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These tried and tested sets deliver glossy, long-lasting colour and are easy to use
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 in recent months, 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 the 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 (£7.99. Amazon.co.uk) designed especially to help protect your hands from UV lamp rays while your nails are still free to be painted.
Speaking to the more recent allergy concerns, Dr Krasnaya added that “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.
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 compiling a list of our absolute favourites below.
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 them in contact. If that isn’t available though, you can go to your closest chemist and pick up a bottle of acetone for just a couple of pounds 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.
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 properly sort it out.
Of course, with current concerns over gel nail kits being in the limelight, 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 get 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