7 Top Acrylic Nail Kits for Beginners + Tips and Steps
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Did you know that you can instantly elevate your appearance by choosing to wear acrylic nails?
Not only can they add a pop of color to your outfit, but they’re also a great way to express your creativity and personality. Best of all, you can make them in the comfort of your own home!
If you’re just beginning your journey to owning beautiful acrylic nails, knowing where or how to start can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a lot of acrylic nail kits for beginners in the market.
You don’t have to go and buy each specific tool or item required separately. A typical beginner acrylic nail set will have the things you need.
To help get you started, we’ve compiled a list of fantastic beginner acrylic nail kits specifically tailored for those still new to the world of acrylic nails.
- Comes with its own acrylic nail drill
- Can be used to create a protective layer for your nails that can last for three to five weeks
- Can be used to create a multitude of designs and colors for acrylic nails
- Can be used to create nails that don’t chip for three to six weeks
- No UV/ LED lamp required
- Vegan-friendly
- Can create acrylic nails that stay on for a long time
- No curing needed
- Perfect for DIY nails at home
Table of Contents
What Are Acrylic Nails?
Acrylic nails are created by mixing acrylic powder and liquid monomer and forming them into a blob of dough, which is then added and shaped over your nails using a brush before air-drying.
They are great to use when you want to wear your nails long but may be prone to breaking or damaging your natural ones.
Additionally, they work well as a base for those who love wearing intricate nail designs and embellishments, such as gems, rhinestones, sequins, and glitter.
For those new to acrylic nails, getting them done at the salon at the beginning may be ideal.
This is so you can observe how a nail technician applies them over your nails and styles them based on your preferences.
However, if repeat salon appointments for acrylics don’t fit your budget, buying acrylic at-home nail kits may be a more budget-friendly option for you!
What Should You Look for in Acrylic Nail Kits for Beginners?
The basic items included in an acrylic nail beginner kit usually include the following:
- Acrylic nail powder is one of the most important ingredients for creating acrylic nails. It usually comes in different colors when you purchase it in a kit.
When combined with a liquid chemical and applied to your nails, this powder will harden and protect the nails.
- Liquid monomer is a liquid chemical mixed with acrylic nail powder to form a gel or paste that you will apply to your nails.
- A dappen dish is used as a container for your liquid monomer.
- A nail brush is what you’ll use when you mix ingredients and apply acrylic products to your nails.
- Nail tips are fake nails made of plastic. You glue them to your nails to form a lengthy base that you can shorten to your desired length. This is also where the acrylic mixture is applied.
- A nail file is used to smoothen and shape your acrylic nails.
- An instruction manual/ pamphlet is a reference that explains steps and tips on how to use your acrylic nail kit.
- Nail forms are flexible templates placed under the natural nail to guide the application of acrylic or gel for creating customized artificial nail extensions.
Meanwhile, a more comprehensive starter acrylic nail kit may also include the following:
- Nail drill — Also called e-file, you’ll use this tool to file your nails and/ or remove any nail enhancements you have on them.
- UV/ LED nail lamp — You use this tool to cure and harden nail polish.
- Nail decorations — Accessories like sequins, glitter, or rhinestones that you can use to complete the look of your acrylic nails.
7 Top Acrylic Nail Kits for Beginners
Not sure where to begin in choosing the top acrylic starter kit? Don’t worry — that’s what we’re here for!
We’ve listed our selection of the top acrylic nail kits for beginners.
While some kits only contain the essential items, others offer more supplies and tools to make your foray into the world of acrylic nails a bit more in-depth!
Our editor’s pick is an all-in-one acrylic nail kit with every tool and supply you’ll need for acrylic nails!
Benefits: Suitable for beginners; easy to use; helps create a protective layer for your nails that can last for three to five weeks
Features:
- All-in-one nail kit
- Product sets quickly
- Includes a multitude of designs and colors for acrylic nails
If you want a great head start when doing your acrylic nails at home, this product is for you!
It’s not often that a beginner nail kit already comes with its own drill and ready-to-use decorations for your nails — that’s why we love the Morovan Acrylic Nail Kit!
