The 14 Best Nail Dipping Powder System Reviews & Guide 2024

The best nail dipping powder system is the one that suits your needs.

Powder dip nails are trendy enough that there are many brands available.

Choosing between them is a matter of looking at color palettes and accessories.

You don’t even need to stick to a single system because several have compatible powders.

What is the best nail dipping powder?

Years ago, dip nails were the domain of professionals in salons. Now, anyone at home can enjoy doing their own manicure with a nail dip powder system.

It used to be that you could choose between SNS Nails or Revel and not much else. Currently, there are several dip powder brands. You’ll see the best nail systems in the reviews below.

Can you mix dipping powder brands?

Dipping systems consist of powders and liquids that react to create a durable coating on the nail.

Although there may be a little variation between brands, many powders and liquids can be mixed and matched. It works best if you stay consistent by using only liquids from one brand, even if you use a different company’s dip powders.

Watch for pre-bonded powders, though. You may need to stick with the specific liquids required for them.

Are dip nails better than gel?

There are three reasons why people prefer dip powder nails over gel manicures.

First, dip powder doesn’t require UV light to cure. It’s safer for the skin over the long term because there’s no radiation exposure. Plus, this type of manicure air-dries quickly.

Second, powder dip nails last three weeks or more without chipping. They hold up better during everyday activities like washing dishes. Therefore, it’s usually necessary to renew the manicure because the nails have grown, not because they look bad.

Third, nail dipping powder doesn’t have the strong chemical odor of gel polish. Moreover, the ingredients tend to be much less toxic and fortified with vitamins.

Is the dip powder bad for your nails?

Dip powder has no odor and goes light on the chemicals. The risk lies in contamination.

If you do home manicures, you can be thrifty and save the leftover powder for next time. But salons are obligated to pour out a fresh dose for each client. That practice prevents the spread of nail fungus and bacteria.

Oddly, another criticism of dip nails is their durability. If you don’t have to touch up your manicure for weeks, you might not notice a fungal infection until it’s advanced.

How to do a dipping powder manicure

Just like anytime you do your nails, wash your hands first. Prepped the nails by lightly buffing them.

Apply the base coat, then dip the nails at a 45° angle into the powder. Use a brush to create an even coat and remove the excess.

Put on more base coat and dip again until you’re satisfied with the results. Usually, two rounds are enough.

Buff if needed to smooth the surface, then apply the topcoat.

Fortunately, there are plenty of instructional videos online. Also, many nail dipping powder kits come with instructions for beginners.

Best Nail Dipping Powder System in 2024

Double Dip Dipping Powder Starter Kit

Double Dip is a woman-owned business that manufactures in Texas. The advantage here is that the tutorial and instructions are in plain English. There’s a lot of value here in this extensive starter kit.

Manicures done with these products feel lightweight like the nails can breathe. But if you don’t love how they look, contact them for a refund, no questions asked. They offer a lifetime warranty.

The set includes base coat, activator, topcoat, and brush cleaner. There are six containers of dip powder plus one of glitter. Another attractive addition is the lavender and vitamin cuticle oil.

But they don’t stop there. They also throw in extra goodies like a brush to dust off excess powder, bamboo cuticle pushers, a nail file, a buffer, and replacement brushes.

Gelish French Tip Acrylic Powder Nail Dip Color Set

Gelish includes practically everything you need to get started with dip powder manicures. They offer an award-winning formula and over 200 shades of dip powder.

It’s suggested that you have a makeup foundation brush handy to smooth the powder. Later, for removal, you’ll need acetone and cotton or pre-made wraps.

The kit includes the necessary liquids: Prep, Base Coat, Activator, Top Coat, and Brush Restorer.

Then there are four jars of dip powder for French manicures. There’s also a French dip container to get the perfect smile lines on the nails.

Finally, there are other convenient extras like the Harmony nail file, lint-free wipes, replacement caps and brushes, and nail surface cleanser.

Doing a manicure with the system should take about 30 minutes.

Kiara Sky Color Dip Powder Starter Kit

Kiara Sky was voted number 1 Beauty Product to Try by INSIDER Beauty. Check out this kit that has a complete setup to get you started.

There are bottles of bond, base, seal protect, top, cuticle oil, and brush saver. Then there are dip trays with the brand’s unique powder recycling system.

Furthermore, this kit contains three limited edition dip powders.

SNS Gel Dipping Powder (Set Of 4 Liquids)

SNS makes professional salon products, which is why you’re unlikely to find a complete beginner’s kit from them. Instead, there are sets like this with the 4 necessary liquids: EA Bond, Gel Base, Sealer Dry, and Gel Top.

You’ll need to purchase the vitamin-fortified dip powders separately.

Be sure to watch their instructions online if you’ve never done a dip powder manicure before.

Revel Nail Dip Powder Liquid Steps 1-4 & Brush Cleaner

Revel Nail is another salon-quality brand that doesn’t focus only on home users. Therefore, you’ll have to buy the necessary parts piecemeal.

On the bright side, they have lots of excellent instructional material on their site. There are hundreds of gorgeous shades to choose from, and they offer a satisfaction guarantee.

Start with this set of essential liquids, including the Pro Base, Activator, Finish Gel, and Brush Softener.

