Do cheap Amazon gel nail kits actually last as long as salon manicures?

Verified-purchase reviewers across kits like Beetles, JODSONE and GAOY frequently report 2–3 weeks of wear, which is competitive with a salon set. Specialist nail-tech communities are more skeptical, noting that pigment density, shrinkage, and base-coat adhesion on budget kits are inconsistent compared with professional brands. The consensus is that wear time depends as much on prep (dehydrator, thin coats, proper cure) as on the polish itself.