To take care of your nails and always get a perfect manicure, even at home, here are the best gel nail kits and how to choose them based on accessories and price range.
Gel nail kits include all the accessories you need to get your nails professionally done at home. Then, depending on your needs, you can focus on a professional nail reconstruction kit to restore the shape, size, and texture of your nails and always show off perfect hands-on on any occasion.
Having perfect hands is not only a female whim. Presenting yourself with well-groomed hands and perfect nails certainly positively impacts social relationships. This is because the hands are among the body most exposed to others’ sight and are often observed to give us an idea of a person’s character.
This aesthetic treatment is carried out in about half an hour and has a seal for a minimum of 10 to 30 days. Many kits present step-by-step instructions to guide beginners and can be used within the home alone to spend a different afternoon with friends.
The prices of the gel nail kits vary according to the number of accessories present and their quality. First of all, make sure that the kit includes a lamp with a UV light of at least 36 W to dry the gel quickly, and it is recommended to prefer the gels sold in bottles of at least 15 ml.
Table of Contents
How to choose a gel nail kit
To choose the best gel nail kit for your needs, it is good to consider the accessories supplied and the use you want to make. For example, for those who want to make a home manicure, a basic beginner gel nail kit that includes the lamp, the gel polish, and the cleanser for removal may be sufficient.
Suppose you are a beautician and you need a professional product. In that case, it is better to focus on a more equipped kit, both as regards the number of nail polishes, decorations, and accessories for the preparation of the nails, and equipped with a more powerful UV lamp.
These professional gel nail kits are more expensive, but more products are included, ensuring you have a less additional expense for missing accessories.
The lamp or oven
Once the gel is distributed on the nail, it is necessary to pass to the polymerization phase, i.e., the drying and hardening process of the gel itself, which occurs by placing the nails inside a dedicated lamp oven.
The best nail lamps have a timer set to different times, usually 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the polymerization’s desired type. When the timer is triggered, the lamp will turn off automatically, avoiding the risk of leaving the nails inside the oven for too long periods.
Choosing the best oven for your manicure is good for checking the quality and safety standards, wary of excessively cheap and unbranded products.
There are three types of lamps currently, and it is good to check the compatibility of the gels because they could be compatible only with UV lamps or only with LED.
UV lamps
To ensure an excellent result, the UV lamp must check that it has at least 36 watts of power. This type of lamp uses low-power ultraviolet rays to polymerize the gel. UV rays are emitted in 4 bulbs or light tubes of 9 watts each.
The wavelength of the rays is between 200 nm and 400 nm. Unfortunately, the rays’ effectiveness decreases with the lamp’s use, and must replace the bulbs after about 3000 hours of use.
LED lamps
There are currently many kits on the market that, instead of UV lamps, have LED lamps that have diodes that emit cold light, releasing less heat than a UV lamp. Unlike UV lamps, these lamps are much more expensive but do not emit harmful rays, have reduced energy consumption, and ensure faster gel drying due to the wavelength produced being between 400 and 410 nm.
UV LED Combined Lamps
In addition to these two types, it is possible to find UV/LED lamps that combine the two technologies, arranging a spiral bulb placed in the upper part and LED cathodes arranged obliquely on the sides. The advantage of these lamps is the cost, which is much reduced compared to an LED lamp.
The accessories
Before checking the number of accessories present, it is good to check that all the kit products are non-toxic and comply with European legislation. The ingredients that must not be present are DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene; the products that do not have them are advertised as ” 3 free “and are the ideal choice to be applied to the most sensitive nails.
There must be gels among the other accessories in the kit, preferably in packs of at least 15 ml, including a Base Coat polish to be used as a base for the gel, semi-permanent polish for modeling, and a Top Coat for finishing. Alternatively, you can find a monophasic version that includes all three of these products.
Kits with multiple semi-permanent glazes in the most used and easy-to-wear colors are preferred, while buying more bright or particular colors is recommended. Many kits also include lime or buffer set in the shape of a brick and are available in different colors.
Then there are the accessories to prepare the hands, such as the cuticle forceps, a cuticle pusher, and the cuticle oil. There may also be a degreaser to clean the nail and a cleanser for finishing the final result. You can also find brushes for spreading the gel in the most equipped kits, tips for lengthening the nails, glue, and a cutter to fix and cut them.
In addition to the gel’s application products, it is good to check the accessories’ presence to remove the enamel, the acetone, and the cellulose pads for cleaning.
Finally, a bag’s presence is not to be underestimated, not only if you are a beautician, but also to store all the accessories in an orderly manner conveniently. Furthermore, it is advisable to choose capacious and resistant bags, without forgetting the external aesthetics, if you want to show them to friends or customers.
How to use the kit
Using the products is simple but requires manual skills and patience. The most difficult part is applying the enamel since the gel is usually not a monophasic product but involves several steps before obtaining the desired result.
The gel’s consistency differs from normal nail polish, and it is important to calibrate the number of products to be applied correctly.
We recommend applying two thin layers rather than making a single abundant passage to avoid the ” thick nail ” effect, which is artificial and aesthetically unattractive.
