7 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits of 2024, Tested by Beauty Experts
A perfectly glossy mani you can DIY at home.
Reviewed by Danusia WnekSenior Chemist
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Gel manicures offer glossy, chip-proof nails with a mirror-like shine that's so satisfying. Unlike traditional nail polish that must air dry slowly, gel nails are cured via a UV or LED light, fully hardening and setting to a perfect finish in seconds or minutes. Gel manicures also tend to last longer than regular polishes. The downside? Their often lofty price tag and the time investment in the salon.
Luckily, gel manis are no longer a salon-exclusive luxury thanks to at-home gel nail kits that let you DIY your own mani in the comfort of your home. To find the best gel nail kits, our pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab started by vetting the most popular products on the market, only considering those with clear ingredient labels that follow the FDA’s Cosmetic Labeling Requirements. All of our picks below are compliant with these requirements.
Then, we tested eight at-home gel nail kits and reviewed each product's packaging, including ingredient and warning labels, giving preference to products that clearly advise avoiding skin contact to prevent irritation caused by methacrylates (a known allergen and skin sensitizer included in every gel polish). We've designated which products lack these warnings below.
Editor's Note: Traditional UV gel nail polishes use methacrylate polymerization technology to obtain the long lasting, chip-resistant coating. While the 2005 Cosmetic Ingredient Review Report ruled methacrylates “safe as used in nail enhancements products when skin contact is avoided,” the study concluded that these ingredients are known to be skin sensitizers, so skin contact should be avoided.
Pros
- Long-lasting professional results
- Complete kit with full suite of accessories
- Fast application
Cons
- Packaging label does not clearly state to avoid skin contact
We love the professional-looking results this Red Carpet Manicure kit gives. Not only does the polish in this kit stay on nails, it's also fast and easy to apply. "The detailed instructions are very helpful and the products that come in the kit are easy to use and seem to be good quality," an Amazon shopper reported. "I've done two manicures now and they've lasted me a whole two weeks (and could have lasted longer)."
Reviewers say it's perfect for beginners, too, since "it has everything you need," including polish essentials (such as base and top coats plus nail color), nail prep must-haves (like cuticle oil and cleanser) and tools (like nail wipes, wood pushers, cuticle stick, buffing strips and nail file), plus remover and foil wraps for when it's time to take off your manicure.
Take note that reviewers do warn that the color pictured may not be the one you get in the box, but still say the well-stocked kit is worth the coin. Our Beauty Lab found that the label does not clearly state to avoid skin contact, so use with care.
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 1 | Claimed dry time: 45 seconds to three minutes
Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Manicure Starter Kit
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Dries quickly
Cons
- Fewer accessories and colors than other kits
Beloved nail polish brand Sally Hansen's gel kit is budget-friendly, fast and efficient. The included LED light is compact but "super convenient, even though I was hesitant about getting a smaller lamp," one reviewer noted. "It's the perfect size," which makes this kit ideal for anyone who doesn't mind drying their nails one by one in exchange for a smaller footprint. The brand claims the three-step manicure kit lasts up to 10 manicures, which means this comes in at less than $5 per mirror-shine, glossy gel mani.
Heads up: This kit isn't as well-stocked as others on the market and only comes with one nail polish shade, so you won't have a ton of options. That said, it does come stocked with cleanser pads, base coat, top coat, gel polish remover, cuticle stick, buffer and an alcohol cleaning pad.
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 1 | Claimed dry time: 30 seconds
Le Mini Macaron 1-Step DIY Glossy Gel Manicure Kit
Pros
- Travel-sized lamp and accessories
- Powered via USB
- Lamp features automatic shut-off
Cons
- Small lamp; more time consuming
A pint-sized lamp and carry-on friendly polish removing wipes, mini nail file and micro cuticle stick make this adorable gel nail kit perfect for a mani on the go. Its macaron-shaped light is the smallest lamp of those we evaluated and claims to cure nails in 60 seconds (it automatically turns off after the cure time for each nail, making the process pretty foolproof). Of course, the tiny footprint means you'll have to cure each nail individually which may make for a more time-consuming mani.
The travel-friendly device is USB-powered, so you can plug it into a computer or a phone charging adapter for power. This set only comes with one nail polish (which matches the color of the included lamp). Without a base coat or a top coat, we still found just two coats of polish will do. "I love that you don't need base and top coats," said one reviewer. "The UV lamp is too cute for words. Not only that, it is very effective and cures gel polish and semi-cured strips very quickly."
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 1 | Claimed dry time: 60 seconds
CND Gel Basic Kit
Pros
- Many shades available
- Easy removal
Cons
- Pricey
This basic kit has exactly what you need and nothing else, making it perfect for DIY pros who may already have nail accessories. The muted neutral tones are on trend and reviewers feel that this brand "does not damage the nail," saying, "you can easily remove it." This kit is minimal with just a base coat, top coat and polish included, so it's best for anyone who already has a full nail kit at home.
