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Skip the Salon: How At-Home Gel Nails Can Save You Thousands

  • 7 min read

Fed up with shelling out a small fortune every two-three weeks just to maintain your perfectly polished nails? If you’re feeling the pinch, look no further than at-home gel manicures. Not only are they convenient, long-lasting and fully customisable, but they also save you a bunch of money.

Let’s break down exactly how much you can expect to save by doing your own gel nails at home with Gelous, and why an at-home gel nail kit is a smart investment for your beauty routine.


The Cost of Nail Salon Visits

Let’s be real, gel manicures from a salon can cost a pretty penny. Having surveyed 10 nail salons across London, Los Angeles and Toronto, the average cost of a gel manicure with removal sits around £35 GBP in London (ranging from £30 to £40 or more), $46 USD in Los Angeles (ranging from $35 to $65 or more), and $48 CAD in Toronto (ranging from $35 to $70 or more).

When paying the salon a visit every two weeks to keep your set looking its best, this cost rapidly adds up to leave you out of pocket by over £900 GBP, $1100 USD or $1200 CAD a year. That’s not even taking into account any extra charges for nail art, treatments or special polishes such as Builder Gel to help strengthen and lengthen the nails. It’s obvious that the expense of salon gel manicures can become too much of a burden, but fortunately, there’s a more cost-effective solution that still guarantees a flawless gel manicure every time - Gelous at-home gel nail kits.

LONDON Salon Name

Gel Manicure & Removal Cost

London Mode £38 GBP
Trieu Nails £40 GBP
Vauxhall Nails & Beauty £30 GBP
Mia Nails £40 GBP
Beauty Box Nail Bar £35 GBP
Nails Boutique £35 GBP
The Beautiful Nail Studio £30 GBP
Modern Nails and Beauty £30 GBP
Precious Nails and Beauty £38 GBP
Go Glam £31 GBP
Average Cost £34.70 GBP

Los ANGELES Salon Name

Gel Manicure & Removal Cost

Pinks Nail Spa $40 USD
Red Polish $50 USD
Sweetley Nails $42 USD
Blush LA $55 USD
Elle Nails Spa $35 USD
Nail Club LA $65 USD
Polished Nail Bar $43 USD
Nailington $40 USD
Nails by Aloha $50 USD
Wilshire Nails & Spa $35 USD
Average Cost $45.50 USD

TORONTO Salon Name

Gel Manicure & Removal Cost

Natural Nail Bar $45 CAD
Glossix Nail Bar $35 CAD
Get Gelled $70 CAD
Sarang $35 CAD
Nails for You $38 CAD
Tokyo Nails and Spa $55 CAD
Nailsense $50 CAD
LTS Nails $40 CAD
Onyx $65 CAD
Classic Studio by T.P $45 CAD
Average Cost $47.80 CAD

The Cost of a Gelous At-Home Gel Nail Kit

With a Gelous Gel Nail Kit, you can achieve the same stunning, salon-quality result at a fraction of the cost. Gelous’ affordable, all-inclusive Starter Kits include everything you need to create flawless manicures in the comfort of your own home, including a Base Coat, Top Coat, Colour Coat of your choice, UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp, Nail File, Orangewood Cuticle Sticks, Cuticle Oil, Lint Free Wipes and Manicure Removal Clips. Add on an acetone-based remover for an extra £8 GBP/$10 USD/$13 CAD, and you’ll pay just £80 GBP/$100 USD/$133 CAD altogether. While the initial investment may seem higher compared to a single salon appointment, this kit is designed to produce multiple manicures, giving you far more bang for your buck. With each polish lasting for around 40 manicures, each Gelous gel manicure will cost you around £2 GBP, $2.50 USD or $3.30 CAD. That’s over 17 (UK), 18 (USA) or 14 (CA) at-home manicures for the price of one trip to the salon.

Cost per Manicure (London, England)

Cost per Gel Manicure - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. London, United Kingdom Salons

Cost per Manicure (Los Angeles, United States)

Cost per Gel Manicure - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. Los Angeles, United States Salons

Cost per Manicure (Toronto, Canada)

Cost per Gel Manicure - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. Toronto, Canada Salons


Just How Much Money Will I Save With a Gelous At-Home Gel Nail Kit?

Let’s break it down. If you’re visiting the salon every two weeks for your gel manicures, you’ll be spending around £900 GBP, $1100 USD or $1200 CAD a year on your nails - at least. If you invest in a Gelous Gel Nail Kit for around £80 GBP/$100 USD/$133 CAD, you'll save close to £750 - $1000 in just one year, even after buying additional Gel Nail Polish and Remover. That’s a hefty sum of money that you could put towards other things that bring you joy, all the while still enjoying gorgeous nails.

