123rf.com (Chris Elwell)
With a nail extension kit, you can have long, strong, perfectly shaped nails right in your own home without shelling out for a salon manicure. Polygel is just one type of nail extension so check out nail builder gel products and acrylic nail kits for beginners to decide which is right for you.
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1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: Morovan 8-Color Polygel Kit With Nail Lamp
Pros:- Full-size LED nail lamp
- Tons of extras
- Eight glitter and non-glitter polygel shades
- Includes entire manicure kit
Cons:- More expensive than others
- May not like all the bling
- More extras than you may want
If you are looking for lots of colors and a metric ton of extras, go with this Movoran Polygel Kit. It comes with eight tubes of polygel, top coat, base coat, nail dehydrator, nail primer, slip solution, full-sized 48W LED lamp, eight-piece duo-chrome manicure kit, dual forms, nail cleanser pads, multi-tool with brush and spatula, cuticle oil pen, five rolls of metallic nail striping tape, six pots of nail gems/pearls, rhinestone glue, glass cup, nail file, and a nail cleaning brush.
That’s a lot. You’re certainly getting your money’s worth here.
As far as polygel, you get eight half-ounce tubes in three sheer blush shades, one clear shade, and four glitter nail polish shades including holographic and iridescent.
Find more Morovan 8-Color Polygel Kit With Lamp information and reviews here.
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2. Gelish PolyGel Professional Enhancement Kits (2-Pack)
Pros:- Several kit sizes to choose from
- Different kit themes
- Trusted brand in professional nail world
- Includes slip solution
Cons:- Does not include extension forms
- Pricier than others
- Tube keys are a little unnecessary
If you’re looking for what you might find in a salon, Gelish is the way to go.
They offer several different nail extension kits from covering just the basics to giving you everything you could possibly need. But first, let’s talk about the quality of their products.
The Gelish polygel is extremely easy to work with. It’s not runny or gummy. It’s the perfect consistency for having good control over what you’re doing. When cured it has a nice flex to it and is very hard.
The smallest kit is the Gelish Trial Kit which includes clear polygel solution, slip solution, multi-tool with spatula and brush, and a tube key which is designed to help you get every last drop of product from your polygel container. This specific set also includes the Gelish Terrific Trio of Foundation, pH Bond, and Top It Off top coat. This is a good choice if you’re not quite ready to jump in and commit to the Gelish system.
The Master Kit (two-pack) comes with four polygel colors (clear, white, light pink, and cover pink), four tube keys, slip solution, multi-tool with brush, primer, pH bond, top coat, and cleanser.
If you don’t have a lamp or a lamp that you’re happy with, they have a Master Kit with Gelish Harmony 18G Lamp included. This is the lamp I named “best professional nail lamp” in my UV and LED nail lamp post.
One thing to note is that these kits do not come with molds or forms for creating extensions, which seems weird for a polygel set but for the quality you’re getting here, it’s worth picking up separate dual forms or extension form guides.
Find more Gelish PolyGel Professional Enhancement Kits information and reviews here.
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3. Saviland Poly Nail Rainbow Kit
Pros:- Seven colors including black
- 24 total dual form molds
- Slip solution
- Includes multi-tool with brush and spatula
- Affordable
- Comes with top and base
Cons:- Not everyone loves bright colors
- Included buffer isn't great
- No pH bonder
A good option for people who love bright colors is Saviland’s set of rainbow poly gel.
It comes with seven tubes of poly gel in all the colors of the rainbow as well as black, You also get slip solution, multi-tool with brush, top and base coat, two packs of reusable dual form molds, and a nail file.
The gel itself is a good consistency and is easy to spread without running.
Find more Saviland Poly Nail Kit information and reviews here.
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4. AstoundBeauty Glow-in-the-Dark & Color Change Poly Nail Extension Kit
Pros:- Six shades with neat effects
- 50 dual forms
- Includes top coat, base coat, and multi-tool
- Comes with cute mermaid storage bag
Cons:- Tubes aren't full-size
- No slip solution
- No sticker nail forms
If you love nails with special effects, you’ll be all over this AstoundBeauty Polygel Kit. The set comes with six mini-sized tubes of polygel with three different effects. You get one color changing thermal shade, two glow-in-the-dark shades, and three shimmer polygel shades.
