Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the starter kit, the combo set, and the bundle?
A gel starter kit includes a gel color plus base, top, and an LED lamp, so it is complete for a beginner with no lamp; ND stocks 15 of them. A single-shade combo is one gel color with its matching lacquer, base gel, and top gel, for someone who already owns a lamp; there are 386 to choose from. A multi-color bundle is six coordinated gel shades picked by theme or season, 47 in stock, and there are 11 boxed gift sets. Only the starter kits include a lamp.
Do I need a lamp, or is one included?
It depends on the set. The starter kits come with an LED lamp. The single-shade combos, bundles, and gift sets do not include a lamp, so you cure them with your own LED or UV lamp: 60 seconds per layer under LED or 2 minutes under UV. The gel layers only set under a lamp and will not air-dry. The matching lacquer in a combo air-dries and needs no lamp.
Which base and top go with my color?
In the single-shade combos they are already included and matched to the color, so you do not have to choose. DND (Daisy) sets use #500 Base and #600 Top, DND DC sets use #800 Base and #900 Top, and DND DV (Diva) sets use #100 Base and #300 Top. The set title lists the exact numbers, and all three lines cure the same way.
Is the lacquer the same color as the gel?
Yes. In the single-shade combos the nail lacquer is the air-dry version of the same DND shade, so your gel manicure and a lacquer pedicure match. Use the gel on your fingers for up to 3 weeks of wear and the lacquer on your toes, or any time you want color without a lamp. The lacquer side wears about 5 to 7 days and refreshes with a top coat at home.
How long does it last, and how do I take it off?
With clean prep and the top gel sealed over the tip, a DND gel manicure lasts up to 3 weeks without chipping; daily cuticle oil and gloves for cleaning help it get there. To remove it, soak your nails in 100 percent acetone with a foil wrap for about 10 minutes until the gel lifts, then gently push it away. Do not peel it off, which can damage your natural nail. Every set is 100% genuine DND, the same product used in salons.
Everything you need to do gel nails at home
Gel nails last for weeks, but doing them at home means getting a few things right: a base, the color, a top coat, and a lamp to cure them. This page brings the ready-made DND sets together in one place, so you can pick the set that matches where you are, from a total beginner to someone who just wants the color and already owns a lamp. ND Nails Supply stocks 459 DND sets here: 386 single-shade gel and lacquer combos, 47 six-color bundles, 15 starter kits with an LED lamp, and 11 gift sets.
Every set is 100% authentic DND (Daisy Nail Designs), the same product used in salons, at the same wholesale price a salon pays, so you get salon-quality nails at home without a salon appointment.
Pick the set that fits you
There are four kinds of set here. The one you want depends on whether you already own an LED lamp and how many shades you want to start with.
| Set type | What is inside | Includes a lamp? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gel starter kit | A gel color plus base, top, and an LED lamp | Yes, lamp included | Total beginners with no lamp yet |
| Single-shade combo | One gel color, its matching lacquer, base gel, and top gel | No, use your own lamp | Anyone who owns a lamp and wants one shade done right |
| Multi-color bundle | Six coordinated gel shades (some with a base), picked by theme or season | No, use your own lamp | Building a palette, gifting, or trying a whole look |
| Gift set | A boxed selection of DND shades ready to give | No, use your own lamp | Presents for someone who already does gel at home |
Not sure? If you have never done gel at home and do not own a lamp, start with a gel starter kit, it is the only set that comes with the lamp. If you already cure gel at home, a single-shade combo or a 6-color bundle gives you the polish without paying for another lamp.
What is in a single-shade combo
The single-shade combos are a complete four-piece manicure in your chosen color, with the base and top already matched to it:
- DND Base Gel: helps the color grip and stops early lifting.
- DND Gel Color (0.5 oz): your shade, rich enough for full color in two thin coats.
- DND Nail Lacquer (0.5 oz): the same shade as an air-dry polish, made for your toes or a quick look with no lamp.
- DND Top Gel: seals in a glossy, long-wearing shine.
Each DND line pairs with its own base and top, and the combo already includes the right pair: DND (Daisy) uses #500 Base and #600 Top, DND DC uses #800 Base and #900 Top, and DND DV (Diva) uses #100 Base and #300 Top. The set title lists the exact numbers, so you never have to guess which base and top go with your color.