Nail preparation
First, opacify the nail through the buffer and remove the excess powder with a cloth or if the kit provides it with the brush supplied. In the second step, it is important to take care of the cuticles, using the appropriate accessories to give a more caring appearance to the hands.
It is recommended to push the cuticles towards the nail’s edges with the cuticle pusher and then moisturize them with the oil supplied. Then we will decrease the nails’ surface with the special degreaser, and finally, we will start with the applications.
The Primer, or Base Coat, essential for the manicure’s success, is the first product to use. This step protects your nails by creating a barrier between them and the semi-permanent nail polish. After laying the base, cure it with the UV/LED lamp for about 30 seconds.
Spreading the gel
The next step involves applying the gel. Depending on the color coverage, applying several passages, each of which must be catalyzed for 30 or 60 seconds under the lamp, will be necessary. Finally, the turn of the Top Coat or the finish will guarantee a long-lasting result and a brilliant effect. Also, it must polymerize this layer with the lamp.
Finish
The last step involves decreasing the nails with the cleanser to eliminate dust residues and the gel’s dispersion layer that can form after polymerization.
How to remove semi-permanent nail polish
Contrary to the simple application of nail polish, which can eliminate with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover, the semi-permanent nail polish must be removed with a precise procedure to avoid damaging the underlying nails.
The first step involves filing the nails’ surface to remove the previously applied Top Coat polishing layer. The solvent will not act on the underlying enamel without removing this layer. It is also recommended to use cable ties, which must be soaked with acetone or the remover solution supplied with the kit.
These clamps must be applied around all the nails and left on for ten minutes. After this time, moving on to the actual removal will be possible. Working on one nail at a time is recommended, leaving the other fingers’ ties to allow the remover to act for as long as possible. The enamel will begin to lift, then completely detach from the base by gently removing the strap.
The best gel nail kits to buy
Now let’s see the best gel nail kits to buy, which are between $25 and $300.
- Gel Nail Polish Set: The set contains 55 bottles of colored gel nail polish, two bottles...
- Nail Lamp: This nail lamp has 3 curing modes, 5s, 30s, 60s, one minute to cure gel nail...
- High Shine and Durability: Gel nail polish has colors and high shades, a thin layer can...
- 36 PCS Gel Nail Polish Set: This is a gel nail kit with super multi-color gel nail...
- Fast Nail Lamp: It has a LCD display and 4 timer buttons, which make it more convenient...
- 32 Colors Gel Nail Polish: It is composed of 9 healthy ingredients. It is healthy, low...
- 50 Pcs Gel Polish Nail Kit: A Gel Nail Kit with super multi-color gel nail polish.This...
- Perfect for Nail Art: The 32 colors gel polish set suits every season well, covering all...
- Fast Dryer Nail Lamp: With high-performance technology for curing various UV LED gel nail...
- 56 Pcs Gel Nail Kit: This kit includes all manicure tools, like 1*48W LED lamp, 32*7 ml...
- 32 Colors Classic Set:The gel polish set has rich color intensity, covers all shades...
- Exclusive Salon at Home: Indulge in self-care as you pamper yourself with salon worthy...
- 【68 PCS Gel Nail Polish Set】This is a Complete Gel Nail Polish Kit with super...
- 【One Set for All Nail Art】The 35-Color kit suits every season well, covering all...
- 【Super Fast Nail Lamp】 With high-performance technology for curing various UV LED gel...
- 【ALL-IN-ONE Gel Nail Kit】: This 68PCS All-in-one Nail Kit includes Gel Polish 5ml*35...
- 【Perfect Gift for Girl&Women】: Our beetles gel nail polish kit with UV light has a...
- 【Upgraded UV Nail Lamp】: With a powerful 24W high power and 30 lamp beads, this nail...
- What You Get: MEFA gel nail kit includes 20x7 ml polishes, 3x7 ml base/top coats (glossy &...
- Iconic and Trendsetting Colors: MEFA’s 2024-2025 collection offers 20 modern shades for...
- Powerful 48W Nail Lamp: Ultra-fast UV LED dryer with 3 timer settings and auto sensor,...
- MEFA 2024 Upgraded gel nail kit includes 42x7 ml Gel Colors, 5 x Base/Top Coats, 1x48 W...
- Iconic and Trendsetting Colors: MEFA 2024-2025 collection includes 42 shades, perfect for...
- Powerful 48W Nail Lamp: Ultra-fast drying UV LED dryer with 3 timer settings and auto...
- You Will Get: 23 bottles of gel kit with a capacity of 5 ml, 20 bottles of colored gel, 3...
- Colorful Gel: 20 colors can be matched in many ways. it can be gentle, retro, simple and...
- Nail Lamp: This product has 3 curing modes; 5s, 30s and 60s, normally the gel curing time...
- 【Professional 24 Colors Gel Nail Kit for You】 VANREESA gel nail polish kit comes in a...
- 【Sweet & Popular Gel Polish Colors】 Hand-picked by VANREESA, the 24 colors in this gel...
- 【Healthy & Long Lasting Manicure】 VANREESA gel nail polish ingredients are made of...
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