Glitter gel polish isn't one finish. It splits into distinct types — fine shimmer, chunky glitter, reflective, holographic, iridescent — and the difference between them changes the look completely. This collection covers the sparkle-to-full-glitter end of the range, so it's worth knowing which finish you're working with before you buy.

Fine shimmer gel nail polish reads as a sheen from most angles and catches the light when it moves. Holographic nail polish shifts colour depending on the light source — it's not just sparkly, it changes. Full-coverage glitter gel polish, including the silver and gold shades in this range, is more literal: you're applying glitter suspended in gel, and it's visible as glitter. The subtle shimmer shades sit between these — they work over any coloured gel polish base and change the whole character of a nail polish underneath them.

Clear glitter gel polish and holographic options behave differently again. The colour of your gel nail polish base changes what shows through, which means the same nail polish can look completely different on different nails. Worth testing before you commit to a full set.

Using These Gel Nail Polishes

Application is standard gel polish process: prep the nail, apply a thin base coat, cure under your UV/LED lamp, apply one to two layers of your chosen glitter gel nail polish and cure between each, then finish with a top coat for shine and protection. The top coat is more important with glitter than with regular gel polish — glitter particles create an uneven surface, and a proper top coat layer flattens that out and seals the colour.

You can also layer these over a coloured nail polish base. A holographic or silver glitter gel polish over black is a different nail look than the same polish over nude. Same product, different result. Burgundy and purple bases work particularly well under the shimmer shades.

For long lasting wear, cap the free edge at every stage and make sure you're getting a full cure. Glitter gel nail polishes tend to chip at the edge before anywhere else, so the cap makes a real difference to how long the nail polish holds.

Removing Glitter Gel Polish

Glitter gel polish takes slightly longer to remove than regular gel polish. The glitter particles in the nail polish bond into the gel and resist the soak-off process a little more than a standard colour coat. Use acetone-soaked cotton wrapped in foil, leave for 10 to 15 minutes rather than the usual 5 to 8, then ease off any remaining nail polish with a cuticle pusher. Don't rush it and don't scrape — the nail underneath is fine if you're patient.

The Wider Kirsty Meakin Range

If you're building out a full nail kit, the rest of the range includes builder gel, acrygel, acrylic powders, UV/LED lamps, and a full set of nail art products. The All That Glitters gel polishes are designed to work within the Kirsty Meakin system, but they're also compatible with standard gel polish lamps and base and top coats from other brands.

For seasonal nail looks: gold and silver are the obvious choices around Christmas and New Year, when search for glitter gel polish peaks. The burgundy, black and purple shades carry well through autumn and winter. The clear, holographic and subtle shimmer options work year-round.