We are basically living in a DIY era, thanks to our creativity and, ahem, TikTok beauty video tutorials. There’s not much you can’t do from the comfort of your couch, whether it’s cutting your own hair or braving an at-home waxing kit. And, as someone who has tried basically every form of DIY beauty, I can say the next thing you need to try is an acrylic nail kit. Because even though nail salons can get ya IG-worthy manicures without having to lift a finger, nothing beats getting the same results without leaving the house and saving a sh*t ton of $$. That’s why today I’m excited to tell you that I’ve tried, tested, and experimented with some acrylic nail kits to give you the best selection ever.
12 Best Acrylic Nail Kits for an At-Home Manicure, Tested and Reviewed for 2022
A salon-worthy manicure from the comfort of my couch? Yes, pls.
By Siena Gagliano and Valeriya Chupinina Published: Dec 20, 2022
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We are basically living in a DIY era, thanks to our creativity and, ahem, TikTok beauty video tutorials. There’s not much you can’t do from the comfort of your couch, whether it’s cutting your own hair or braving an at-home waxing kit. And, as someone who has tried basically every form of DIY beauty, I can say the next thing you need to try is an acrylic nail kit. Because even though nail salons can get ya IG-worthy manicures without having to lift a finger, nothing beats getting the same results without leaving the house and saving a sh*t ton of $$. That’s why today I’m excited to tell you that I’ve tried, tested, and experimented with some acrylic nail kits to give you the best selection ever.
And trust me, with these kits, you’ll barely miss the salon. They come with everything you could possibly need: From the ingredients to make the actual acrylic nail to UV lamps, nail tips, and dip powder colors galore. Lucky for you, I found 12 of the best acrylic nail kits, including really easy French tips and nails with a ton of glitter. Plus, we even included an expert tip from Rita de Alencar Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salon in NYC. There’s an option for every budget and skill level, so you’re basically guaranteed to find a kit that you’ll master using on your own.
✔️ P.S., This is new, up-to-date info, bb. We updated this article in December 2022 to add new acrylic nail kits the internet won’t stop talking about and delete outdated oldies for the latest in acrylic nails, just for you.
The 6 Best At-Home Gel Nail Kits of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Theresa Holland is a freelance writer covering all things fitness and wellness for Byrdie. You can also find her work in Elite Daily, MyDomaine, Thought Catalog, and more.
Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer with 10 years of experience covering beauty. She covers all things skincare for Byrdie, from ingredients to acne advice.
Updated on 06/13/23 05:08AM
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Cherisse Harris is a fact-checker with a focus on lifestyle, beauty, and parenting. She’s worked in research for nearly two decades.
Trying your hand at a DIY gel manicure might seem daunting, but with the right tools and products, we promise it’s totally doable. Moreover, doing your nails at home will save you significant time and money.
Deals of the Day
- Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Starter Kit is 25% off
- essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish + Top Coat Kit is 15% off
“You have everything you need for a gel manicure at your fingertips, literally, and you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home,” says manicurist Syreeta Aaron. “It’s a little expensive at first, but once you have the kit and any additional supplies you need, it’s cost-efficient over time.”
We tried several kits ourselves, complete with files, buffers, nail preppers, gel lacquers, top coats, and LED drying lamps. After testing nine sets in our lab, we narrowed it down to the user-friendliest options that offer the best-looking results.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Budget:
Best Portable:
Best for Beginners:
Best Value:
Best Polish:
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Best Overall
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Our Ratings
Ease of Use
3.5 /5
Drying Time
Overall Look
Ease of Removal
Quality
- Shiny, solid finish
- Long-lasting
- Easy to remove
- Learning curve
The Morovan Poly Gel Kit earned perfect scores in most categories, including drying time, finished appearance, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removal. We only marked it down for ease of use since there was a slight learning curve to applying the gel nails. That said, the directions were thorough yet concise, so we knew what to do each step of the way.
This manicure kit comes with eight gel colors, including two ombrés and six solids, plus a nail dehydrator, a primer, a base, and top coat, various grooming tools, and a drying lamp. You’ll also get extension gel and foil for shaping your nails. Once we got the desired shape and length, the drying process was a breeze.
After placing them under the lights for the recommended two minutes, our nails were a little tacky—but they were definitely cured and felt durable. We used the purple-to-white ombré hue and loved the overall results.
With the exception of two extensions falling off, our nails looked just as good two weeks later—still shiny and vibrant without any cracks or chips. The removal process was a piece of cake too. After soaking them in acetone, the gel scraped right off. And while our nail plates were somewhat brittle, they weren’t completely wrecked.
Price at time of publish: $40 for All Seasons Kit
Included Shades: 8 | Dry Time: 2 minutes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
