In its never-ending quest to sell me things, Instagram has been sliding Nailboo into my feed for the better part of a year. The dip manicure kit has become wildly popular for two reasons: the pandemic has made it more difficult for nail enthusiasts to get salon manicures and Nailboo is one of the easiest at-home dip kits [1] for beginners. Unlike some more advanced kits [2], Nailboo is made expressly for those who aren't quite sure how to dip from home — perhaps they've never even gotten a professional dip manicure! — and simplifies the complex process with labeled products.
So, just how easy is the Nailboo system, and is it worth plunking down $55 (and up) for a starter kit? I tested out the process, and here's what I found.
The Pros of a Nailboo Dip Manicure
- Instructional Videos Helped the Process: All of Nailboo's kits come with the basics. There are four liquids — base, activator, top, and brush cleaner — and a "build powder." If you've only ever painted your nails with regular lacquer, it might look intimidating. Nailboo anticipated this and has several incredibly helpful tutorials [3] on its website. (I found "Get to Know Your Kit [4]" to be the most informative overall.)
- Nailboo Has a Great Colour Selection: Nailboo currently has 58 colours [5] to choose from. I tried a selection called Modern Mint [6], and was pleasantly surprised that the colour was actually more neutral on in-person than it was on the website. You never know with dip! Once you put on that top coat, the colour can change entirely.
- It Was Quick: Compared to a traditional lacquer manicure, which can take over an hour to dry, or a gel mani, which requires a UV light, dip is a relatively fast routine. You'll need to apply a base and two layers of colour, activate, file, and top it off. Wait for that top coat to dry (two minutes max) and you're good to go!
- The Manicure Lasts: I kept the dip on for two weeks then opted to remove it. It was every bit as durable as pricier dip systems.
The Cons of a Nailboo Dip Manicure
- The Brushes Could Be Better: Nailboo's brushes are squared, which mans it's a bit tough to get clean lines along the edges of your cuticles. This might not bother some people, but perfectionists will miss a curved brush.
- The Top Coat Is A Little Lackluster: I ended up applying two layers of top coat, which, in turn, made the drying time much longer. Don't make this mistake! One coat is enough, it's just not going to be diamond-like.
- Removal is a B*tch: Who here is also still waiting for a lasting manicure that doesn't require a pickaxe for removal [7]? I filed then soaked my nails, as per instructions, but was left with a strange film over the skin surrounding my nails. It wasn't the worst manicure removal I've experienced, but it certainly wasn't the best.
Conclusions About the Nailboo Dip Manicure
For the price and usability, Nailboo is great. It's a perfect starter system if you're just getting into dip nails or want to give a fun gift. It's not the most advanced system and if you're used to giving yourself fancy manicures, you may want to spend a few more bucks on a professional kit.
Buy the Nailboo Dip Kit
Nailboo has three different kits to choose from:
- Starter [8] ($55, originally $75), which comes with one colour.
- Essentials [9] ($85, originally $115), which comes with four colours.
- Pro [10] ($105, originally $140), which comes with six colours.