There‘s nothing like a fresh manicure to make you feel instantly put together and polished (pun intended). But regular trips to the nail salon can quickly eat up your time and budget. Enter Nailboo – the buzzed-about brand that promises professional, long-lasting manicures you can do yourself at home.
Featured everywhere from NYLON to Allure to Refinery29, Nailboo has made waves with their easy-to-use nail dip powder kits, ultra-glossy quick-dry polishes, and Instagram-worthy press-on nails. Intrigued? In this in-depth Nailboo review, we‘re sharing everything you need to know, from an inside look at their best products to real customer feedback to expert application tips. Let‘s dive in.
About Nailboo
Founded in 2019, Nailboo is the brainchild of beauty industry veterans who wanted to make salon-quality manicures accessible and affordable for everyone. The LA-based brand has quickly gained a cult following, with fans ranging from busy moms to beauty influencers to celebrity manicurists.
So what makes Nailboo special? It all comes down to their innovative, high-quality products. Nailboo offers everything you need for a flawless DIY mani, including:
- Nail dip powder kits
- Quick-dry nail polish
- Press-on nails
- Manicure tools and accessories
- Cuticle care products
Whether you‘re a total nail newbie or a seasoned pro, Nailboo aims to make at-home manicures foolproof with their user-friendly kits and how-to guides. Plus, all products are cruelty-free and many are vegan.
Nailboo Dip Powder Kits Review
If you‘ve ever gotten a dip powder manicure at the salon, you know they‘re long-lasting, ultra-glossy, and make your nails look and feel super strong. Nailboo brings that salon experience home with their signature dip powder kits.
Each kit comes with everything you need for a perfect dip mani:
- 4-6 dip powder colors of your choice
- Base coat
- Activator
- Top coat
- Brush restorer
- Nail file and buffer
- Cuticle pusher and trimmer
- Step-by-step instructions
Nailboo‘s dip powders are finely milled for smooth, even application and come in over 100 shades, from classic nudes to bold neons to glittery metallics. You can choose from curated kits like the best-selling Nudes Collection or build your own color combo.
I was thoroughly impressed by how easy the Nailboo dip kit was to use, even as a first-timer. The instructions were clear and the process was surprisingly quick – I was done in about 30 minutes. The activator and top coat dry almost instantly, so there‘s zero downtime waiting for your nails to dry.
Best of all, the finished result truly rivaled any salon dip powder manicure I‘ve gotten. My nails looked smooth, shiny, and flawless – and stayed that way for over 2 weeks without chipping or peeling. I also love that you get a lot of bang for your buck with these kits. One jar of dip powder can last for 30+ manis!
The only slight learning curve was perfecting the dip technique itself – you have to be careful not to get the powder on your skin and make sure each coat is even. But after watching a couple Nailboo video tutorials, I had it down. If you‘re new to dip, be patient with yourself and remember that practice makes perfect.
Nailboo Nail Polish Review
Prefer a classic painted mani? Nailboo still has you covered with their incredible quick-dry nail polishes. The highly pigmented formula has a built-in base and top coat and dries to a gel-like shine in just a minute or two.
Nailboo polishes are also ultra long-wearing thanks to a patented plasticizer that prevents chipping, cracking, and peeling. In fact, the brand promises up to 14 days of wear – and they deliver. My Nailboo polish manicure lasted a full 10 days before it even started to wear at the tips, which is unheard of for a regular polish.
Like the dip powders, Nailboo lacquers come in a huge array of colors, from demure pinks to rainbow brights. Some of my favorites are the universally-flattering Made for Merlot, a rich burgundy cream, and Fairy Dust, a sheer iridescent glitter that gives any mani a magical finish.
At $15 a pop, Nailboo polishes are definitely a luxury, but considering the salon-level performance, I think they‘re well worth the price. They‘ve officially replaced my salon gel manis!
Nailboo Press-Ons Review
For those times when you need a flawless mani in minutes, Nailboo‘s press-on nails are a godsend. Made of durable yet flexible plastic, these press-ons look convincingly like real nails and couldn‘t be easier to apply.
Each set comes with 24 nails in 12 sizes, a mini file and buffer, cuticle stick, and nail glue. There are tons of fun colors and designs to choose from, like the ombre glitter Cool as a Cucumber to the cute strawberry print Berry Sweet. You can even get solid colors to DIY your own nail art.
The nails themselves are surprisingly thin and lightweight, so they feel very natural. The curved shape and contoured underside makes them super comfy to wear too. I had my doubts about how well press-ons would stay put, but Nailboo‘s held up shockingly well. I kept mine on for 5 days with no lifting or popping off, even with typing, texting, and doing dishes.
