We tested the internet’s most-wanted DIY nail kits – the £13 Boots buy that was as good as a salon manicure
OUR obsession with manicures isn’t decreasing - but visits to nail salons are.
The combination of lockdown salon closures and the cost-of-living crisis has sealed the fate of manicure appointments, with 40% of regular mani-devotees now visiting nail salons less regularly, according to Lopay.
However, our desire for preened and polished nails hasn’t changed.
As our salon visits become less regular, DIY nail brand sales are surging by 300%, according to , and DIY nail art hashtags have clocked up over 6 billion TikTok views.
“As consumers realise that going to the salon is time-consuming and costly, more DIY options are entering the market beyond standard nail polish,” says Gina Farran, co-founder and CEO of DIY nail brand .
But here’s the thing – many DIY nail products don’t cut the mustard, either falling off in seconds, chipping instantly or proving impossible to apply.
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So we’ve rounded up some of the industry’s most exciting products and dished them out to the toughest critics we could find: Team Fabulous...
14 Day Manicure Signature Salon Pro Gel Polish Starter Kit, £170.50
14 Day Manicure Signature Salon Pro Gel Polish Starter Kit, £170.50
RATING: 5/5
Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon says:
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“You’re literally bringing the salon home with this kit, as 14 Day Manicure is a pro-level brand used in nail bars across the country.
While it’s one of the pricier options out there, the kit includes nearly everything you need to open your own salon, including a LED lamp, cuticle pushers and files - let alone do your own nails.
You begin by filing – I find this step the trickiest, as it’s tough to shape my nails with my non-dominant hand – before brushing on the base, colour, and top coat, curing between each layer.
The kit includes four nail shades, which you can select upon purchase.
I love the brand’s glitter shades, as they have a radiant, high-shine finish that draws attention away from any imperfections.
While the polish doesn’t last quite as long as a professional mani, my nails remained chip-free for a week - impressive!”
Glaize Stick-On Gel Manicure, £14
Glaize Stick-On Gel Manicure, £14
RATING: 4/5
Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon says:
“At first, I was convinced that a manicure sticker, which you simply press on to your nail, wouldn’t work.
But I was wrong.
After uploading some photos of my nails, the made-to-measure Glaize stickers whizzed their way over to me and fitted my nails perfectly.
I cleaned my nails with the provided Prep Juice, before attaching one sticker to each nail, sealing it in place by trimming the edges.
Once applied, the stickers have a soft, slightly sticky feel but provide the illusion of a glossy gel manicure.
After three days, the edges began to flake and lift, meaning I had to remove the stickers, simply by peeling them off.
These won’t last as long as a professional mani, and they’re not cheap, but they’re a faff-free way to prep your nails for a big day out.”
Mylee Marshmallow Crème CaraGel Solid Gel Polish, £7.99
Mylee Marshmallow Crème CaraGel Solid Gel Polish, £7.99
RATING: 4.5/5
Sub-editor Milcah Fajardo says:
“This thick, creamy nail polish is unlike anything else I’ve used, but the results speak for themselves.
Crème CaraGel looks more like a cream blush or putty than a nail varnish, and arrives in a pot, so you’ll need a paintbrush to apply it - I’d recommend using one the size of a typical nail polish brush.
While this application method isn't ideal for those with shaky hands like me, I eventually got the hang of it and applied three layers to each nail to fully cover up streaky brush marks, before curing with a LED lamp.
My mani was smooth, glossy and highly pigmented, and still looked fresh after a week.”
Ardell Gel Strip Starter Kit, £20
Ardell Gel Strip Starter Kit, £20
RATING: 3/5
Senior Designer Sasha Cunningham says:
“I’ve been keen to give this DIY kit a go – inside you’ll find a mini LED lamp and gel strips, which are like stickers.
However, there aren’t many size options, which might prove tricky for those with small nail beds.
Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem for me, so I smoothed the strips on to my nail beds, before curing them with the lamp and filing down the excess, which resulted in a glossy, high-shine finish.
Despite taking extra care and wearing gloves to do the washing-up, the strips quickly chipped, so I removed them after just three days, which was disappointing.
They’re great for a quick win, but don’t hold out any hope for these nails to last for an entire holiday!”
Mylee 5-in-1 Builder Gel, £13
Mylee 5-in-1 Builder Gel, £13
RATING: 5/5
Sub-editor Milcah Fajardo says:
“Builder gel can help lengthen, shape and strengthen your nails, but it’ll often set you back up to £50 in salons, so I’ve been keen to DIY it.
The buildable formula can be used to shape and elongate your nail bed, before curing and adding your desired nail polish or design over the top - a bit like papier mache!
The whole process was pretty much foolproof, and I followed it up with the , which was so pigmented that I only needed to apply one layer.
The final result? A beautifully shaped, salon-quality mani, with no signs of chipping after seven days.”
Mylee's Builder Gel can also be purchased from Boots for as little as £13 but there are limited shades.
Elegant Touch Petite Nails, £5
Elegant Touch Petite Nails, £5
RATING: 4/5
Beauty Editor Tara Ledden says;
“I have tiny nail beds, so have always struggled to use anything but polish at home.
Whether it’s false nails or gel wraps, I’d have to spend so many hours trimming them down before applying them that the process wasn’t worth it.
With false nails, I’d have to glue them to the skin around my nail as well as the nail itself, which had them pinging off after a day, so I was very excited when these launched.
They took me less than five minutes to apply, which felt like a miracle.
I’m extremely hard on my hands (sorry to any manicurist who's ever told me not to use my nails as tools!) and my dishwasher has been broken for two weeks, so I broke the golden rule and had my hands in warm water most days, but the first casualty didn’t happen until four days in.
While they’re shorter in length, it would be nice to see some smaller-width options, too, as I didn’t have much to choose from when it came to my pinky fingers.”
MoYou Gel Strips, £12.99
MoYou London Gel Nail Strips, £12.99
RATING: 3/5
Editor in Chief Sinead McIntyre says:
“I’ve seen these semi-cured gel nail strips – famed for being the quickest gel mani you’ll ever have – all over social media, so I’ve been eager to try them.
The kit contains sheets of flexible strips, which look like stickers, and are fairly easy to apply.
You stick them on your nails, file to shape, then use an LED lamp to harden them.
I was impressed with the outcome – it looked as if I’d had a professional mani – but the results didn’t last long.
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I had a busy weekend, and was excited to show off my nails, but one came off in the shower, then I lost two more shortly after.
They are fine for a night out, just don’t expect them to last.”