At-Home Gel Nail KitsHelping You Find the Best

10 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits of 2024 (Licensed Cosmetologist-Reviewed)

Q: Top 5 At-Home Gel Nail Kits

Q: How to Choose an At-Home Gel Nail Kit

・Choose the Right Type of Lamp ・Look for Long-Wearing Gel Polish in Your Favorite Colors ・Check the Contents of the Kit, Including Removal Tools >> Click here for details >> View Full Ranking

Want a manicure that will last? Gel nails have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their durability and longevity. They can easily last for two to three weeks without chipping, and they're rapidly replacing other types of nail polish. Gel polish doesn't air dry like other polishes and needs special equipment, which is why so many of us regularly go to nail salons for a professional manicure.

Thankfully, it's now just as easy to apply your own gel manicure as it is to go to the salon! Check the rest of our buying guide, which was reviewed by a cosmetologist, for our other picks and more information on choosing the best gel nail kit!

Last updated 09/27/2024

Quick List - Top At-Home Gel Nail Kits

JODSONE

Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light ｜ classic series

Create Salon-Quality Gel Nails at Home With Ease

Beetles Gel Polish

Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light

Achieve Professional-Quality Gel Nails at Home With Versatile Colors

MEFA

56 Pcs Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light

Enjoy Long-Lasting, Salon-Quality Gel Nails at Home With Versatile Colors

ROSALIND

14 Colors Nude Nail Gel kit

Achieve Long-Lasting, Versatile Nail Enhancements With a Comprehensive Gel Kit

GAOY

Poly Gel Nail Kit with UV Light

Create Fast and Long-Lasting Nail Extensions With a Beginner-Friendly Gel Kit

Cosmetologist/Beauty Advisor: Denise Campbell

Denise is a licensed cosmetologist who advises people on certain products they should get. She formally worked at Ulta and is now headed into a salon.

Denise Campbell's Profile

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mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.

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The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.

Table of Contents

Why You Can Trust Us
How to Choose an At-Home Gel Nail Kit
1
Choose the Right Type of Lamp
2
Look for Long-Wearing Gel Polish in Your Favorite Colors
3
Check the Contents of the Kit, Including Removal Tools
10 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits
No. 1
JODSONE | Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light｜classic series
No. 2
Beetles Gel Polish | Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light
No. 3
MEFA | 56 Pcs Gel Nail Polish Kit with UV Light
No. 4
ROSALIND | 14 Colors Nude Nail Gel kit
No. 5
GAOY | Poly Gel Nail Kit with UV Light
5 more products
How to Apply Gel Nails at Home
Amazon’s Best Selling Nail Decoration Kits

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Why You Can Trust Us

Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.

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How to Choose an At-Home Gel Nail Kit

There are many things to consider before buying an at-home gel nail kit. We've collated the most important considerations to help you choose the best kit for you.

Choose the Right Type of Lamp

Each gel nail kit comes with a different type of lamp. The type of lamp and wattage affects how fast your nails dry and cure. We detailed the specifics so you can find the lamp that works best for you.

UV Lamps Cure All Gel Polishes, LED Lamps Are Faster

There are three types of gel nail lamps: UV, LED, and combined UV/LED. UV lamps cost less, but can take several minutes to cure the gel polish. This type of lamp uses the same kind of wavelengths as tanning salon beds. Long-term exposure to UV light can increase your likelihood of cancer or UV-induced skin aging.

It’s unlikely that curing gel polish alone will cause cancer, but it can prematurely age your skin and cause sunspots. These lamps take eight to 10 minutes to cure nails, longer than LED lamps, so they expose your hands to more UV rays.

The best way to avoid the harsh effects of regular gel manicures is by applying sunscreen before your manicure. Also, be mindful of using these lamps if you have sensitivity to UV-rays or are on medication that increases your sensitivity.

LED lamps still use a type of UV light; however, they can cure gel nail polish in 30 to 45 seconds, which greatly reduces your UV-ray exposure. They also emit a lower level of radiation than UV lamps.

LED lamps can cost more, but their bulbs last longer than UV lamp bulbs and may never need to be replaced. Some forms of gel polish are only compatible with UV lamps, however, so make sure to check that your polish is compatible with LED lamps.

Combination UV/LED lamps are becoming more common on the market. A UV/LED lamp has both UV and LED bulbs in it. These lamps will have quick-drying timer settings and longer settings since they use both bulbs. These combination lamps are capable of curing both LED and UV gel polish.

Whichever type of lamp you choose, make sure that it has the right features. We recommend lamps with timers and safety features, but many people also want products to include auto-sensors, LED/LCD displays, and indicator lights.

Small Lamps for Portability, Larger Lamps for Easier Use

There are different sized lamps available on the market. Bigger lamps can cure your entire hand (or foot!) in one go. If you’re an expert at applying gel polish, this will be the quickest and easiest option for you.

If you’re not an expert and prefer to do a finger or two at a time, then you might consider a smaller lamp. You can even get portable gel lamps that only do one finger at a time! Smaller lamps make doing feet far more difficult, however.

High Wattages for Faster Curing

You will see that different lamps have different "W" numbers. This refers to the wattage of the lamp. Higher wattages cure polish quicker and more efficiently, but they usually cost more as well.

Most lamps of any wattage will be able to cure any type of polish eventually, but we recommend avoiding any standard-size UV lamp below 20 watts and any LED lamp below 12 watts. Under these wattages will not give good curing speeds or results.

Small single-finger lamps are the exception. These typically have fewer bulbs; some have only one! Single-finger lamps can be UV, LED, or UV/LED and have wattages as low as 3 watts. These lamps can be just as effective as their larger counterparts, but they only cure one finger at a time. Curing each nail twice, while a little time-consuming, can help ensure that they’re properly dry and set.

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Look for Long-Wearing Gel Polish in Your Favorite Colors

Gel polishes come as hard, soft, or poly gel polish. Hard gel nails are durable and last three to four weeks, and they have to be filed off to remove them. Soft gel nails last about two to three weeks and can be removed with acetone.

Polygel is a hybrid between liquid and powder acrylic and hard LED nails. Polygel is gentler on your nails and just as long-lasting as a gel or acrylic counterpart. It can be shaped and filed like acrylic and is odor-free. So, if you want to keep your beautiful polish for a few weeks without tearing up your nails, try finding a kit that has polygel polishes.

Most kits have gel polish included. Polishes that are opaque, deeply pigmented, and not too thick or thin are easy and fast to apply. These characteristics are ideal so you don't have to apply more than three coats and the end result isn't a clumpy mess. Many polishes are also non-toxic and odor-free now.

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Check the Contents of the Kit, Including Removal Tools

Using gel nail polish isn’t as straightforward as using regular nail polish, as there are several steps you need to do to get salon-quality nails. Check the contents of the kit to make sure you have everything you need. Kits often include the UV/LED lamp and a complete manicure kit, which consists of a nail buffer, clippers, a cuticle remover, cuticle oil, and wipes.

You also need the base coat and topcoat. These are usually provided by most kits, so you most likely won't need to buy these separately. Having the removal solution for the gel polish in the kit makes this experience much easier for you! You can even use your cuticle pusher to remove the gel polish after soaking it.

Many kits come with extra items like nail accessories and design tools. It's common to find rhinestones, striping tape for straight lines, and stickers included in your kit. Some kits even have moisturizing gloves and storage containers. Extras like dip powder and extensions are not included with every kit, so examine the contents carefully.

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