Gel nail polish has truly revolutionised the world of manicures. First of all, a gel polish will make your nails look gloriously glossy; then there’s the whole long-lasting factor, with a gel manicure usually lasting up to two weeks without chipping.

But how do DIY at-home gel manicures compare to the ones you can get done professionally in salon? I decided it was time to find out, so I got my hands on the SensatioNail Starter Kit and got to work.

Here's how the application went down:

Step one:

I filed and lightly buffed my clean, natural nails.

Step two:

I wiped my nails clean using a lint-free wipe and the SensationNail Gel Cleanser.

Step three:

I applied one coat of the Gel Primer on my nails and allowed it to air dry.

Step four:

Next, I applied a thin layer of the Gel Base & Top Coat and ‘capped’ my nails by running the brush along my nail tips. I then popped my nails under the LED lamp provided for 30 seconds to let my nails cure (in other words, to let the coat set.)

REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT: don’t get the Gel Base & Top Coat on your skin or cuticles. Once cured, this layer will harden on your skin. After a few hours it will come off, but it will most definitely effect the quality of your manicure and will leave rough edges. So be very careful to apply it only on your nails.

Step five:

Time for colour! I painted one thin layer of the coloured Gel Polish (I picked Blue Yonder, a gorgeous navy), again being sure to avoid my cuticles and skin. I then put my fingers under the lamp for 60 seconds, applied a second coat of colour, and cured them under the lamp for another 60 seconds.

Step six:

Once the colour was done, I applied a final thin coat of the Gel Base & Top Coat and capped my nails, and cured my nails for a final 30 seconds.

Step seven:

To finish off, I used another lint-free wipe with gel cleanser to remove the layer of moisture on my nails.

So, what are my thoughts?

The application process was so quick and easy – it didn’t take me longer than 15 minutes to do it all. Plus, there was no pesky drying time, which is a huge bonus for me.

In terms of the results, I loved how glossy my nails looked and was even more impressed that the shiny finish lasted all the way up until I had to remove the gel polish two weeks later. I really put my nails through their paces to test the chip-free finish, and I’m pleased to say that nothing – not even a 10-minute stint of opening packages with my bare hands – affected the quality finish on my nails.

This is what my nails looked just after I did them:



Overall, I’m pretty impressed with the SensatioNail Starter Kit – it offers great results, is easy to use, and will save me my hard-earned cash in the long run (sorry nail salon, you are no longer needed in my life.)