Fed up of chipped nail varnish? Endless top-coats making your nails tacky? Too many acrylic sets causing your nails to crack?
Gel nails may be the answer to your troubles. With gels, you’ll have a flawless manicure that can last up to four weeks, all without the need for a trip to the salon.
But gel nails aren’t simply cut and dry (see what we did there?). There are two ways to achieve gel nails at home: gel nail kits and gel effect polishes. But how do you know which is right for you?
Home Gel Kits
Home gel kits use a similar equipment to that of a salon by using an LED or UV lamp to cure the varnish. They’re your typical gel mani: long-lasting, quick drying and chip proof.
Follow your usual manicure routine, but, rather than waiting for tacky layers of polish to dry in between coats, simply cure the applied specialised gel polish under a UV lamp for the specified time - usually around 60 seconds. Nails will instantly dry and should last twice as long as regular polish.
It’s important that you stick to one brand’s system that includes their base coat, polishes, top coat, curing lamp, and sometimes remover. This is because the power and time settings of curing lamps are designed for the brand’s formula.
While easy to apply, gel nails aren’t as simple to remove. Nails are typically soaked in acetone for at least ten minutes after which the polish peels away. This harsh removal process can cause the nail plate to weaken by removing thin layers of your nail, so make sure you allow your nails to repair themselves between manicures.
Gel Effect Polishes
Most nail polish brands now have a range of gel effect polishes that are also known as soft gels. They work like a regular polish, only they try to replicate the appearance of gels with longer lasting formulas and a shinier finish.
The benefits? There’s no need to cure the nails under a UV lamp, and the varnish is easily removed with a regular nail polish remover. They’re less harsh on the nail too, so if you have weak and damaged nails, these are the safer option.
However, gel effect polishes aren’t the real deal. While more durable than a regular nail varnish, they can still chip and they won’t remain as smooth and shiny as a cured gel mani.
Taking your manicure one step further
If you fancy stepping up your nail game, why not try your hand at a bit of nail art? There are lots of simple nail art trends that you can do at home using gel polish.
A simple design (even for the least steady handed among us) that’s become hugely popular and has a timelessness is the colourful French tip. Simply apply a nude or clear polish and once dry, carefully paint your nail tips in a different colour. If you’re a bit cack-handed, sticker stencils can make your life easier. Seal with a top coat and you’re good to go.
The ditsy floral nail has been a spring hit that’s sure to endure through summer, too. This look is best achieved with the aid of a dotting tool. Paint your nails with your chosen colour, then pick a contrasting colour for the petals and another for the centre of the flower. Start with the middle of the flower first, adding some polish onto the dotting tool and dabbing onto dry nails. Evenly space five dots around it to create a flower shape, swiping towards the centre to create a petal shape.
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Essie Gel Couture
The Gel Couture range from US nail brand Essie is a line of gel-effect polishes that promise longer-lasting nails and a gel-like finish. The easy two-step manicure means you’ll have hassle-free, professional looking nails in minutes.
The formula is developed to work best with a dehydrated nail so there’s no need for a base coat. Simply seal two coats of colour with the Essie Gel Couture top coat and your nails will be left with a dazzling shine. The wide brush ensures a smooth and even application, and with 31 elegant colours to choose from, you can mix up your mani for any occasion.
Buy now £9.99, Boots
Manucurist Green Flash Gel Polish
Our friends across the Channel have much more to offer than just the French mani. France-born brand Manucurist has introduced its Green Flash range which prides itself on being the world’s first green, gel polish that can be removed as easily as regular polish. This at-home gel kit helps you achieve shiny nails that stay intact for up to 10 days.
The advanced environmentally-friendly formula uses bio-sourced ingredients such as sugar cane, cassava and cotton to prevent causing long-term damage to your nails from toxic chemicals. There’s no overpowering smell of solvents either - this gel polish is delicate and sweet smelling.
Top tip: Manucurist advise you to cap the nail by gently dragging the brush over the tips to prevent chipping.