You also get 50 dual forms, top and base coat, multi-tool with brush and spatula, nail file, glow-in-the-dark nail rhinestones, instructions, and this adorable mermaid storage bag.
Find more AstoundBeauty Polygel Kit information and reviews here.
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5. Mobray Extension Polygel Nail Builder Kit
Pros:- I can't help but love the cute branding
- Includes three colors
- Comes multi-tool and 100 dual forms
- LED nail lamp
Cons:- No top or base coat
- No slip solution
- Directions are a little iffy due to translation
For those on a budget and who also love cute cartoons of little monsters, Mobray has just what you need.
First things first, do you see the little monster faces on each gel tube? I can’t help but love this branding. It’s adorable.
This set comes with three colors: clear, natural pink, and nude. It also includes 100 dual forms, a multi-tool with spatula and brush, and a folding LED nail lamp.
It’s not the most professional set you’ll ever find, but it will absolutely do the job if you’re doing your nails from home.
Find more Mobray Extension Polygel Nail Builder Kit information and reviews here.
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6. Fiberglass Nail Kit
Pros:- Fiberglass nails are trendy and look natural
- Thinner than gel extensions
- Includes two kinds of fiberglass to try
- Affordable
Cons:- Won't last as long as polygel
- A little tricky to learn
- No top or base coat
For those looking for options to impress with their nail skills, check out Meet Across Fiberglass Extension Kit.
It comes with everything you need for fiberglass nail extensions except for a nail lamp.
Fiberglass nails require a couple more steps than polygel but the benefit to fiberglass is that you can get thinner enhancements so they look more natural than the plumper gel look. Thinner also means lighter. The negative for fiberglass is that they don’t tend to last as long as gel extensions so you have to weigh your preferences.
Watch this YouTube tutorial to see fiberglass nails application step-by-step. If nothing else, for this price it’s worth trying it out.
This kit comes with fiberglass, silk fiberglass, nail file, slanted nail art tweezers, builder gel, and clips.
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7. Gershion Poly Nail Extension Kit
Pros:- French manicure colors
- Full-size tubes will last you a while
- Includes top and base coat
- Two types of dual forms
Cons:- Colors not varied enough for some
- No organizer for dual forms
- No slip solution
Gershion Gel is very cooperative and easy to work with, making it a good choice for beginners.
You get a lot of product for the money with six one-ounce tubes. For colors, you have everything you need for a French Manicure and, on their own, a nice range that’s both date and office-friendly.
The kit includes 50 dual forms, 50 extension forms, a multi-tool with brush and spatula, and top and base coat.
I love that they give you two different types of forms to try out so you can see which one you prefer. This gel has a great consistency to it and is easy to learn on.
Find more Gershion Poly Nail Extension Kit information and reviews here.
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8. Gellen Poly Nail Extension Starter Set
Pros:- Six colors including clear and French tip colors
- Affordable
- 100 dual forms in organizer case
- Multi-tool with brush and spatula
- 20 cleansing wipes to remove tacky layer
- Top and base coat
- Known brand
Cons:- No slip included
- Instructions they give aren't great
- Tubes are on the small side
There would be good value here if you only got six colors and 100 dual forms in an organizing case for this price, but this Gellen kit packed more in.
The starter kit also comes with top coat, base coat, 20 cleansing wipes, two file buffers, and a multi-tool with spatula and brush. The only crucial thing not included that you really need is slip solution and you can easily substitute with alcohol.
It’s a nice range of colors with clear, bright white, baby pink, natural pink, light coral, and pink lemonade. You can make some nice French and American manicure styles with these colors but the darker pinks are pigmented enough to wear on their own. (Of course, you can also use gel polish over them too.)
The nail buffers are cheap but will get the job done if you don’t have your own. I will say the instructions they provide aren’t great so be sure to watch some YouTube tutorials before you start to make sure you’ve got all the steps down. The Gellen instructions don’t mention prepping your nails by buffing them down enough that they lose their shine and then hitting them with a dehydrator like alcohol first.
