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Cost of Gel Nails At Home
We all know that regularly getting gel nails done at a salon once to twice a month gets expensive.
However, there are now countless options to buy your own nail UV lights, polish, and kits to help you save a ton of money while still having the coveted gel nail look!
If you want to start saving money with at-home gel nails, this article goes over how much gel nail supplies cost, the steps to doing your own gel nails, and how long it takes to do your own gel nails. Plus, I provide the exact supplies I use so you can and my reviews of the products!
It costs $50 to buy the supplies to do your own gel nails at home. To get your gel nails done at a salon, one trip can cost $35-$50. If your at-home gel polish lasts 9 months, every gel application costs $2.77. Doing at-home gel nails twice a month costs around $5 in total.
Although $50 can appear expensive at first, it is important to consider that this is a one-time purchase compared to the recurring purchases that you’d encounter when going to a salon to get your nails manicured.
Necessary Supplies for At-Home Gel Nails
Below are the exact supplies that I use and currently recommend for doing at-home gel nails!
UV Light
There are countless UV lights on the market, but I suggest doing your research into one that is reliable and doesn’t cause any burning sensations.
This UV light by SUNUV that I purchased off Amazon is one that is not only inexpensive but has been very reliable, easy to use, and has never caused me issues. It only costs around $25, and is definitely on the budget-friendly end compared to many other options out there.
Make sure to look for a UV light that is specifically compatible with gel polish, and for at-home use!
Top and Base Coat
It is common to see top and base coats used when doing nails that are not gel-based. However, it is critical to use these to avoid burning and to allow for the gel polish to adhere correctly.
You also need to make sure to purchase a base coat and a top coat that are specifically for gel nail polish – not for regular nail polish!
I did extensive research into the supplies for at-home gel nails, to find the most inexpensive, yet effective, polish.
This base and top coat duo from Amazon was my perfect find at only $6, and I am still using this exact one, 9 months down the road!
Gel Polish
I have experimented with multiple brands of gel polish, and have not found a big difference between them.
I found this brand of gel polish on Amazon that provides sets of gel polish that are all within the same color scheme! This is a significantly more budget-friendly option than buying gel polish colors that are all sold individually.
Be sure to read reviews so you buy polish that will give you great at-home gel nails!
Nail filer
If you’ve gotten your nails done at a salon, you know that it is important to buff the nails prior to application of the base coat. (I have the application tutorial outlined below!)
You can do this easily at home with a nail filer, rather than using the fancy motorized tools that a salon uses. I personally got my nail filer for free, but you can pick up inexpensive ones off Amazon, like this cheap nail filer here, or get one from a dollar store nearby.
How Long it Takes to Do Gel Nails at Home
It typically takes around 30 minutes to do a set of both finger and toe nails using gel polish at home.
Generally for regular polish it would take around 45 minutes to a full hour to not only paint the nails but to allow them to dry. You’d always have the fear of the polish getting knicked or rubbed off.
What’s great about gel polish is that once it is done, it is completely hardened, and there is no fear associated with doing any manual work immediately following application!
I do recommend that you set aside a bit more time if it is your first time doing your at-home gel nails. It can take a few trials to learn how long to use the UV light and how much of the polish to apply. It is a different process than doing your nails with regular polish!
5 Steps to Quickly Do Gel Nails at Home
Below are the exact steps I follow to do gel nails at home! Do note that using different UV lights, polishes, and other supplies can change the results, so be sure to read all the instructions for the products that you buy. Simply use this as reference, not exact rules!
1. Cut and File Your Nails
Shape the nails using a nail filer and nail clippers prior to applying any polish.
2. Buff Your Nails
Run the nail filer across the nails a few times to get any previous polish, base coat, or buildup off of the nail. Follow with washing the hands.
3. Apply Base Coat and Place Under Light
Apply a coat of the base polish and place the hands under the UV light for 60 seconds. Be sure to read the instructions for your UV light and your specific gel base coat polish for instructions to avoid burning or inaccurate setting of the gel.
4. Apply 2-3 Coats of Gel Polish and Place Under Light
Some polishes work well with 2 coats, and some better with 3 coats. Depending on your specific gel polish, apply a coat, then place under the UV light. Leave the hand under the light for the amount of time your polish and UV light recommends, typically around 60 seconds. Then, apply another coat of the same gel polish. Place your hand under the light again to harden the gel of the second coat.
5. Apply Top Coat and Place Under Light
Apply a coat of the top polish and place the hands under the UV light for around 60 seconds. Read the instructions for your UV light and your specific gel top coat polish for instructions to avoid burning or inaccurate setting of the gel.
How to Budget for Gel Nails
Lastly, let’s discuss how much you can expect to pay for your at-home gel nails, over time!
You can expect to go through a bottle of gel polish in 6-9 months of use. This is based on using the polish 1-2 times a month.
In the set of gel nail polish I mentioned above that I have purchased and used, each gel polish bottle costs about $2.
In 1 year you may buy additional colors and additional top and base coat. However, you should not have to buy an additional UV light. These additional polishes may add an additional $20 during the year.
However, the initial cost, plus the cost of getting additional colors and coats is far cheaper in comparison to getting your nails done at the salon!
In fact, you can do your nails every two weeks for an entire year for the price of getting your nails done TWICE at a salon! That’s a big savings!