Plus, it includes an acrylic nail drill that makes prepping your nails a bit easier and makes you feel like a professional at the same time.
It comes with easy-to-use and different-colored acrylic powders and nail embellishments, such as nail sequins and glitter acrylic powders. It also includes a gel top base coat and an acrylic nail brush.
This is one of the top beginner nail tech kits that are also great for those with more experience creating their acrylic nails.
This nail kit stands out from the rest with the sheer number of items included in the package, making it the most comprehensive kit on our list.
Benefits: Comprehensive kit; beginner-friendly; great price for the sheer number of items
Features:
- Contains 115 acrylic nail supplies and tools
- Includes five fake fingers to practice making acrylic art
- Acrylic powder is made of harmless ingredients
Trying to perfect making your acrylic nails? The Cooserry 115-in-1 Acrylic Nail Kit has all the tools you need!
The Cooserry 115-in-1 Acrylic Nail Kit is a godsend for beginners. The product includes acrylic powders, liquid monomers, nail bases, top coats, cups, and nail files.
Aside from that, it also has extra tools like a cuticle fork, triangle cuticle peeler, tweezer, clean brush, and nail cutter!
We also love that it doesn’t shy away from giving you all the decorations you’ll need for glittery nails since the kit includes 48 colors of glitter powder and lots of colorful rhinestones too!
Plus, it includes five fake fingers you can practice on instead of using your nails, making it a great starter set for beginners.
This clear, pink, and nude acrylic nail kit is perfect for beginners who want to turn their regular nails into long acrylic ones.
Benefits: Acrylic powder doesn’t clump; creates long-lasting nails; air-dries naturally
Features:
- Ultra-fine acrylic powder
- High-quality materials
- Vegan and cruelty-free
If you like your acrylic nails in nude or pink colors, the Saviland Acrylic Nail Kit is perfect for you.
Pink is a pretty choice for nail color, and the gorgeous pink acrylic powder in this nail kit is perfect for stunning pink manicures!
Plus, the Saviland Acrylic Nail Kit also includes clear and nude acrylic powders, acrylic liquids, 100 pieces of nail forms, a nail brush, a dappen dish, a nail file, and a wooden cuticle pusher.
These items are more than enough to try making your pretty acrylic nails at home.
The whole kit is also easy to use, resulting in nails that look bright and clean. Plus, unlike other nails, the ones in Saviland’s kit don’t need to be cured by a nail lamp, as you can air-dry them naturally!
Our premium pick is an acrylic nail kit that is beginner-friendly and provides high-quality quality results that even professionals will love.
Benefits: Helps you create nails that won’t chip for three to six weeks; easy to remove; great for beginners
Features:
- Comprehensive kit
- No UV/ LED lamp required
- Vegan-friendly
If you're looking to venture into the world of DIY acrylic nails, the Dipwell Easy Acrylic Dip System Starter Kit is an excellent choice to get you started!
The Dipwell Easy Acrylic Dip System Starter Kit has two pots of dip powder, a base, a finishing powder, and several liquids. It also includes tools like a file, a wooden cuticle pusher, and a buffer.
Your nails will cure without UV light, too, so that’s one less thing for newbies to worry about.
We love that this kit can create up to 30 sets of acrylic nails, allowing you to create immaculate-looking French or pink-and-white nails at home.
And since the nails can last three to six weeks without chipping, you can use the entire kit for a long time.
This acrylic nail kit comes with a drill and UV light, giving off professional nail tech vibes — even to beginners!
Benefits: Helps you create long-lasting acrylic nails; easy to use; dries fast
Features:
- Comprehensive kit
- Comes with UV/LED Nail lamp and drill
- Made of natural resin
If you want a kit that has everything you need to create long-lasting acrylic nails, you’ll love the Cooserry Acrylic Nail Kit with Drill and UV Light.
Cooserry has upgraded its acrylic powder kit game by adding a mini UV/LED nail lamp and a nail drill machine, and these two additions may just be literal game changers!
You can use the nail drill machine to prep your nails better and faster. The UV/LED Nail lamp is small, easy to carry, and perfect to use on your nails.