With each Gelous Gel Nail Polish lasting about 40 manicures, the initial cost of the Starter Kit quickly pays for itself. Creating 40 flawless manicures for the price of just 2-3 salon appointments, your kit doesn’t end there, instead promising to create thousands more spectacular sets with the Gelous UV/LED Lamp boasting up to 50,000 hours of use. Meanwhile, 40 gel manicures at a salon sets you back over £1400 GBP, $1800 USD or $1900 CAD, with this cost only increasing every two weeks. By using a Gelous at-home gel nail solution, you’ll save all this and more. With a Gelous Starter Kit, you only need to purchase further Gel Nail Polish, Remover, and Tools when needed, so once you've made the initial investment, your ongoing expenses are minimal. Think about it, what would you do with the thousands of dollars you’d save?

If you're looking to save money in the long run without sacrificing quality, Gelous' at-home Gel Nail Kits are the way to go.

Cost of 40 Manicures (London, England)

Cost of 40 Gel Manicures - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. London, United Kingdom Salons

Cost of 40 Manicures (Los Angeles, United States)

Cost of 40 Gel Manicures - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. Los Angeles, United States Salons

Cost of 40 Manicures (Toronto, Canada)

Cost of 40 Gel Manicures - Gelous At-Home Kit vs. Toronto, Canada Salons


Is It Hard to Do Your Own Gel Manicure? Will My Nails Look as Good as the Salon?

While going from getting gel manicures at a salon to doing them at home may seem daunting, it's actually fairly easy once you get the hang of it. You don't need to be a professional to achieve a salon-quality result! With the right tools, a bit of practice and some patience, you'll be able to create radiant, long-lasting nails with ease. Applying Gel Nail Polish is similar to applying regular polish, just with the added step of using the UV/LED Lamp to harden the polish and give it its high-shine, signature finish.

Gelous makes doing your own gel manicure straightforward and hassle-free with detailed instructions, video tutorials, blogs with expert advice, and a supportive Facebook community to guide you every step of the way. Plus we’re only a phone call, email or DM away. You’re sure to create stunning nails that rival those of a salon, there’s no need to feel hesitant!


Are There Any Other Pros of DIY Gel Nails?

Convenience

No more scheduling appointments and reorganising your day to fit in a salon visit - with Gelous' at-home Gel Nail Kits, you can do your nails from the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you. Whether that’s around your busy work schedule, in between your children’s naps, or getting ready for a last-minute event, you can’t beat the convenience of DIY gel nails.

Creativity

Unlike nail salons, where you may have limited options for nail art or be charged extra for specific designs or colours, doing your own gel nails offers you the freedom to fully express your creativity and personalise your manicure to your liking. You can mix and match colours to your heart’s content, explore different designs and create unique looks that perfectly match your style. Want to try out that trending nail art you saw on Instagram? Go for it. Gelous makes sure you’re confident in doing so, with hundreds of Nail Art Tutorials to polish up your skills, a well-loved collection of easy-to-use Tools, and a diverse range of beginner-friendly Nail Art Polishes and Decals. With Gelous, it’s never been so easy and cost-effective to get creative. By doing your own gel nails, you’re free to create custom looks that are uniquely yours, the possibilities are endless - and they won’t break the bank.

Control

Taking control of the ingredients in your beauty routine is crucial, especially if you have allergies or sensitivities. By doing your own gel nails, you have complete control over the products and ingredients you use, enabling you to customise your nail care routine according to your unique needs. At Gelous, we understand the importance of clean and safe beauty. That's why our products are vegan, cruelty-free and 10-free, meaning they are free from 10 harmful chemicals commonly found in nail products such as formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. With a Gelous DIY Nail Kit, you can take control of your nail care routine and have peace of mind knowing that the products you’re using are safe and truly aligned with your personal values.

Gelous Vanilla Latte gel nail polish - photographed in Canada on model


How Long Do At-Home Gel Nails Last?

With proper prep, application and aftercare, you can trust your Gelous at-home manicure to last for at least two weeks without any fading, peeling or chipping in sight. Whilst lasting as long as a salon manicure, by using the right products such as Builder Gel and Rubber Base Coat, your manicure is likely to last even longer. Plus, you'll have the added convenience of being able to touch up or redo your nails whenever you please without having to schedule and pay for another appointment. With Gelous’ easy-to-follow instructions and salon-quality formula, you can be confident your gel manicure will last when it matters most.

Switching from the nail salon to DIY Gelous gel manicures is a no-brainer if you want to save money without compromising on quality. With an easy-to-use, high-quality at-home Gel Nail Kit, you can say goodbye to the inconvenience and expense of regular nail salon visits, and hello to the freedom, flexibility and money-saving benefits of Gelous at-home gel nails. Experience the difference for yourself with a Gelous Gel Nail Polish Kit today - your wallet, and your nails will thank you for it.

Get your Gel Polish and Gel Nail Packs now, with free shipping on orders over $150 to America, Europe and Asia, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Hong Kong.

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