removal process is very messy Red Carpet Manicure Gel Polish Pro Kit not only has rave reviews from customers, but their queue of UV lamps look like something you'd find at a professional nail salon.

To shake off my hesitations, I spoke with Christina Kao, the cofounder of Le Mini Macaron, about best practices before using the company's at-home kit. Here's how my first gel manicure at home went.

I'd rather pay more for a professional manicure I know will last three to four weeks. That said, this kit could be great for beginners or those looking to experiment with new nail techniques.

Apply a thin layer of your chosen color of gel nail polish, starting from the base of the nail and sweeping up toward the tip ...