The best at-home dip powder manicure kits for when you can't get to the salon
If you haven’t already heard, dip powder manicures are creating quite the buzz in the beauty world. For the uninitiated, a dip powder manicure involves using pigmented powder to coat nails in glossy color. Although the method has actually been around since the 1980s, it only recently began dominating social media feeds and making its way into nail salons everywhere. And though it’s just recently skyrocketed in popularity, the allure of this trendy nail treatment has always been the same: Unlike traditional manicures, a dip powder nail treatment lasts as long as three to four weeks. It’s also gentler on the nail bed than gel manicures that use UV light to seal in the polish, or acrylic options that often emit strong chemical smells.
At the salon, a dip manicure costs on average between $30-$40, and that adds up if you’re getting your nails done regularly. (Especially when you include the price of tipping your technician.) Plus, now that many of us are staying at home and practicing social distancing, this is a perfect time to learn how to master a DIY dip manicure at home.
We found four dip powder options that are perfect whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been doing your own nails for years. Plus, you can order any of these kits online and get delivery right to your front door, so you don’t even have to leave home.
Best for Beginners
Shop it! Red Carpet Manicure Color Dip Starter Kit, $34.99, ulta.com
If you’re new to dip manicures completely, or maybe you’re just doing one for the first time at home, this is the kit you need. It comes with a base coat, top coat, dip activator to bond the powder, dip brush restorer for removal, and a .4-ounce tub of red dip powder. It also includes nail files and cuticle sticks to prep for your manicure. If you’d like another color, Ulta also sells more dip powders for $10 each.
Best for Just Color
Shop it! Joya Mia Dipping Powder Jar, $16.99 each, etsy.com
If you’re a dip powder pro, or if you already have a kit at home, you might want to try out a new shade. The Etsy shop Joya-Mia sells 2-ounce jars of salon-quality powder in 70 different colors. The seller has a nearly perfect five-star rating from almost 1,800 sales and ships the powder for free.
Best for Small Spaces
Shop it! Kiss Salon Dip Color System, $20.99, cvs.com
If you’re low on bathroom storage, try this compact kit. It comes with a base coat, top coat, activator for bonding, softener for removal, and .31-ounces of dip powder in a light pink hue.
Best Overall
Shop it! Nail Dip Powder Starter Kit, $52, etsy.com
This set comes with a base coat, top coat, cuticle oil, and activator for bonding the dip to the nail. It also includes six pastel dip powder colors in .5-ounce jars, plus a glitter champagne powder if you want to add some sparkle to your nails. One shopper says it’s a great, easy-to-use product, and the Etsy shop Double Dip offers free shipping.
This article originally appeared on BHG.com by Christie Calucchia.