Buy now £19.00, Cult Beauty
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel It Takes Two
With 70 years of expertise under its belt, Sally Hansen has formulated the new It Takes Two miracle gel polishes for a durable manicure.
The gel effect polish comes in a nifty double brushed bottle with a colour polish and a top coat. The double ended bottle design creates a longer handle for more precise application, however it does mean that you sacrifice some product, so don’t expect this polish to last as long as a regular bottle.
The innovative design also makes it great for when you’re on the go, fitting neatly into a purse for those quick touch ups during busy days. That’s if it’s ever needed. This chip resistant gel-effect polish lasts up to eight days.
Buy now £11.99, Superdrug
CHANEL Le Gel Coat
You can count on French fashion house Chanel to add a bit of luxury to your nail routine. The Le Gel top coat, which comes in the brand’s signature square shaped bottle, offers a layer of shine to help emphasise the colour below.
Apply a generous layer over the Le Vernis colour polish to replicate the look of a smooth and curved gel mani without the hassle of a curing lamp. What’s more, Chanel’s quick-drying formula will have you on your way in a matter of minutes. Et voilà!
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
Rimmel Super Gel Nail Polish
London label Rimmel has such a popular gel effect range you probably own one of these polishes without even realising. The Super Gel two step nail polish guarantees strong colour and shine that could last up to 14 days.
The formula has a patented system that replicates the work of a UV lamp without the need for extra kit. It’s designed with natural light curing technology so you can get the rich colour and shine of a gel mani for a fraction of the cost.
The brand recommend two coats of the Super Gel colour which has a built-in base coat. Once dry, simply seal the deal with the Super Gel Top Coat which will activate a self-curing process when exposed to natural light.
Buy now £6.99, Boots
Max Factor Nailfinity Gel Nail Polish
As a stalwart of the beauty world, you can rely on Max Factor for a dependable gel-effect polish to keep our talons in check. The Nailfinity gel polish has all the benefits of the real thing but without the faff of removal.
There’s no need for a base coat with this one as the formula likes a dry nail bed to stick to, but it’s best to use a top coat for longer lasting shine. The 11 luxurious shades exude sophistication, femininity and elegance so they’re just as perfect for a day in the office as they are for an evening rendez-vous.
Buy now £7.99, Very
Mylee MYGEL Nail Gel Polish
For a seriously glossy, salon-worthy set of gels, Mylee’s MYGEL gel nail kit is for you. With a whopping 229 colours to choose from, including sparky and metallic polishes, you’ll soon have a collection that will give your local salon a run for their money.
Use them with the Mylee base coat and top coat and you’ll have a beautiful set of nails that will see you through the next two weeks at least. The curing time for each coat takes between 30 and 60 seconds, so no tedious waiting times.
The formula will be tacky throughout the process though, so swipe the nails with the brand’s Prep and Polish as the final step for a smooth finish. Mylee also offer lint free removal pads and foil wraps which make the removal process a doddle.
Buy now £7.50, lookfantastic
Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish
Nails Inc offers an ultra glossy gel effect nail polish. The extra wide brush and square lid ensures an easy application in one swipe, while the highly pigmented polish provides excellent coverage. Paired with their top coat, any dents or imperfections on the nail are soon smoothed out.
This gel effect polish even uses plasticiser technology which hardens the polish as it dries to help achieve the bold look and durable feel of a real set of gels.
Choose from twelve shades with London-inspired names so whether you’re feeling classy cocktails at Regent’s Place or a spot of shopping on Kensington High Street, nail your nail look with Nails Inc.
Buy now £15.00, John Lewis
Makeup Revolution Ultimate Shine Gel Nail Polish
Revolution’s Ultimate Shine gel effect range has six on-trend pastel shades that promise deep pigment with just one coat. Simply prep your nails with the Prep and Glow base coat and follow up with a thin coat of colour, allowing a few minutes to dry between coats.
The summery shades are perfect for the warmer weather and the non-sticky, highly pigmented formula makes it great for nail art too. For an extra high-shine, finish with Revolution’s Gel Effect top coat.
At only a fiver a pop, you can’t go wrong.
Buy now £5.00, Superdrug