If you're looking to expand your gel polish arsenal, though, our pros say this is your pick — there are tons of colors to choose from. It also comes with a lamp and various converters for different areas of the world, making this a great option for travel too. We wish application directions were included in the kit, and we also found that these formulas contain several ingredients that only have minimal health and safety data for use in cosmetics.
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 2 | Claimed dry time: Not listed
Pros
- Complete kit with beginner-friendly accessories
- Wide range of colors to choose from
- Professional quality finish
Cons
- Small light for curing
Gelish has a wide range of gel nail polish colors to choose from (more than 200!), and this kit comes with everything you need to get started. The brand claims that the polish cures under the included LED lamp in 45 seconds and removes in under 10 minutes with the included artificial nail remover. This kit comes stocked with helpful extras, and reviewers say this is the ultimate beginner-friendly buy: "This kit had everything needed to apply gel polish at home," from base and top coats to cuticle oil and polish remover and more. "They even give you nail sticks with sand paper to smooth and prep the nails."
The kit comes with the full suite of Gelish must-haves, from its prep formulas pH Bond (which removes excess oils from the nail for a longer-lasting finish) and Foundation (an adhesive base coat that the brand claims protects the nail). It also comes with Top It Off, Gelish's high-shine top coat that the brand claims "will not dull, chip or peel," a cleanser to remove any lingering sticky residue and Nourish cuticle oil to finish it all off.
Reviewers swear "it looks like professional gels when applied," but "unlike salon polish, it is very easy to remove without damaging nails." The tradeoff, they say, is that this polish only lasts one to two weeks instead of three to four weeks, as some salon gel polish might. Some components of the kit contain ingredients that only have minimal health and safety data for use in cosmetics. We also wish that the light was a little larger.
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 2 | Claimed dry time: 45 seconds |
Pros
- Fully dries quickly without using any light
- Doesn't need to be soaked off
Cons
- Polish has a thick consistency that can be challenging to work with for beginners
If you're on the hunt for a gel-like polish without the curing process, look no further than Dazzle Dry. Unlike any other nail polish, this four-step system goes on like regular polish but lasts as about long as gel, and it doesn't need a light to cure. "It's completely replaced gel polish for me," one of our editors shares. "And it really does completely dry in just five minutes. My nails feel so much healthier when I wear this instead of gel."
This kit comes with nail prep, base coat, top coat and nail reviver. We love that it can be removed with acetone nail polish remover from the drugstore, rather than needing to soak off like traditional gel. Note that the consistency of this product is a little thicker than other polishes, so there's a bit of a learning curve to applying it just right.
LED light: No | Nail polish colors included: 1 | Claimed dry time: 5 minutes
Pros
- Simple, quick removal
- Less damaging than traditional gel
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Not as long-lasting
Finally, a peel-off option that doesn't require the harsh soaking and time associated with most gel manis. The Manucurist's formula doesn’t include the common methacrylates (which give the long-lasting finish found in traditional gel manicure kits), but instead claims to be made with up to 84% natural ingredients that make for a finish that's much easier to remove — without acetone.
We found that the resulting mani doesn't last as long as traditional gel manicures. "It started peeling way before the 10 days claimed," our tester said. However, she was impressed by how much easier the polish was to remove, thanks to the kit's included clips that keep the included dissolvent in place rather than clumsy foil wraps. A reviewer added, "you get all the benefits of gel without the nail damage or lengthy and messy removal. Lasts about a week for me, but since it’s so easy to remove and redo, not an issue at all."
One kit comes stocked with three color polishes, a base coat and top coat, a collapsible LED lamp and dissolvent — plus, those fan favorite clips to aid in removal. You can also choose between a 24-watt lamp for manicures in 30 minutes, or the brand's premium 36-watt lamp for 10 minutes faster drying.
LED light: Yes | Nail polish colors included: 3 | Claimed dry time: 20-30 minutes
How we test at-home gel nail polish kits
In the GH Beauty Lab, our Beauty Lab pros first assessed ingredient safety by checking eight popular options against the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) database, which classifies substances based on whether or not they may be carcinogenic, and California’s Proposition 65 Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 databases, which provide a list of substances that are known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. From there, we also reviewed, if available, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety assessments final reports for any ingredients that were red flags from our initial scan of the three databases.
After thorough review of eight gel nail kits currently on the market, we found the ones that will give you gorgeous results and that you can feel good using, knowing they've been thoroughly vetted for safety by our pros, based on available data to date.
What to look for when shopping for a gel nail kit
While all types of at-home nail kits essentially pay for themselves after one or two uses, the options can range from professional quality to beginner-friendly. When shopping for one, "it should have everything you need in it, including the lamp, as kits should be used as a full set from the same brand for best results," advises Julie Kandalec, a celebrity manicurist and Julie K Nail Academy founder. Here's what else you should seek out for the best DIY gel manicure results:
✔️ Lamp: If you're just starting out and don't already have a lamp, be sure to check the kit contents to see if there's an LED or UV lamp included since that's needed to cure the polish.