Which DND line should you start with?
The combos on this page come from three DND lines, and they all cure the same way (60 seconds under LED or 2 minutes under UV). The difference is the shade library and how the pigment behaves:
- DND original (Daisy): the foundation catalog with the largest shade library, 600-plus classic shades. Most shades reach full color in two thin coats. The safest first line if you want the widest choice of everyday colors.
- DND DC (Daisy Color): the high-pigment line. Denser formula, so many DC shades are close to opaque after the first coat, which makes them forgiving for a beginner. Sub-lines include DC Mermaid, DC Platinum, DC Mood Change, and DC Sheer.
- DND DV (Diva): the seasonal and effects line: cat eye, mirror chrome, and quarterly limited drops, plus a deep run of fall and winter tones like Detective Mauve, Chestnut Wonders, and Cherry On Top. Pick Diva when you want the trend shade rather than the everyday one.
If a client or family member has reacted to gel before, the DND HEMA & TPO Free duos run on the same base and top as the rest of the family, so you can switch shades without buying new components.
How to do your gel manicure at home
- Push back your cuticles, lightly buff the shine off the nail, and wipe clean with a nail prep or alcohol.
- Brush on a thin layer of DND base gel and cure it under an LED lamp for 60 seconds (2 minutes under UV).
- Apply your first thin coat of color and cure 60 seconds.
- Apply a second coat for full color and cure again.
- Seal with DND top gel, brushing over the very tip of the nail, and cure. If the surface feels tacky, wipe it with a little alcohol; the no-wipe variant in the DC line cures clean.
- For your toes or a fast no-lamp look, brush the matching lacquer over a bare, dry nail. It air-dries on its own in 5 to 8 minutes between coats.
The gel layers (base, color, and top) only set under a lamp, they do not air-dry. If you buy a single-shade combo or a bundle, you supply your own LED lamp. The starter kits are the sets that already include a lamp, so double-check the set type before you check out.
Common first-set mistakes and how to avoid them
- Coats too thick: thick gel cures unevenly and wrinkles. Two thin color coats beat one heavy coat every time.
- Flooding the cuticle: gel touching skin lifts within days and can irritate. Leave a hairline gap at the cuticle on every layer.
- Skipping the free edge: capping the tip with base, color, and top is what stops chips at the end of the nail.
- Under-curing: a weak or too-far lamp leaves the gel tacky and soft. Keep the lamp 1 to 2 inches above the nail and cure the full 60 seconds.
- Peeling instead of soaking: peeling takes the top layer of the natural nail with it.
How long it lasts and how to take it off
- With clean prep, a DND gel manicure lasts up to 3 weeks without chipping. Cuticle oil every day and gloves for cleaning and dishes stretch that wear.
- Brush a little of each layer over the very tip of your nail to help it last longer.
- To remove, soak your nails in 100 percent acetone (cotton and a foil wrap for about 10 minutes) until the gel lifts, then gently push it away. Do not peel it off, which can damage your natural nail.
- Store bottles upright at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, which degrades the pigment over 6-plus months. Shake Diva effects shades before use, because chrome and magnetic pigments settle faster than solid colors.
Salon supplies at wholesale prices
Every set is 100% authentic DND, the same product used in salons. You pay one wholesale price for the whole set, far less than a salon gel appointment, with no business license, no minimum order, and free shipping on orders $100+. In-stock sets ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays leave the same day. Buy the base, top, and lacquer once and they stretch across many manicures, then reorder gel color singles as your palette grows.
More from DND at ND
- DND, DC & DIVA family: all 3,165 DND family SKUs in one place
- DND Gel & Lacquer: single bottles and matching duos
- DND DC Gel & Lacquer: the DC collection
- DND Diva Gel & Lacquer: the Diva line
- DND HEMA & TPO Free Gel: cleaner-formula duos for sensitive nails
- DND Acrylic & Dip Powder: the dip and acrylic range
- Nail lamps: 119 UV, LED, and 2-in-1 lamps if you buy a combo or bundle instead of a starter kit
- Gel Color: every gel brand ND carries
- DND DC base and top
- DND Diva
- DND color samples