I Ghosted My Nail Salon After Trying This $20 Blake Lively-Used Gel Kit

Blake Lively is among my greatest nail-art muses. Recently, she donned a whimsical floral set, courtesy of celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein, to match the Oscar de la Renta minidress she wore while promoting her upcoming film, It Ends with Us. Gerstein created the sculpted, almond-shaped manicure using an affordable nail extension method I swear by: the Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System from Kiss, which is a reasonable $20 at Amazon, though after use, it’ll look like you spent hundreds to get your nails done. 

Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System

The Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System is a salon-quality, beginner-friendly nail extension kit. The set contains everything needed for a professional-grade manicure, including 30 full-coverage, pre-sculpted, soft gel extension tips. Available in numerous widths, the tips accommodate virtually any natural nail size (including my thumbs, which are, objectively, chunky). The set also comes with an LED curing lamp, gel adhesive, a manicure stick, and a nail file. I’ve managed three manicures from a single kit, and each has lasted two weeks. The brand also offers refill tips—in various lengths, shapes, and fun patterns—for easy replenishment after the 30 included in the starter kit have been used.

While the concept of DIY nail extensions may sound intimidating, especially if you’re not particularly skilled with at-home manicures, Kiss’s are basically foolproof—particularly compared to other methods I’ve tried (e.g. acrylic, dip, or builder gel). In fact, Kiss’s kit was my foray into at-home gel extensions, and I managed a sleek result on my first try.  

To use, first prep your natural nails. Then, select tip sizes. Apply a pea-sized amount of adhesive to the underside of one tip, and press it directly over the corresponding natural nail at a 45 degree angle. Power on the UV lamp, and place your finger beneath the light; doing so cures (i.e., sets) the extension securely onto your natural nail. Repeat with all 10 fingers. 

The process takes around 25 minutes, start to finish—a breeze compared to the hour-plus I used to spend sitting in a salon chair. Furthermore, Kiss’s $20 kit is significantly more cost-efficient than the $100 I’ve spent on professional nail extensions, which use similar supplies and techniques.

Kiss’s extensions also play well with traditional, air-dry polish and UV gel polish, both of which I  often swoop over my tips when I’m craving a pop of color. Yet another case in point: Lively’s intricate floral design, which Gerstein hand-painted over the actor’s cured nail tips. (Lively’s exact tip shade, Moonlight, is unavailable at Amazon, but this pale white set is in the same vein.) 

As for removal? That’s even easier than adhesion. Simply soak your talons in acetone for 10 to 15 minutes and watch the tips slide away. Gently scrape away excess glue using a manicure stick (that’s included) or cuticle pusher, et voilà! You have a fresh canvas for your next mani-masterpiece. 

For sleek, salon-worthy nail extensions—at a quarter of the price, from the comfort of your home—shop the Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System. Honestly, I’ve ghosted my nail salon since discovering this Lively-used method. Shop more nail tip styles, below.

Light Beige Almond Nails

Light White Almond Nails

Light Purple Long Coffin Nails