There are two types of people in the world: those with the patience for regular polish, and those who can’t go 24 hours without a chip. If you’re in the second group, you know the frustrating cycle. You pay a small fortune at the salon for a gel manicure that looks perfect for two weeks. Then, you either pay again to remove it, or you sit at home picking it off, knowing you’re destroying your nails. It feels like a high-maintenance, expensive relationship.
Mylee built its brand by offering a way out of this cycle. It’s a complete, at-home system designed to give you that salon-quality, long-lasting finish for a fraction of the cost.1 But is it actually easy to do, or is it a recipe for a sticky, bubbly mess? We dove into their system to find out.
The Mylee At-Home Salon Essentials
- The Mylee Pro LED Lamp: This is the heart of the system. A powerful, salon-grade LED lamp that cures gel polish in 30-60 seconds, with preset timers to remove all guesswork.2
- MyGel Polishes: A massive, 100% vegan and cruelty-free range of polishes, from classic nudes to sparkling glitters, all offering up to 3 weeks of wear.3
- Base and Top Coat: The non-negotiable essentials. The Base Coat ensures the polish sticks, and the Top Coat delivers that signature high-gloss shine and protective shell.4
- Magic Gel Remover: A much faster alternative to the traditional foil-and-acetone soak. You paint it on, wait 5-10 minutes, and the gel cracks and lifts off.
The Salon Maths: Why Make the Switch?
The most compelling argument for an at-home system is simple maths. A single gel manicure at a decent UK salon can cost anywhere from £30 to £45. Add removal, and you’re looking at even more. A full starter kit from Mylee, which includes the Pro Lamp, prep solutions, polishes, and removal tools, often costs less than two salon visits.
This means the kit pays for itself in just two or three home manicures. After that, your only ongoing cost is the occasional new polish (which costs a fraction of a salon visit). The long-term savings are significant. This isn’t just buying a beauty product; it’s a one-time investment that stops a major monthly expense.
The Workhorse: Is the Lamp Any Good?
The lamp is the heart of any gel system. If it’s weak, your polish will never cure, resulting in a tacky, peeling mess. This is where Mylee has clearly invested. The Pro LED Lamp is a solid, high-quality device, not a flimsy travel gadget.
It features a curved, dome-like design, which is crucial for ensuring all five fingers (or toes) cure evenly at the same time. No more awkward “curing the thumbs separately” dance. It uses advanced LED technology, which works much faster than old UV lamps and has a lifespan of 50,000 hours. For you, that means it’s built to last for years.
The best part for a beginner is the set of pre-programmed timers: 15, 30, and 60 seconds.5 You just press the button for the time your polish directs, and it switches off automatically. It removes all the guesswork and makes the process feel professional and foolproof.
The Real-World Test: Is It Actually Easy?
This is the big question. Is it complicated? The honest answer is that your first attempt might be a bit messy, but the process itself is surprisingly simple. The secret, which salon techs know, isn’t in the painting. It’s in the preparation.
- Step 1: Prep. This is 90% of the battle. You must properly prep the nail. This involves gently buffing the shine off the nail plate, pushing back your cuticles, and, most importantly, wiping the nail with a lint-free wipe and a dehydrating solution. This step removes all oils and dust, which are the mortal enemies of gel polish.
- Step 2: Base. You apply one very thin layer of the MyGel Base Coat. This is critical. If you goop it on, it will bubble. Cure it under the lamp for 30 seconds. It will feel tacky afterward. This is normal, it’s the sticky layer the colour adheres to.
- Step 3: Colour. Apply your chosen colour in two or three thin coats. This is the second rule. Thick coats will not cure properly. Cure each layer for 60 seconds.
- Step 4: Top. Apply a final, thin layer of the MyGel Top Coat, “capping” the free edge of your nail to seal it. Cure for 60 seconds.
After a final wipe with the prep solution to remove the last sticky layer, you are done. Instantly, completely dry. No smudging, no dents, no waiting. The whole process for both hands takes about 30-40 minutes, easily done while watching a show.
The Longevity and (Crucially) The Removal
With good prep, a Mylee manicure easily lasts two to three weeks. It holds its high-gloss shine and remains chip-free. For those with weaker nails, adding the 5-in-1 Builder Gel as a base layer adds incredible strength, preventing bends and breaks.
But what about getting it off? This is where many people damage their nails. The old method of soaking in acetone with cotton balls and foil is messy and takes ages. Mylee’s Magic Gel Remover is a completely different experience. You simply file off the shiny top coat, paint this thick, gloopy gel on top, and wait about five minutes. The gel polish will literally crackle, bubble, and flake off the nail plate. You can then gently scrape the remnants away. It’s far faster and feels much less harsh than a 20-minute acetone soak.
Is the Mylee System Worth It?
After walking through the process, the value is undeniable. Yes, there is a small learning curve. Your first manicure won’t be as perfect as your third. But the entire Mylee system is built to make that curve as gentle as possible.
It’s for the person who is tired of spending £40 every few weeks. It’s for the person who loves having their nails done but can’t stand chipped polish. And it’s for the person who enjoys a bit of creative self-care. The quality of the lamp, the ease of the removal process, and the sheer variety of polishes make it a comprehensive, reliable system. It’s an investment that not only saves you a significant amount of money but also turns a costly salon chore into a genuinely fun and creative hobby.