13 Best Acrylic Nail Kits For Beginners And Students, Per Reviews

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?

The reviews speak for themselves. 👀

There are many different ways to get the acrylic nails of your dreams. Most people end up at the salon for hours at a time—which, TBH, can end up taking way too much time out of your day. This is mainly because acrylics require a liquid and powder layer to form a paste that attaches to the natural nail.

Afterwards, the nails get filed down and shaped to your liking with art potentially added on top. Luckily, between the invention of press-ons and DIY kits, there is hope for the people who simply want to take their manicures into their own hands (pun intended).

Doing your manicures at home can save you a lot of time and allow you to explore your creativity. Of course, taking on the acrylic DIY route from a beginner's perspective can seem a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many kinds out there on the market with beginners and students in mind, in addition to professionals who want to take their salon-ready nail skills to the next level.

Most kits come with a brush along with several powders, a liquid monomer (which solidifies to make the nail hard), and a nail filer. Some also have various shades to play with, nail extensions, UV lights, drills, and more. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your level of comfortability and what you feel ready to take on. If you’re not sure where to start, Women’s Health has you covered.

Read on to see the 13 best acrylic nail kits, according to reviewers.

This acrylic nail kit pairs powder and liquid with three brush sizes to give you lots of control over your brush strokes and any potential nail art you may want to do. They can be used on fake or real nails, and the kit includes six shades: clear, white, pink, beige, light brown, and orange.

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

This kit may have a lot of pieces, but that shouldn't stop beginners from being afraid of it. It comes with five practice fingers to get users accustomed to the process before trying it on their own nails.

Rave Review: "I just started trying to do my own nails, and I am by no means a professional, but this kit really helped me start practicing. This kit came with everything I needed to get started!! highly recommend!!"

With "beginner" in the name, you can rest assured that this kit is friendly to people of all levels who want a stellar manicure. It comes with three acrylic colors: white, pink, and clear. The kit also has acrylic powder, liquid, extensions, and a cute glass cup to hold all your brushes while you work.

Rave Review: "Great product. Very easy to use. I have been doing my own nails for years and so far this is the best product I have found...I am not a professional nail tech, but this is great for those who do not want to spend a ton of money at the salon to have nails done."

This kit has everything you need and more. It covers all the basics and packs the bonuses of a UV light and drill for a high-quality, long-lasting mani. It comes with pink, white, and clear colors to achieve a simple yet elegant look.

Rave Review: "Love this kit! A small box filled with big things!!! Definitely going bigger and buying a couple more kits. First time doing acrylic on myself. Forms were perfect. Everything is literally error-proof or easy to fix. Very good products!!! The drill is my new best friend!!! This kit is now a part of my weekly self-care routine! Good quality!!"

If you want to take things back to the basics, try out these acrylic press-on nails. They're perfect for a simple French manicure and last up to a week. The pack comes with 28 nails, so you can figure out which sizes work best for you, then have enough left over to share with your BFF.

Rave Review: "I love these! They’re the next best thing to the salon. It’s less time-consuming than going to the actual nail salon and so much cheaper! Even if I’d have to replace them every week, it still beats paying $50+ every two weeks and takes about 15 minutes to apply! They are also not super thin or plastic-looking."

No lamp required for these acrylics! This kit comes with acrylic powders in three shades, an electric nail drill machine set, acrylic liquid, a glass dish, an acid-free PH bond, brushes, and more. The drill can be used as a first step so that you start with a smooth nail surface, or just as a way to file your nails into the perfect shape.

Rave Review: "The set came with everything needed to do an acrylic nails manicure. The acrylic is very buttery and glides perfectly when applied. Monomer has minimal smell and the acrylic colors are so beautiful!"

Born Pretty's kit has five different brush size options. It also comes with everything you need for seamless nail extensions, so it's great for perfectionists or anyone who's *particular*.

Rave Review: "I'm a beginner on Youtube University and this kit was more than I expected. I cannot wait to soak this off and try it again. I used it as an overlay over my real nails [since] I don't like tips. I am so impressed. It was easy to work with, and my nails look natural."

Calling all glitter lovers—this glamorous kit will give you all you need and more at a fraction of the price of a salon mani. It comes with 12 colors to take your designs to the next level, and you'll even get some practice fingers to play with.

Rave Review: "My fiancé got this for me for Christmas and I'm obsessed! I used to get my nails done all the time but once I get more practice I'll definitely be using this kit all the time!"

Really craving something unique? These matte acrylic nails comes in eight different shades of pink and red. They're super easy to apply and come in 10 size options.

Rave Review: "Given the cost versus amount, this is gold! They are super easy to shape and come with multiple size pairs. I've been getting these for a few months now, and people are shocked every time I tell them they are press-ons."

If you want long-lasting nails while only taking up half the time it normally takes to get a regular mani, meet DipWell's Dip Powder Nail Kit. It's easy to put on and lasts up to six weeks. Plus, they only take 15 minutes to remove.

Rave Review: "I love to color my nails, but don't always have time to go to the nail salon. This has saved me all the trouble and time. It's pretty easy and comes with detailed instructions. It stays for a good two to three weeks. Best part: It doesn't damage your nails."

This acrylic nail kit is as simple as it gets. It comes with primer, nail glue, a brush, a buffer, extensions, and just one color (clear). If you want to try out acrylic nails, this ultra affordable kit covers just the essentials. Simply buy more powder colors later if you end up liking it.

Rave Review: "I had never tried doing acrylic nails myself. But for this price I figured it was worth it. I love this kit. It is so very easy to do myself. I just do a very light coat of the acrylic before putting on my polish. When I make a mistake and get a glob too thick on a nail, I can just file it down after it dries before I polish."

A great gift option or investment for someone who's a true expert, this kit from Kiara Sky is sure to give you quality formulas that are worth your buck. It comes with a handcrafted crystal-cut acrylic brush and three classic, neutral powder shades.

Rave Review: "Omg, I love this kit! Totally worth it. It came beautifully packaged, the monomer doesn’t smell, the powder are beautiful, and the brush is the best I’ve used yet"

If nail art is your thing, you'll love the color pallet for this nail kit. It comes with three powder colors, 12 glittery bases, and little decorative crystals you'll have tons of fun playing with. For under $15, don't be surprised if you end up repurchasing this option that has hundreds of five-star reviews.

Rave Review: "Best deal I've ever found out there. I've wanted to try doing my own nails, but the cost always stopped me until I found this. I completely recommend this and can say that it's way easier to use than I expected. Customer for life!"

Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Women’s Health. When she’s not writing, you can find her running, training in mixed martial arts, or reading.

Melissa Gilbert Open Up About Going Gray

12 Best Whitening Toothpastes, Per Dentists

Best Retinols For Sensitive Skin In 2023

Best Moisturizers For Rosacea, Per Dermatologists

15 Best At-Home Microdermabrasion Products

The 13 Best Travel Hair Dryers

What We're Buying from Ulta's 72 Hour Sale 👀

12 Best Sunscreens For Kids, Per Experts

The 23 Best Perfumes For Women

A Beginners Guide To The Curly Girl Method

The 13 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2023, Tested

Our Editors Love These 2023 Summer Makeup Trends