Manicure has become a cult of self-expression rather than a basic personal grooming routine. Every three weeks, you get the chance to let your individuality shine with fresh nail designs. A trip to the nail salon feels like a special treat for many girls; however, it might be a pricey one. The average cost of a professional shellac nail set in Canada varies between $40 and $60. For gel sets with more complicated designs, be prepared to pay between $60 and $100, not including gratuity. As someone who gets a gel manicure monthly, I can assure you that it is quite a financial commitment. The good news is that you can significantly reduce the cost of this beauty procedure by simply doing it yourself.

Tools You Need 

If you are new to the nail beauty industry, or have always gone to the salon for professional treatment and never really done it yourself, you might feel overwhelmed by the many tools needed for manicuring. Purchasing all the necessary items one by one can be daunting. However, you can avoid this struggle by investing in one good kit that includes all the essentials (or almost all of them). Moreover, you will save money by investing in a good manicure set now rather than paying a nail technician later. What exactly should be in the kit? Ideally, you would want: a good UV/LED lamp, quality polishes (gel base coat, color, and top coat), cuticle pusher and nipper, nail file and buffer, lint-free wipes and alcohol, and cuticle oil. I find cuticle oil to be a necessity not only during the technical process, but also afterward for moisturizing the skin and keeping your nails looking neat throughout wear. To remove old polish between wears, you will also need a nail file, acetone, cotton pads, foil or clips, a cuticle pusher, and a buffer. These are the must-haves for an at-home manicure. Finding a manicure set that includes everything and has high-quality products that will not damage your nails while creating a long-lasting effect might not be easy, but it is quite possible. Here are some good kits that you might consider purchasing.

EnailCouture Intro DIY Gel Kit

This set is every girl’s dream — well, almost — especially for those who can’t resist pink. This kit features a very pleasant princess design that turns manicuring into an aesthetic activity. It includes a Zirconia Lamp with a very creative design that I honestly haven’t seen before. A USB C cable and charger are included as well. Taffy gel, a solid resin glue gel used for nail applications, allows you to skip the base coat step and provides a pliable, flexible hold. It also includes nail prep and primer for nail plate dehydration and adhesion, a shine top coat with two mystery color polishes, five nail files of different grits, a box of press-on nails in various shapes, cuticle oil, stir sticks, a branded pouch, and an aesthetic storage box. All these items will create a salon-like nail experience and make you reconsider the importance of visiting a pro nail salon.


Bio Seaweed Gel Beginner Starter Kit

This high-quality nail kit, designed by a professional-grade brand, is praised for its long-lasting results. Get that pro-like home manicuring experience by using Bio Seaweed’s salon-quality materials. It includes an LED/UV lamp, base and top coat duo, two full-size gel polishes, nail buffers, files, soak-off wraps, lint-free wipes, and cuticle oil. Even though this starter kit is in the higher price range on the market, it will definitely leave you satisfied with a high-quality lasting set of nails.

Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit

Le Mini is the perfect choice for those who are always on the go. This is the best portable option that can easily be placed in your bag and traveled with: compact and lightweight. Additionally, it has the cutest design-true to its name, the lamp is macaron-shaped and comes in various colors, from classic reds and pinks to soft nudes and glittery shades. It is also USB-powered, so you can power it via your laptop or a portable charger. The toolkit includes a bottle of 3-in-1 one-step gel polish (which combines base coat, color, and top coat), a cuticle stick, a mini nail file, 10 remover pads, and detailed instructions. Honestly, I would buy this one solely for its adorable design.


Investing in a nail kit is a smart financial decision, considering you’d spend around $600 yearly on nails alone if you go to the salon at least once a month. By doing your manicure at home, you can eliminate this expense from your monthly budget. It also gives you the freedom to change colors more frequently and refresh your nails sooner. Not to mention, at-home manicuring is a great time-management strategy, as it saves you from juggling salon appointments. Once you do your perfect nails by yourself, you won’t want anyone else to do it for you!

Viktoriia Kolomiiets | Writer