Can you get a salon quality manicure at home?

[SoLongFurlough]

Been getting gel manicure every 3 weeks for a couple of years now but think I’m soon going to be unable to justify the cost
Any tips or recommendations for doing your own at home?
TIA!

I’ve never had a gel manicure but I do do my own manicures with normal vanish.

Bit like painting your walls, I think it’s all in the prep 😁 so good nail file (I prefer a crystal one) regular cuticle oil massaged into nail and nail bed, base coat plus two colour coats and finish with decent top coat . I like Seche Vite top coat, they also do a gel effect one if you like a glossier finish. I find this easily lasts a week still looking good!

I have a Mylee led nail lamp. Provided you prep well, watch a few YouTube vids you can get salon results as home. I think it was around £125 with all the bits. Can do your toes with it too. Pretty good value if you regularly pay for gel nails and toes.

I just bought the Mylee kit lamp and all the bits. I was surprised at how good it was when I did my first one last Sunday. Much cheaper than the 30 pounds I have been paying for 6 years every month or so.

Yes I’ve been looking at the Mylee stuff on Amazon but I’m not sure if I’m ready to shell out £££s just yet in case I don’t use it

The value of a professional manicure is in the shaping and the cuticle work and you will get really good results if you focus on this. Use a cuticle cream every day and when you paint your nails use a cuticle remover like Sally Hansen or Blue Diamond before using a cuticle pusher.

I have a Sensationail kit which isn't professional but gets good results. I already had a large collection of traditional nail varnishes so I use their gel-to-polish topcoat and cure under the lamp.