✔️ Gel nail polish: Of course, your kit should come with at least one polish in a shade you like. We recommend buying any additional polishes from the same brand to ensure compatibility with the light from your kit as well.
✔️ Additional polishes: Some kits come with more than one color for versatility. We also like when a kit comes with both gel base and top coats for the longest-lasting DIY manicure.
✔️ Manicure accessories: Depending on what you have and what you need, look for useful extras like files, buffers, cuticle pushers, cuticle nippers, nail brushes or even nail art accessories and tools.
Are at-home gel nail kits safe?
As long as you know what to look for and what to avoid, and you "don't peel off your gel," says Kandalec. We recommend that at a minimum, gel nail kits should contain packaging that meets FDA Cosmetic Labeling Requirements with a proper ingredient label on the primary packaging for the safety of the consumer. Here's what else to keep in mind when shopping:
✔️ Purchase gel nail kits from reputable retailers and brands. Based on our analysis, we found that some products sold on third-party retailer sites posed a safety concern to consumers as they did not have proper ingredient labels on primary packaging, did not clearly state the name and place of business and/or had misspelled ingredients on the ingredient label, which does not meet FDA Cosmetic Labeling Requirements. We suggest purchasing UV gel manicure kits from trusted brands like the ones included above, and, when shopping at third-party retailers like Amazon, be sure to check that the item is being sold by a reputable storefront or a verified brand marketplace.
✔️ Avoid skin contact when applying gel polish. Almost all of the ingredient labels on the gel nail kits we evaluated contained at least one methacrylate monomer, a known allergen. Consumers should avoid skin contact with these lacquers due to the sensitization potential. The good news is that any sensitization or contact dermatitis can be “resolved after removal ... or discontinuing work with gel manicures," according to a 2016 literature review in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. If any redness or irritation develops on skin or near eyes after gel application, completely remove the lacquer from the nails immediately.
✔️ Use the correct light source with your nail kit and follow manufacturer instructions. If the incorrect light source is used or if the time allowed for curing is not sufficient, higher levels of the acrylate monomers (which are allergens) may remain on the nail which can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Use kits as directed, but as a rule of thumb, use them in a well-ventilated area and keep away from heat, sun, open flames and reach of children.
Is UV or LED light better for gel nails?
Gel nail polishes are cured using UV or LED lamps and some gel nail polishes can even use both. While both are effective, according to the International Journal of Women's Dermatology, “LED lamps accomplish photocuring more quickly because they emit a narrower spectrum of light.
However, UV lamps are less expensive and are therefore more routinely used in the photocuring process.” It is super important to use the proper light source for the corresponding nail polish, so use the lamp your kit comes with and closely follow usage directions.
While you may immediately think of skin damage when you hear "UV," damage to skin from UV exposure during gel manicures is basically a nonissue, according to new studies. “The risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer was 11 to 46 times lower than the risks of being exposed to natural midday sunlight,” according to a 2013 study in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology.
A 2014 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association echoed these findings, saying the average UV-A energy exposure during a typical gel manicure is low enough to be unconcerning. If you're still worried, the American Academy of Dermatology says you can apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher before getting a gel manicure to your hands, or put on dark, opaque, fingerless gloves.
How to use a gel nail kit
Every kit differs and may have slightly different directions, and you should be sure to follow your kit's instructions carefully to get the best results.
Following all the steps properly as recommended will also help prevent the polish prematurely lifting or peeling, explains Kandalec. Generally, here's what to do:
- File and buff nails until you get the desired length and shape and clean up cuticles.
- Use the included nail cleaner/prep or wipe nails with an alcohol pad to remove any natural oils and make sure there is no residue left on the nail.
- Apply the base coat and cure under the lamp (typically for 30 to 60 seconds, but defer to your kit's instructions).
- Apply two coats of your chosen color, curing for the recommended amount of time in between coats.
- Finish with one layer of topcoat and cure again. If nails feel a little sticky or tacky, wipe with another alcohol pad.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
With a background in color cosmetic development, Danusia Wnek, a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, has spent years evaluating nail polishes and nail treatments in the Lab and with consumers. For this article, she authored a testing report that included the results of an in-depth review of gel nail polish kits' packaging, up-to-date ingredient safety review and provided usage suggestions and safety considerations for consumers.
This article was written and updated by Deputy Editor Jessica Teich, who has over 10 years of experience formally researching, testing and writing about beauty products. She regularly works with the GH Beauty Lab's scientists to write about the very best nail products on the market, according to their testing data. A lover of nail polish, gel and otherwise, she wrote this article based on the findings from Wnek's report and by gathering additional recommendations from prior Beauty Lab evaluations.
Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn has also worked on updating this article. She works closely with the Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of nail products including various polishes, formulas, art and more. You'll likely never see her without her nails done.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
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