of the routine – you’ve taught yourself the dos and don’ts of cuticle care, nail prep, etc – we’d argue you can get your speed up to around one hour. The main pro? You can tend to your paws in the comfort of your own home in your jammies or comfies.

The verdict: Gel nail kits

Of course, with concerns over gel nail kits being in the spotlight, we took our role of testing each product very seriously. For those concerned about irritation, Manucurist’s green flash kit is said to be a little safer, and our tester was incredibly pleased with the final result. Although, looking at finish, lasting time and ease of application, the 14 Day Manicure kit did come out on top in terms of result, so, we’d say that’s best for those trying to get the most out of their manicure.

To keep your nails looking and feeling healthy in between manicures, these are the best cuticle oils to try

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£50 per booking off selected package holidays using your unique TUI voucher code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
Save 5% on bookings - Travelodge voucher code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Get 15% off + Extra 5% on select products with this Cult Beauty voucher code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on orders with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in