Latorice Dipping Powder Nail Starter Kit

Latorice will ensure that you have all the basics covered in this starter kit. It comes with base coat, activator, top coat, five small jars of dip powder, and a user manual.

The powder is odor-free and non-toxic, and the liquids have little to no smell.

Obviously, you won’t need a UV or LED nail lamp to do a manicure with these products. The liquids dry quickly by themselves.

Overall, doing a dip powder manicure takes about two-thirds of the time of doing acrylics. It’s a straightforward 3-step process.

Color Club Classic Serendipity Starter Kit

Color Club offers a variety of starter kits beyond this one. For example, there are mood-changing, holographic, and glitter sets, too.

Each includes Bond Gloss, Activator, Finish Gloss, a nail buffer, and assorted dip powders.

Everything is vegan and free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Unlike many brands, they list the ingredients.

The recommended process is a little different. There’s less fuss involved.

Buff and brush on Bond Gloss, then dip the finger into the powder. Use a clean, dry brush to remove excess powder. Put on another layer of Bond Gloss and dip again.

Brush off the extra and put on Instant Activator. Wait 1 minute for the curing process, then shape and file.

Apply the Finish Gloss and wait a couple of minutes for the nails to dry.

GH Dip Powder Nail Kit Acrylic Dip Powder Kit

The advantage of GH Dip nails is that they dry in only 30 seconds after dipping. That’s half the time of other brands.

But they didn’t sacrifice quality for speed. The formula is still free of DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde.

What’s more, the finish is extra glossy and should last at least three weeks.

This kit comes with Base Coat, Activator, Top Coat, Brush Saver, and 6 half-ounce jars of dipping powder.

The only downside is that it cures rapidly, which means you need to have a steady hand and work fast.

AZURE BEAUTY Dipping Powder Nail Starter Kit

Nudes and pinks are only one of the sets that Azure Beauty offers. You might also like Candy Summer, Color Changing, or Nudes and Grays.

This kit doesn’t just come with pretty colors. It has everything you need to experiment with dip nails.

It has the nail brush file and all the needed liquids.

Since the manicure is guaranteed to last for 2 weeks or more, you won’t need acetone yet!

Aikker Acrylic Dipping Powder Nail Starter Kit

I had a difficult time choosing between the different color sets available from Aikker. But at this price, it could be worth it to get the mall. There’s French manicure, autumn colors, Christmas shades, and a spring assortment.

Each box set includes 4 liquids, 8 powders, and a tray. The tray is shaped so that you can pour the excess powder back into the bottle for use later. It’s also perfect for making the smile line on a French manicure.

The liquids are the typical base, activator, and top coat plus brush saver.

What is this “brush saver” that’s in nearly every set? It’s a liquid that cleans and keeps the applicator brushes working like new. Dip the gunky brush into the saver bottle and stir and shake. You can also use the brush saver bottle brush as a replacement for one of the others.

Cuccio Pro Powder Polish Dip Starter Kit

You may have noticed that some of the less expensive brands like this one only promise two weeks’ wear. But that’s not a bad thing if you like to change the colors more often.

Cuccio’s set is made in the USA. It comes with an assortment of half-ounce jars of powders, Nail Primer, Nail Base, Activator Gel, Top Gel, and Brush Cleaner. There’s also Milk & Honey cuticle oil and dipping trays.

Reviewers say it’s convenient to have a kabuki brush to sweep off the excess powder. Otherwise, it tends to clog the applicator brush.

Use thin layers and work quickly.

On the plus side, you can blend powders to make a custom manicure, like French pink with sparkles.

Lavender Violets Dip-Powder-Nail Starter-Kit

Lavender Violets created custom palettes of dip powder for each of their kits. The one we chose is appropriate for French manicures, but there are other attractive choices.

This starter kit comes with four jars of powder plus liquids like base gel, activator, top gel, and brush saver.

The ingredients are 3-free, which means they do not contain DBP, formaldehyde, or toluene.

NICOLE DIARY Dipping Powder Starter Kit

It’s a good thing that each bottle in this set is clearly marked because they all look the same. The kit comes with bond, base, activator, top coat, and brush saver.

There are also 5 jars of dip powder, including one glitter shade.

I checked to see what reviewers had to say and was encouraged. The bond liquid dries very quickly.

Then, the base should only be applied to the bottom three-quarters of the nail. It’s thick but cures fast. It’s essential to dip the nail immediately into the powder. Be sure to dust off the extra before repeating the process.

The activator leaves the surface a little rough, so be sure to buff before you apply top coat.

MEFA Dipping Powder Kit

MEFA sells kits with powder only as well as this set with everything included. It comes with four dip powders, base gel, topcoat, activator, and brush softener.

Their instructions pointed out something I’d not realized before. They recommend stirring the powder before using it. I imagine that shaking it before removing the lid might serve the same purpose.

They also say to wipe off the neck before sealing the liquids’ lids when you’re finished.

The company provides clear instructions as well as a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Conclusion

If you love to do your nails, you won’t regret trying a nail dipping powder system.

Dip nails are straightforward to apply. You don’t need a nail lamp to cure them.

Then, they last up to four times as long as regular nail polish. The glossy, durable finish doesn’t chip, yet feels lightweight.

When you’ve had a chance to experience dip powder nails, come back and tell us how it went.