Alongside these two tools and their attachments, the kit comes with acrylic nail powder, a liquid monomer, a liquid set with 2-in-1 nail glue, long false nails, and brushes.
Everything you’ll need to start your acrylic nail journey is in this kit!
This acrylic nail kit includes a fun color palette perfect for those who want to experiment with nail art.
Benefits: Helps you create long-lasting and chip-resistant nails; easy to apply; acrylic powder sets quickly
Features:
- Non-toxic formula
- Comprehensive kit
- Liquid monomer uses a non-yellowing formula
If you like your nail kit complete with essentials and embellishments for your acrylic nails, then go for the Biuzko Acrylic Nail Kit with Primer!
This beginner-friendly nail kit offers everything you need to decorate your acrylic nails while ensuring you’ll have fun doing them!
The Biuzko Acrylic Nail Kit with Primer comes with a liquid monomer, three professional acrylic powders, a primer, a nail brush, nail forms, and nail glue. It also includes other nail essentials and decoration tools as well.
The colors in the kit are fun and lively, so you won’t get stuck with regular or plain-looking acrylic nails!
Lastly, the acrylic powder colors in this kit use a non-toxic formula that’s easy to apply and can create long-lasting, chip-resistant nails even without using a curing lamp — which is a plus in our book!
Our budget pick includes everything you’ll need in an acrylic nail kit for a fantastic price!
Benefits: Fast-drying; easy to work with; no curing needed
Features:
- Ideal for beginners
- Ideal for multiple uses
- Affordable
Cheap doesn’t have to mean incomplete, and the Aucarkee Acrylic Nail Kit is a testament to that.
For beginners, a product’s price is always a crucial factor to consider. That’s why we adore the Aucarkee Acrylic Nail Kit! It has all the tools and items you’ll need to DIY acrylic nails at home for a much lower price.
Each set already comes with an acrylic powder, an acrylic monomer liquid, a nail brush, a glass cup, a nail file, and 20 pieces of nail forms.
The acrylic nails you can create with this product have the advantage of not turning yellow, drying quickly, and providing long-lasting results. These benefits can motivate beginners to use them repeatedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Apply Acrylic Nails?
When you purchase acrylic nail kits, they should come with an instruction pamphlet to guide you in correctly using their products.
Essentially, when doing your acrylic nails at home, you should:
- Prep your nails by pushing back cuticles gently and cleaning them.
- Apply the acrylic tips to the edge of your natural nails with an adhesive.
- Trim the tips to your desired length, then buff the edges.
- Apply dehydrator and primer to the bed of each natural nail.
- Put the liquid monomer into a dappen dish and dip your brush in it.
- Dip your wet brush into the acrylic powder.
- Apply the mixture to your nails.
- Let them dry.
- Shape, file, and buff your nails.
You can watch this tutorial for more detail on how acrylic nails are applied:
Can I Remove Acrylic Nails At Home?
Yes! Learning to remove acrylic nails is just as important as learning how to apply them, especially if you want to wear other designs or colors on a whim.
Follow these steps to help you remove your acrylic nails successfully:
- Remove any embellishments/decorations you have on (rhinestones, sequins, and the like).
- Remove the excess length of nail extensions using cutters.
- Use the hard side of a nail buffer on the nail surface.
- Pour acetone into a plastic dish or metal bowl.
- Dip your fingernails into acetone for a few minutes.
- Use a metal pusher to remove any remaining acrylic that hasn’t been soaked off.
- Dip your hands into acetone again for a few minutes.
- Use the metal pusher to scrape off any remaining acrylic.
- Do these two steps until the acrylic has been completely removed.
- Apply cuticle oil to rehydrate your nails.
You can watch this video to learn how to remove acrylic nails at home:
Try These Amazing Acrylic Nail Kits for Beginners for Awesome Nails Today
Trying new things can be a bit daunting. However, learning them can also be an exhilarating experience all on its own!
That’s why these acrylic nail kits for beginners are fantastic to use when you’re trying to beautify your nails. They are easy to use. Plus, they come with all the essential tools you need because they’re curated with newbies in mind!
Now try putting on acrylic nails at home and express yourself in a fun and creative way! You’ll be glad that you did.
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