I rarely paint my nails because having coloured finger ends isn’t a high priority for me, however when I do it takes me ages to get the perfect coating only to find it’s already beginning to chip within 24 hours making my hands look worse than before. Your nails go through a bit of a bashing during the day, with house work, gym and training sessions and typing like a demon on the laptop, Gel Polish might be a better option as they have a tougher finish and protect weaker nails.

The Professional Starter Kit with Pro Led Light from Red Carpet Manicure lets you get professional results in a step system to create the perfect at home manicure. The Kit comes with the Red Carpet Manicure Professional LED light, Nail Prep, Structure Base Coat, Brilliance Top Coat, Revitalize Cuticle Oil, Purify Cleanser 59ml, Erase Gel Polish Remover 59ml, Red Carpet Reddy LED Gel Polish, 20x Remover Wraps, 20x Lint Free Wipes, 5x Orange Wood Sticks, Buffing Stick, 2x Adhesive Buffing Tab Strips, Emery Board and instructions card. I was a little intimidated by the number of products involved in the process and unsure as to whether it would be worth it but I’m not one to shy away from a challenge.

I was surprised that the application didn’t take that long, thanks to the LED 6watt light that cures (basically dries) your nails in about one minute, allowing you to add the next layer almost instantly. I used the accessories to prep my nails, then applied the base coat, colour and the top coat, the result was a glossy and even finish and I was surprised at how professional it looked, I used the included Peach Nude polish that looked stylish without being overly flashy. After a week my nails still looked freshly done, I managed to get to 12 days before I noticed any damage, which is a huge improvement on my regular nail polish. If you already love doing your nails and wearing gels then this is a good little kit to invest in, if you are like me and like the look but can’t be bothered with the fuss and maintenance this might also win you over. RRP £69.95

Current Cheapest Price

4 out of 5

Pros

Contains everything you need for gel polish nails

Lasted 12 days without damage (my hands take a hammering through the week)

RCM Professional LED Light

Nails cured in 1minute

Easy to use

Cons

No case to keep the kit together or for transporting

Light unit feels flimsy