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
RATING: 5/5
Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon says:
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
RATING: 4/5
Beauty Editor Tara Ledden says;
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.”