The prep steps are the difference between whether your manicure will lift within a week or not. And lifting nails can be a germ magnet according to Mayo Clinic.
Find more Gellen Poly Nail Extension Starter Set information and reviews here.
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9. SCX’s All-In-One Polygel Nail Art Kits
Pros:- 10 shades
- Dual forms and stickers
- Lots of glamorous nail art
- Includes top and base coat
Cons:- Too flashy for some
- No slip solution
- May not need lamp
For those who love to stand out and want a one-stop kit, check out all of SXC’s All-In-One Polygel Sets.
There are loads of sets to choose from (including subtle French Manicure shades), but I’m highlighting their Bridal Series which has 10 half-ounce tubes of polygel in popular bridal shades, both creams and glitters.
You also get six jars of glamorous glitters, metallic nail stickers, chameleon nail gems, nail rhinestones, rhinestone picker, dual forms, paper nail forms, top and base coat, nail tools, and a 24 LED nail lamp.
This is a great starter set if you’re brand new to nail sculpting.
Find more SCX All-In-One Poly Gel Starter Kit information and reviews here.
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10. Coscelia 6-Color Poly Nail Kit
Pros:- Six colors including clear
- Comes with an LED nail lamp
- 50 dual forms
- Includes slip solution and multi-tool
- Rhinestones and nail stickers
- Top and base coat included
Cons:- All pink colors
- Might not need lamp
- Not many forms
For those of us into nail art, the Coscelia Polygel Kit includes an LED lamp, rhinestones, striping tape, and nail stickers to play with.
This one comes with almost everything you can ask for including six colors (clear and a range of pinks), 36W LED nail lamp, slip solution, glass for slip solution, top coat, base coat, multi-tool with brush and spatula, two nail files, nail clippers, cuticle fork, slanted tweezers for nail art, 10 nail polish remover wipes, 10 cleansing wipes, 50 dual forms, two sets of nail art rhinestones, nail stickers, five rolls of striping tape, and a cuticle oil pen.
A set like this is a steal for the lamp alone.
Find more Coscelia 6-Color Poly Nail Kit information and reviews here.
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11. Major Dijit Fiberglass Nail Kit
Pros:- Affordable
- Trendy fiberglass nails look more natural
- Includes top coat, base coat, and builder gel
- Comes with all the tools and gel you need
- Includes nail lamp
- French manicure colors
Cons:- Slow shipping
- Directions aren't great
- Fiberglass isn't as long-lasting
This affordable kit from Major Dijit comes with 10 pieces of fiberglass and a jar of loose fiberglass, mini UV nail lamp, top coat, base coat, three shades of builder gel, one nail file, two pairs of tweezers, nail brush, and shaping clip.
This really sets you up with everything you need. I love that you get three shades of builder gel in white, peach, and clear–perfect for creating French tips. For the price, it’s hard to say no to experimenting with fiberglass.
Find more Fiberglass Nail Tip Kit information and reviews here.
Can You Do Gel Nail Extensions at Home?
Yup, you definitely can. It takes a little practice but many kits come with everything you need to do your own poly gel nails.
I know it looks intimidating, but after watching a couple of good YouTube tutorials, you'll see it's not as hard as it seems. That said, it wouldn't hurt to practice a couple on some swatch sticks before applying to your natural nails. (Just give the swatch stick a quick buff to rough up the surface first or the gel might not stick.)
How Do You Remove Polygel Nails?
Unlike gel nail polish, you don't soak polygel extensions off. They need to be filed off. This is easiest and quickest with a nail drill machine but can also be done with a manual nail file if that's what you have.
You'll want to snip off what length you can just to save you time and then use your drill to gently file off the gel while still leaving a very thin layer. You don't want to get too close to your natural nail because you could accidentally file into it and damage your nails.
Keep in mind nail drills kick up dust which gets everywhere and isn't great to breathe in which is why I always recommend you use a nail dust collector to vacuum up the dust as it's created so it never gets into the air.
Once you're down to a thin layer, you can either file the rest off with a manual file followed by a buffer or soak the final layer off with pure acetone. If your last layer is thin enough, you should be able to gently scrape it off after a good soak. Then hit your nails with a gentle buffing and you should be good to go.