Another great thing about Nailboo press-ons is that they‘re reusable. When you‘re ready for a new set, just soak them in warm soapy water until the glue dissolves and they slide right off. Give them a quick wash and they‘re ready to wear again and again.
Nailboo Nail Care and Accessories
In addition to their core products, Nailboo also offers a range of tools and treatments to keep your nails and cuticles in tip-top shape between manis.
If dip powder is your jam, the Nailboo Dip Essentials Kit is a must. It bundles the Nailboo base, activator, top coat, and brush saver – aka all the necessities for a dip mani – at a bargain price.
For removing dip powder, the Removal Kit is a game-changer. It comes with 20 finger clips and a gentle soak-off solution that gets the powder off in 15 minutes flat, without damaging your natural nails.
Nailboo‘s Double-Sided Nail File is another staple. The 180/240 grit is perfect for shaping dip or natural nails and the 600/4000 side buffs them to a high shine.
And don‘t forget about cuticle care! Nailboo‘s Honeydew Cuticle Serum pairs jojoba and coconut oils to soften and hydrate, while the Lemon Sugar Scrub sloughs away dead skin and hangnails.
I also love the genius Brush Saver, which helps dip powder brush bristles stay soft and pliable – a must if you dip regularly.
What Do Customers Think?
Now for the question on everyone‘s minds – does Nailboo actually live up to the hype? Let‘s turn to some real customer reviews to find out.
On Nailboo‘s website, their dip kits have a stellar 4.8 out of 5 stars across nearly 3,500 reviews. Customers rave about the easy application, longevity, and salon-quality results:
"I can‘t believe how easy this was to use and how good my nails look! It‘s like I have had them professionally done and it‘s so much cheaper." – Carrie P.
"Where has this been all my life? I love going to the salon but just don‘t have the time or money to keep it up. This stuff is the real deal and lasts forever." – Jenna H.
The Nailboo polishes are also a hit, with a 5-star average and comments like:
"I never leave reviews for anything but I just had to for this nail polish. I‘ve never used anything that stayed on for so long and dried so quickly without having to put it under a lamp. Worth every penny!!" – Amy J.
Of course, no product is perfect for everyone. A handful of reviews mention struggling with the dip powder technique at first or needing to soak their nails multiple times to fully remove the powder. However, the vast majority agree that Nailboo‘s products deliver on their promises and are well worth any initial learning curve.
Is Nailboo Worth It?
So, is Nailboo worth the purchase? In my opinion – and that of thousands of happy customers – absolutely.
If you‘re someone who loves a good salon mani but hates the time and money commitment, Nailboo is a total game-changer. Their dip powders and polishes give you weeks of chip-free, ultra-glossy wear for a fraction of the salon price. The dip kits in particular are an amazing value, since they include everything you need and last for dozens of manis.
Nailboo is also a great option for anyone who wants more control and customization over their nail look. With the huge shade ranges and mix-and-match color options, it‘s easy to get creative and express your personal style.
And while there is a bit of practice involved in perfecting your technique, Nailboo goes above and beyond to set you up for success with their detailed instructions, video tutorials, and free customer service. Most people get the hang of it after a couple manis – and considering the money you save versus the salon, it‘s well worth the learning curve.
The only people I wouldn‘t recommend Nailboo for are those who just really enjoy the experience and pampering of a professional salon mani. At the end of the day, Nailboo is still DIY, so it requires a bit more time and effort on your part. You also don‘t get extras like hand massages or hot towel wraps. However, if the end result is your main concern, Nailboo absolutely delivers a salon-level mani (or better!) at home.
The Bottom Line
All in all, I‘m thoroughly impressed by Nailboo and have already recommended it to all my mani-loving friends. The products are truly innovative and so easy to use, the shade ranges are on-trend and expansive, and the results speak for themselves.
Just like Nailboo‘s 250,000+ Instagram followers, I‘m officially hooked. The dip kits have become my go-to for long-lasting, chip-free manis I can do from my couch. I also keep a couple of the polishes on hand for when I want a quick color change.
Considering a dip powder mani at my local salon costs $60+ and only lasts 2 weeks max, Nailboo‘s $25 kits and $15 polishes are an unbelievable value. In fact, I‘d estimate I‘m saving around $1000 a year by doing my own nails with Nailboo!
Whether you‘re a total nail care newbie, at-home mani pro, or just looking to save time and money on your nail routine, I can‘t recommend Nailboo enough. This nail care innovator gets my seal of approval – and pretty much everyone else‘s on the internet. Trust me, your wallet and your nails will thank you.
