It depends on if you have an LED lamp or a UV lamp. UV is generally between 1-2 minutes whereas LED can be longer. The polish will normally let you know how long to leave under for 
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I saw this one for £40 in Argos. Is it a crap one?
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8798929
Edit: Actually, there’s also this one that has UV bulbs in (£40)
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The customer reviews on that Argos page (the first one) seem to be pretty pleased with it. 
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The ones I am looking at on ebay are around the £20-25 mark and come with the lamp, about 10 colours, base coat, top coat, and a variety of appliances which wouldn’t look out of place in Lovehoney’s ‘Better Sex’ shop.
Maybe I’m pitching too low…
Also, you have to wrap your fingertips in something noxious to get the stuff off before applying more - some kits come with a supply of this.
Have to say, I’m tempted… it would soon pay for itself if I used it a lot and gel nails do last a long time… getting your own kit saves on nail bars, but I’ve only ever used them as a treat until today… hmm…
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I don’t think you are pitching to low. The one I have is a UV one from Ebay. It certainly does me fine.
It takes a little longer to cure possibly but I really enjoy doing them. For the life of me I cant remember the name of the stuff, but after curing them under the lamp you have to cover them one last time in something for them to actually dry.
I’m sorry that’s so vague, I truly can’t remember what it’s called, although a Google will likely help. I mention this because when I did them for the first time I felt like it was taking ages to cure. Then I realised I’d forgotten the last step!
The kits that come with the lamps you are thinking of usually have everything you need as a starting base. You can add more or even buy a better lamp if you really think its for you and you are getting the use out of it 
food for thought anyway, I hope it doesn’t come across preachy lol!
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@Forever_his - not at all preachy, I’m very grateful for the advice, so thank you.
I think I’ll get an inexpensive kit with everything included, then add colours as time goes on if the colour brands don’t matter.
I’ve come across some cracking adverts online:
“to remove, Sod off nail gel” (soak, perhaps?)
And another was,
“The best sales colours for Wedding, find the soul mate of your life: Hot Pink or Silver Pink”
…I’ll keep looking…
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@Peitho I love the holographic effect - I’ve just seen from your pic that the kit comes with a magnetic tool for making different effects? Looks fab 
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Yes, so I got mine from a UK stockists but this is the official website (I think) which has a really good set of pictures of the effects that can supposedly be achieved if you’re a little more practiced than me…!
https://m.bornprettystore.com/bpstore/web/wap/product/info/id/42398
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Currently queuing in the supermarket and am next to the Rimmel stand. There’s a really pretty pale metallic lilacy colour called hot metal love by Rita Ora I thought people might like…
Is it weird that the first thing I thought of was posting here to let you guys know about a pretty nail polish? 
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So preeeeetttty 
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Not at all. Natural order of the universe, innit. 
Did you buy it?
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Haha it definitely is! 
I didn’t because I get my nails done I’d never use it, it just caught my eye! I’ve posted a photo in the pics topic of the bottle, just needs Brenna approval 
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Boots have a nail set I’ve thought about trying,
Also those people with ridges, have you tried buffing them out? I have a buffer and it has 4 different sides that gradually smooths the nails down and its much better than ridge filler.
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Took a butchers at that strip-gel kit. Flamin’ eck… ninety quid! 
Must admit, I’ve never tried a buffer. I’ve used an emery board a bit, but yes, perhaps I ought to invest in the proper tool.
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Thanks, @glitterismyfavouritecolour - I’ve just been into town and bought one of those multi-surface buffer thingies. It’s got six different surfaces (seems a tad excessive, but what do I know? 
)
Also, in the same shopping trip I got a nice surprise. In the square by the market, where there used to be a vape shop is now a beauty emporium with loads of nail care stuff, including a pretty fabby range of OPI and Rimmel stuff at decent prices. Spent far too long in there, gawping. Didn’t buy anything this visit, but it’s only a matter of time… 
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Ooh, I bought cheap nail varnish today, it’s quite pretty but so hard to take a photo of! I got cross and gave up.
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Don’t give up, hun. Maybe the light will be better tomorrow!
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I picked a pack up from Poundland at the same time as I got the other stuff. It’s a double pack, and these have 6 textures each (ooooh ). My little finger nails are very ridgy, and I used the buffer on just one for comparison purposes. It’s done a great job. 
It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly vastly improved.
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@Ian_Chimp - your local branch of Poundland must be blessed. In Norwich we’ve got two big branches. I’ve been to both, and in neither could I find most of the things yours has got: no mirror kit, no ridge filler, no packs of buffers …etc. Humph! 
Ah, that’s a shame. I was lucky to find it in ours too, as the nail stuff was tucked away in a weird corner rack separate even from the other cosmetics. The pound shops have a lot of jumble sale in their DNA.
The mirror polish was from TK Maxx
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