Skip the salon with the 10 best home gel nail kits, tried and tested

Score: 96/100

Our winning home gel nail kit truly wowed our testers – everyone who tried it said they’d swap out their salon visits for this instead. “I love that it comes with everything you need to prep your nails, paint and remove them – there's no need to shop for anything else,” one panellist told us, while another said: “The polish went on really easily, the texture was nice and smooth so it was easy to do my nails neatly. When my mani was done, my nails were really shiny and glossy, without any bubbles.”

Some testers found the nail builder gel included a bit thick and would have liked more shades provided in the kit, but their DIY manicures generally lasted around two weeks, in line with the brand’s claims. Considering this is middle of the range when it comes to the price tag, we’re seriously impressed.

Score: 92/100

Our runner-up, also from Mylee, promises to cure nails in 15, 30 or 60 seconds. Indeed, our panellists were pleased with how quickly their colour dried, and said the lamp was intuitive and straightforward to use.

Testers loved the range of shades with this one — ‘Requiem for a Pink’ for a hot fuchsia finish, ‘Soft Touch’ for something more muted, ‘Pastel Chic’ for a baby pink, and ‘Diva’ for a deep red — which had them covered whatever mood or palette they preferred. They found the colour perfectly pigmented and agreed the polishes had staying power, with every single panellist saying they’d continue to use the device after the trial period. Impressive.

Score: 83/100

Beginners will find this starter gel nail kit a doddle to use. It comes with all the necessary bits and bobs for application inside, including a big LED/UV lamp that easily fits a whole hand (some don’t!)

Our testers loved the choice of colours and most found the application straightforward, fast and streak-free. They unanimously agreed that their nails stayed shiny throughout the trial period, with no peeling or chipping for eight days despite the gel’s thick texture.

The only slight downside is that no remover or foils are included and the removal process proved a little time-consuming and drying for some.

Score: 81/100

Perhaps the trendiest pick of the bunch, this best-selling set has been an immediate success, with its promise of a 14-day manicure put to the test by beauty editors everywhere. But how did it fare in our lab?

All our testers found the kit simple and straightforward to use from the outset – you simply scan a QR code to bring up handy tutorials. The buffer made it easy to prep your nails, allowing the gel to last for longer, too.

Testers also found the acetone provided was effective at removing the polish when it was ready to come off. As for its 14-day promise, most testers said their manis lasted one to two weeks, with one telling us theirs remained chip-free for three weeks.

It’s worth noting that some gel polish left nails looking slightly streaky and the cord for the lamp was very short, making navigating around the wire or putting the lamp on a table a little tricky.

Score: 81/100

This starter gel nail kit scored highly for lasting results, with our panel reporting shiny, pristine nails for six days after a single coat of colour.

Despite the device being too small to cure a whole hand at once, everybody said they planned to keep using the LED lamp after the trial, while the polish gave good coverage and left a smooth finish. The removal process earned mixed reviews though, with half our testers finding it time-consuming.

Score: 80/100

Eco-conscious beauty lovers will appreciate the green credentials of this vegan brand. The compatible gel polishes use up to 84% bio-sourced ingredients and can be removed in the same way as traditional nail polish.

The LED lamp is simple and effective, if a tad on the small side, and most of our testers found applying the polish effortless. Two coats left them with streak-free, salon-standard nails, but they began peeling, chipping and losing their shine after five days.

Removal took longer than hoped, but nearly all testers thought their nails looked healthy afterwards.

Score 77/100

At first glance, this kit looks like it has it all, offering a wide range of shades and tools — but when it came to a long-lasting gel manicure, it didn’t quite deliver in comparison to pricier options.

It doesn’t include removal products, which was an issue for some of our panel, and the varnish only lasted around a week. For the price, though, most testers were impressed overall, with the cuticle oil being a particular hit for those after healthy-looking nails underneath their polish.

Score: 77/100

Suitable for hands and feet, this SensatioNail gel nail kit promises vibrant, chip-resistant and long-lasting gel nails.

It largely lives up to these claims, but one tester found the finish a little streaky and others found the instructions confusing. That said, the entire panel liked the size of the LED lamp, the consistency of the polish and the built-in timer. It only took 10 minutes to manicure both hands, with most testers reporting no cracks for eight days.

Score: 75/100

Nails love to chip the moment you leave for a weekend away. Handily, this mini manicure kit is small enough to take on the go, thanks to its USB cord.

Its size belies its power – our panel was impressed by its 30-second curing time – but the LED lamp can only fit one finger at a time. Still, our testers were left with smooth and shiny nails that stayed looking tip-top for five days, and those who tried removing the polish found it easy enough.

Its compatible 3-in-1 gel polishes also combine base, colour and top coat to save on time and space – the box includes one in a shade that matches the lamp.

Score: 73/100

This faff-free kit was a breeze to set up and use, with all testers giving the LED lamp an all-round thumbs-up, making it a great option for beginners.

The application process was quick, but most of the panel felt they needed longer than the claimed 15-second cure, taking 10-20 minutes to finish both hands. There was a lack of contents in the kit (no colour, lint wipes or foil), and while it claims to give you chip-free nails for up to two weeks, testers found the shine and finish lasted around five days.