These Acrylic Nail Sets Will Turn Your Home Into a Salon (2024)

When I first ventured into DIY acrylics, I took it slow and chose a kit like this one that’s geared toward beginners. This paired-down acrylic set comes with just six dip powders, a monomer (the chemical that creates the acrylic nail), three nail art brushes you can use for shaping and putting on nail art stickers, and a nail file.

THE REVIEW: "This is a perfect kit for beginners! I definitely recommend it. The consistency of the acrylics is amazing. They are slow setting, which gives you plenty of time to work with the product," writes one tester.

Complete with nail rhinestones, sequins, and glitter, the nail artist in me had absolutely everything I needed to create my most ~arsty~ mani yet. And the only thing better than a good kit is if it comes with a cute case to carry all of your goodies in, which this one does.

THE REVIEW: "I like the different things that came with it. It comes with practice fingers for beginners and an assortment of colors and rhinestones to choose from. I like the assortment of brushes and the quality of everything overall. I will definitely recommend and buy it again," one review reads.

The trickiest part about DIY-ing my own acrylics is making the paste. To make it easier, I mixed the liquid monomer and acrylic powder into a separate dish, then coated my nails with the brushes. Once it dried, I filed and shaped the nail, and then sealed it with a top coat.

THE REVIEW: "The product came packaged perfectly, everything was sealed great and in perfect condition. The pink powder was gorgeous! Just like you get from a salon...the white and clear are great too! It was easy to apply and I am blown away by the solidity of my acrylic nail set!" one reviewer writes.

Whether you’re a pro nail artist or a beginner, this expansive acrylic nail kit has you covered. This system includes 3 acrylic powders, a nail drill, monomer, tools, and even a set of nail forms.

THE REVIEW: "I decided to start slow and used it to fill my current acrylic nails that I got done at a salon. I was very impressed with how easy it was, it did take me a while but I’m sure I’ll get quicker as time goes on," reads one review.

Look, we all want the most expensive-looking manicure for the least amount of ~expense~. This budget-friendly acrylic nail kit is $10—and includes nail glue, acrylic powder, monomer, and both neutral and French tips.

THE REVIEW: "This was so easy to use, this was on my first try and I’ve been wearing them for about a week and they have not budged! I was really happy with how they came out considering it was my first try and I had no experience," reads one tester's review.

If you’re loving doing your own acrylic nails at home, make sure that you have nail tips in your arsenal. This acrylic nail set comes with over 50 tips of all shapes and sizes, so you can become an expert in almond nails or stiletto nails in no time. Pro tip: When you’re shaping your nails, start by clipping the nails roughly into the shape you want with nail clippers to cut down on filing time.

THE REVIEW: "I love how vibrant the colors are and how the variety of colors ranges from bold and bright, to more natural colors. Each color is very pigmented. The product dries after 60 seconds under the UV/Led light, unlike many other brands I've tried that I have to put under the light 2-3 times before they are fully dry," reads one review.

As someone who almost always goes for a neutral manicure at the salon, this dip powder nail kit is perfect to stash at home for any last-minute needs. Plus, you won’t need a UV lamp to cure your set. It might look daunting, but you’ll get the hang of it with time and practice, promise.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve started doing nails myself, and I’m so happy I found this!! Each step dries so quickly, yet they didn’t get tacky as I was applying them, so I was able to take my time with it and make sure I didn’t get the product on my cuticles. The colors are beautiful, and after using three layers of the dip powder, my nails feel 1000x stronger than when I use a regular polish," writes one reviewer.

A nail drill will save you hours of your life filing your acrylics into your desired nail shape. This drill kit includes six tips that buff and file your nails in a fraction of the time that it takes a manual filer. Fair warning: This bb gets hot after a while, so let the machine rest after about 20 minutes of use.

THE REVIEW: "I loved this nail drill! I'm an amateur trying to learn to do my nails with polygel at home and this drill was the difference between love and hate with my end results," one review reads.

If acrylics feel like too much work, a dip powder nail kit is a little easier and will give you an equally long-lasting manicure. And if you still want length, you can still glue on some nail tips before you start the dip process. The best part? No UV lamp is required, which is better for your nails, and one less thing to store, TBH. PSA: Be sure to use a legit gel removal kit to remove your polish, and pls do not peel, pick, or bite them off.

THE REVIEW: "Tried for the first time last night and I love how it turned out. So simple and dried quickly. Overall, great product, and I would definitely repurchase it!" writes one tester.

This dip powder nail kit includes dip powder, finishing powder, a bond, base, activator, sealer, buffer, nail file, and cuticle tool. NGL, dip powders are a bit of a process, but after all of that work, you’ll be left with smooth, shiny polish that won’t chip the minute you leave your house, and takes way less time to remove than acrylics (just soak your nails in acetone for 15 minutes and gently rub the polish off).

THE REVIEW: "This kit is great overall. I decided to try the scrub method to create an ombré effect and it worked really well the first time around! The steps for dip nails do have a learning curve, but once you do it a couple of times, you get the hang of it. My nails came out really great! Would recommend," one reviewer writes.

It’s good to let your nails take a breather after you wear acrylics, so if you’re in that in-between phase but still want long nails, try press-ons. They’re less harsh, super easy to apply and already are complete with a design. This kit comes with 24 nails, nail glue, and a cuticle stick so you get the best adhesion.

THE REVIEW: "I get compliments left and right with these show-stoppers! They hold up great and were easy to apply! 10/10 recommend them!!" one review reads.

In between acrylics, if you still want long-lasting polish, grab a gel polish kit and a UV lamp. The price tag on this kit is heftier, but you get all 69 shades of Triple O Polish’s gel polish, plus a top and a base coat. So if you’re looking to overhaul your nail collection and make sure you get a few weeks out of every mani, meet your new gel polish kit.

THE REVIEW: I have tried these gel polishes and they are of absolute quality and design. The colors are super pigmented, and the formula lasts legit forever without cracking.

Understand how they work

Acrylic nails are made up of liquid monomer and powder polymer, which, when used together correctly, form a paste and create the hard acrylic “nail” material that can withstand basically anything. When they’re layered on top of nail forms or tips, you can get any length or nail shape you want. And that’s exactly why they’re popular. Because if you’re like me and are blessed with short, stubby lil nails that break the second they grow past the edge of your fingertip, acrylics are basically the answer to getting a Kylie Jenner–worthy manicure.

Know the effects

When acrylics are removed and applied correctly (with no biting, peeling, or ripping your acrylics off), acrylics shouldn’t be bad for your nails. But they can be hard on your nails over time, and all that buffing and filing that’s necessary for the acrylic materials to adhere can leave them on the brittler side, especially after getting them touched up to fill in the growth gaps.

“Your natural nails grow out regardless of how long your acrylics last,” Pinto has told Cosmo. “And you’ll start to see growth at your cuticle beds after two weeks.” So it’s a good idea to give your nails a break after one or two applications, and treat them to a nail strengthener and cuticle oil on the reg.

• Rita de Alencar Pinto is the founder of Vanity Projects nail salon in NYC, and has recently spoken to Cosmo regarding how long acrylic nails will last.

Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing nail stories, like the best press-on nails and the top nail stickers. She regularly tests and analyzes acrylic nail kits on her own nails for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top professionals to assess new formulas and brands.

Valeriya Chupinina is a beauty contributor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing haircare stories that range from NYE nail designs to Christmas nail designs. She’s chosen her acrylic nail kit picks based on reviews, product ratings, and expertise from professionals.