Trips to the nail salon can be pricey, but who doesn't want immaculate, glossy nails at all times? Luckily, it's possible to recreate the salon-look for a fraction of the price. When it comes to your at-home manicure We've already tested the best quick-dry nail products to help your nail polish dry faster, and now we've put the best gel-effect polishes to the test. Many beauty brands have introduced gels which you can apply at home, like regular polish. You don't need to use an LED or UV lamp and these come in a wide range of shades. A well-formulated one will leave nails looking neat and tidy for longer, giving you salon-worthy results for less. We put nine gel-effect polishes to the test, with the help of our panel of over 100 women.
Gels are a recent addition to the nail industry and are typically used in salons. There are two types of gel. Salons use hard gel to create an artificial nail extension (this is like acrylics). Once cured by an LED or UV lamp, it stays tough. Soft gel refers to gel polishes and gel-overlay services which give nails a long-lasting and shiny finish that doesn’t chip, crack, or fade as quickly as regular polish. Most brands that offer gel-effect nail polish also include gel-effect top coats, which can deliver a more intense shine.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-primary-best-gel-nail-polishes-2e8aeebe4b1146baa03dc5ba04195bfe.jpg?strip=all "The 11 Best Gel Nail Polishes Of 2023")
Hard gel extensions or gel-overlays often require professional nail polish removal (or a lot of acetone) which can be damaging to the nail. However gel-effect polishes that you can purchase in shops are gentle enough to be removed in the same way as a regular polish, with a polish remover. A nail strengthener can help to protect nails, so as long as you take care of them, you should be good to go.
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When looking for nail polish, it's important to note that there are a few ingredients to look out for: formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. While there are studies that suggest these ingredients are harmful, EU regulations state that formaldehyde is safe in low levels, but both toluene and dibutyl phthalate are prohibited. None of the products we tested contain any of these ingredients and most formulas on the market shouldn't include these. But if you have an old polish at home that you can't bear to throw out, make sure you check the packaging.
You’ll see the terms ‘cruelty-free’ and ‘vegan’ used often when shopping around, but they don’t mean the same thing. Cruelty-free means that no animal testing occurred in the development of the product, whereas vegan tells consumers that the products don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients of byproducts. There are accreditations you can look out for, such as from the Leaping Bunny programme, its logo is an internationally recognised symbol for products not tested on animals.
We tested nine (soft) gel-effect nail polishes? with a panel of 189 women, who were eager to help us determine how effective they were. They assessed the consistency of the polish, how quickly it dried, the finish, packaging and ease of use. For our lab test, we used a special device called the DigiEye. This allowed us to measure the colour of nails directly after applying the polish, and again a week later. Using this data, we were able to see how much the polish chipped or faded after the test period.
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This vegan and cruelty-free nail paint is a highly-pigmented paint designed to give nails an extra-glossy finish. It scored a high 4/5 in our lab assessment, with nails staying chip-free almost a week after application. Our testers also found that it lasted six days before any chips or cracks started to show. The majority said they were surprised by how quickly it dried and most said it gave a nice, glossy finish in two coats. We were impressed with the wide range of shades and it's suitability for use on natural and acrylic nails. The Gelly Hi Shine top coat can be bought separately and used for extra shine.
This polish, available in a wide range of shades, aims to give long-lasting, gel-like shine in a two-step system, without the use of a UV or LED lamp. It scored 4/5 in our lab test, with results showing that it lasted well after a week of wear. Most testers found that two coats were best to enhance the colour and most said it dried quickly. It left nails looking flawless for three full days. The testers also said it was shinier than regular polish and gave nails a ‘salon finish’. The range includes a top coat which can be used for added shine.
This gel polish and top coat duo claims to provide a salon-inspired, long-lasting colour and mirror shine in just two steps. After applying two coats and top coat, testers said it had a long-lasting finish. Some said that it didn’t chip or crack a whole week after application. Most praised the sheen of the polish, which the top coat helped to enhance. Some stated that they preferred it to their regular polish, as it gave their nails a professional look. Testers were also impressed with the large colour-range.
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This 12ml polish dries like a regular polish and provides a high-shine finish without a UV light. It scored well in our lab assessment, and lasted well on the nails for several days. But, our at-home testers had mixed responses. Some said it chipped after a few days while others said it still looked good after a week of wear. Most were happy with how quickly it dried, and they agreed that it gave a glossy shine which looked professional. The range features a top coat which can be bought separately.
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Our testers appreciated the brush size when using this polish, with most of them saying it gave the right amount of coverage and didn't streak. The majority also said the polish gave a lovely, glossy finish which looked professional. A top coat is included in the range, sold separately. Testers found that two coats of polish gave better results, but it took over 20 minutes to dry completely. It lasted five days, even without the top coat.
As a beauty tester and writer at the GHI, Sunayah reviews products and tools to get the low-down on how well they (actually) work. You can go to her for all your beauty questions!
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The best shampoo bars for 2023 5 best home gel nail kits The best ceramide serums for 2023 The best hot brushes to buy nowRebecca is a contributing writer for where she specializes in all things nails. She has worked in beauty editorial for seven years.
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Evelyn Lim is a nail expert with more than 18 years of experience. She currently serves as the chief educator of Paintbox, a top nail studio in NYC.
We can all agree that there's just something so satisfying about perfectly painted, chip-free nails. While that typically implies getting a gel manicure to achieve the long-lasting wear we crave, there are more options to choose from—most of which will be a lot less damaging than our beloved gel.
It's important to note that experts advise taking a break from gel (think a week off between manicures with gel) and making sure that when you request gel, you actually wind up with a true gel polish. Of course, there are alternatives, which we rounded up here.
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To help you score a nail look that lasts for up to two weeks without any signs of wear and tear, we've rounded up gel nail alternatives you can pull off at home or in the salon, with tips from the experts.
If you don't want to take painting into your own hands, it's time to turn your attention to dip powder nails. Similar to gels, dip powder manicures last up to two weeks (some even longer).
“Powder dips have been around for a long time and are a glue and acrylic powder type of enhancement, ” says Stern. While they create an Insta-worthy look every time, it's worth noting that they come with a few downsides.
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“Some may consider these to be better than gels because they don’t require UV light, however, dips are not without risk, ” Stern explains. “These two-part systems use cyanoacrylate (monomer) which tends to be a liquid or gel that is applied with a brush. These monomers are well-known allergens and so acrylate allergies can and do
Stern also warns against the "double-dip" phenomenon, whereby some salons will use the same dipping pot from client to client (meaning any bacteria on the first person's finger can be transferred to or into yours). “Due to a lot of bad press on this topic, salons seem to be aware of this and are now either pouring the powder onto the nail, painting the powder on, or dipping
