'I tried the $6 BIAB nail polish that promises to replace your manicure. Here's my honest verdict.'

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Confession time: I spend a lot of time and money on my nails.

I'm talking a $100+ 90-minute appointment every three to four weeks. I know this isn't the norm; as a reformed nail biter, I credit this investment to helping me break my bad habit, but I won't lie…

My bank statement would really love it if I could find a more cost effective solution. Enter, this new $6 at-home BIAB nail polish range.

Watch: A nail artist's take on whether your nails actually need to breathe. Post continues below.

For the uninitiated, the term BIAB nails refers to BIAB gel, also known as 'builder in a bottle'.

I personally think it's a game-changer for anyone who, like me, has thin or bendy nails that don't hold a manicure, or wants something more durable than shellac but not as thick as SNS.

But as I mentioned, it's time-consuming and expensive compared to other salon manicures (or doing your nails at home).

If you're wondering how at-home BIAB nail polish works and if it could replace your expensive manicure, I put my nails on the line so you don't have to.

Meet the $6 OXX Cosmetics BIAB Gel Nail Polish.

Here she is! Image: Supplied.

I first spotted the Kmart BIAB nail polishes on the shelves when I went hunting for the alleged Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation dupe (you can read my Kmart foundation review here if you're interested).

At $6 for 8ml, a bottle of this is a heck of a lot cheaper than my professional BIAB manicures — minus the expertise, of course.

The OXX BIAB polishes are chip-resistant and come in 10 shades ranging from Sheer Pink, Sheer Rose and Sheer Nude, through to White, Black, Rosewood and Berry Red.

Plus, the ingredients are very similar to other builder gel products. An FYI though, some BIAB products can irritate your skin, so always patch test first.

How to do BIAB nails at home.

BIAB isn't like other nail polishes. I knew this going in and did some pre-painting research to give myself the best chance of success.

You'll need:

• A nail file and nail buffer, or a dual-sided nail block.

• Acetone or nail polish remover — swiping this over the nails will remove any oils that could prevent the BIAB gel from bonding to the nail surface.

• OXX Cosmetics BIAB Gel Nail Polish — the shade Sheer Rose looked the most like my tried-and-tested salon-builder gel shade, Dolly.

• A UV LED nail lamp — mine is a $24.99 travel-sized USB lamp from By Me & Crew, but you can buy larger ones from Amazon, MECCA, Adore Beauty and even Kmart.

• A gel top coat — I went with the OXX Cosmetics UV Gel Nail Polish Top Coat.

My camera watching me do my BIAB nails. Image: Supplied.

Once your nails are filed into the shape you want, buffed and prepped with the acetone, apply a thin layer of BIAB gel to each nail, curing it under the light for 90 seconds before moving onto the next one.

Your second coat of BIAB should be a little thicker — a good tip I read online is to dollop the gel onto the nail and then use the brush to gently wiggle the polish across and up the nail, rather than apply it in vertical brush strokes.

Another BIAB trick is to flip your hand over to allow gravity to help balance and evenly spread the polish before curing for a less lumpy finish.

Once you've cured two coats of BIAB gel, finish by applying and curing a clear gel top coat.

Listen: We break down common nail myths and facts with an expert on the You Beauty podcast. Post continues below.

My Kmart BIAB review.

As someone who has never been good at painting her own nails, I found this at-home BIAB nail polish shockingly easy to use.

Where regular nail polish can be runny and easily leech into crevices, BIAB gel nail polish holds its shape, making it more user-friendly. Plus, there's no waiting for an undisclosed amount of time for the polish to dry — it's guaranteed to be dry after 90 seconds under the LED light.

Did the gel polish have a strong scent? Yep. Was it an exercise in patience, painting each nail and curing it? Absolutely. But I turned the bathroom fan on and popped on a podcast and just went with it.

Around an hour later, I went to bed with what I thought was a manicure that somewhat resembled my monthly $100 BIAB manicure.

They still looked pretty professional when I woke up the next morning… from a distance.

Not too shabby for an at-home BIAB first timer! Image: Supplied.

Upon closer inspection in the harsh light of day, one of the biggest giveaways my BIAB nails were a home job was the bulkiness of the gel, especially around the edges of the nail plate.

Overhanging gel can be smoothed using a tapered nail file, but once your BIAB gel has cured, there's no balancing any uneven or lumpy shapes.

OK cool, but how long did my at-home BIAB nails last, you ask?

It took all of six days for this reformed nail-biter to peel the Kmart BIAB off. Not because it chipped, broke or had started lifting, but because… I could.

This is because my at-home BIAB skills are nowhere near the expert precision of my nail artist, who uses a fine-tipped brush to ensure the BIAB gel is spread and cures all the way to the edges of the nail plate. This ensures the product adheres to the nail, minimising the chance of fidgety fingers pulling them off.

Predictably, this non-approved nail removal method left my natural nails rough and weak. Some of my nails split, while others held out until my next salon appointment.

Sorry to my manicurist. Image: Supplied.

These cons are pretty small when you weigh up the time and financial investment of regular salon manicures — if you enjoy doing your nails at home and have strong, healthy nails, I think you'll love trialling DIY BIAB nails.

One part of the at-home BIAB process I ignored is the removal. Because I had an appointment coming up, I didn't even attempt it, but to remove BIAB at home, it's not dissimilar to how they do it in the salon.

You'll need to file the top 'shiny' coat of each nail, then secure acetone-soaked cotton balls over each nail and leave for five to 10 minutes. If the BIAB doesn't easily come away from the nail using a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick, repeat the process until it does.

Personally, I won't be substituting my standing nail appointments with the Kmart BIAB nail polish. Mostly because I look forward to gasbagging with my nail artist all month, but also because, as someone who bit their nails for 20+ years, it's a crucial part of my routine.

But would I use this $6 BIAB while on holidays or to tide me over between salon appointments? 1,000 per cent.

How often do you get your nails done? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Image: Supplied.