A nail lamp is the imagined future of nail technology that has been invented in reality. It is a device that has made manicurists’ lives easy as it is an everyday essential for their work. These UV or LED lamps are one of the most important tools in manicure routines as well as professional nail enhancements.
If you have ever had a manicure service done at a nail salon, you surely know the semi-circular lamp that emits blue light and your nail tech asks you to place your hands under it to cure your gel. This is nothing but a UV or LED curing lamp. Here’s a complete guide for you on how to use a UV/LED nail lamp for curing gel polish.
How To Use A UV/LED Nail Lamp
The science behind a nail gel curing lamp is a wonderful blend of light, chemistry, and technology that has made nail technology quite effective for the nail fashion industry. A nail gel curing lamp can either be a UV or an LED lamp depending on the type of light being emitted. But both these lamps are used for curing and drying gel nail polishes and other gel nail products.
This detailed guide will help you understand what gel polish curing means, how a UV/LED lamp works, the benefits of using UV and LED lamps in nail care routines, the steps to cure gel polish under both these lamps, and which one is better as per your requirement. Read on to learn more.
What is Gel Polish Curing?
Your traditional nail polishes are air-dry and so, you don’t require any specific tool to dry them. At times, we use hacks like dipping our nails in ice water to dry our nail polishes quickly. But gel polishes don’t work like that. Those are made of specific chemicals designed to be “cured” under specific lights for certain fixed periods. So, gel polish curing is nothing but a process of sealing and hardening your gel nail polish under a UV/LED lamp.
Technically, this ‘curing’ process is called polymerization. The process primarily causes the gel polish molecules to bond together and get hardened into a solid layer within a few minutes. This is why your gel polishes, once cured properly, do not chip or peel off easily unlike the traditional nail polishes.
How Does a UV/LED Lamp Work?
A nail gel curing lamp is an innovative and insightful device in the nail fashion industry. It is a semi-circular lamp that has space to fit your hand. It comprises several small UV/LED bulbs installed in the case and these emit the light for curing the gel.
When freshly painted nails with a gel polish or other gel nail product are placed under this light and the lamp is switched on, the gel starts absorbing the UV or LED light and begins a polymerization reaction which leads to curing and hardening of the product.
Whether you are getting a gel manicure using gel nail polishes or aiming for a structure manicure using a builder gel, a UV/LED lamp is a must-have. You won’t be able to dry the product on any layer no matter how much time you keep it applied because nail gels aren’t air-dry. So you need this device even when you plan to DIY your manicures using any gel products.
Once the gel is cured, you will notice it gets converted from a runny liquid to a hard plastic-like structure that is glossy and durable. This is the reason why gel-cured polishes and manicures last easily for weeks without chipping or peeling.
How to Cure Gel Polish with a UV Lamp?
We all know that UV rays are harmful to our skin because of the UVA and UVB radiations they emit. Over or prolonged exposure to these radiations can damage the skin cells leading to serious health issues like skin cancer. And these radiations are not just emitted by the Sun but even by these UV lights. But what we usually don’t know is these UV nail gel curing lamps can also lead to these troubles considering our hands stay directly under these lights for quite some time and that too at a very close distance.
So, if you are planning to use a UV lamp to cure your gel polish, you need to follow certain steps ensuring your safety to get a perfect application every time:
1) Always add a layer of protection before using the lamp. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen that provides protection against UVA and UVB rays when you go for your manicure appointment. You may also invest in a good pair of UV-absorbent gloves if you get gel manicures done regularly for that added precaution.
2) Use a 36-watt UV nail lamp when working with colored gel polishes, builder gels, and other nail gels that require UV curing. Use a convenient electrical outlet that supports the chosen lamp and switch it on after attaching the power cord carefully. Remember to always place your lamp on a sturdy and even surface like a wooden table for safe and best results.
3) Carefully place your hands under the lamp positioning them with a slight gap between each finger and your nails facing upwards. Place your palms flat on the table in such a way that your nails get direct exposure to the UV rays. Paint and cure each hand individually and dry your thumbnails separately for an even curing and comfortable process.
4) Cure each coat of your gel for 120 seconds (2 minutes) under the lamp setting your timer accordingly. At this step, you may choose the curing time as per the product you’re using as some gels only require 60 seconds of UV curing. Check the curing cycle instructions on the pack before using it. Avoid overexposure of your skin to the UV light.
How to Cure Gel Polish with an LED Lamp?
The main difference between UV and LED lamps is the type of light they emit for curing the gels. While UV lamps use ultraviolet light, LED lamps make use of light-emitting diodes eliminating the risk of UVA and UVB radiations. Besides, LED lamps also provide some added benefits against UV ones.
If you’re aiming for a faster and safer curing of your nail gels, opt for an LED lamp over a UV lamp. LED lamps usually take nearly half the time to cure the product and are even comparatively safer considering they don’t cause as much harm as the UV radiations do.
However, prevention is better than cure. So always begin with applying an SPF and wearing UV protection gloves. Follow these steps to further work with an LED lamp:
1) Invest in an LED lamp with a power setting of at least 36 watts. Plug the lamp into a power source before you start working. Place the lamp flat on a sturdy wooden table.
2) Place your freshly gel-painted nails under the lamp just as you would while using a UV lamp. Position your hands so your fingernails receive the most light from the bulbs and ensure your hands remain motionless during curing. Again, paint and cure each hand individually and dry your thumbnails separately.
3) Cure each coat of your gel for 30 seconds under the lamp setting your timer accordingly. Again, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions on the product as some gels require curing for 45 seconds or even more, especially top coats.
Benefits of Using UV/LED Lamps for Gel Polish Curing
Whether you’re using a UV or an LED lamp for curing your nail gels, the choice is yours depending on your requirements and preference. But they both have some benefits over the traditional air-drying approach used with the drugstore nail polishes.
1) The biggest benefit is that the UV and LED lamps speed up the drying time of your nail gels. While air-drying your traditional nail polishes is a time-consuming process that can take hours, you can get longer-lasting and chip-free gel nail polishes in minutes using these lamps.
2) Another crucial benefit is the lasting power of the product. Whether you opt for fake gel extensions or a colored gel polish manicure, it can last for at least 4 weeks or more without chipping or peeling or even losing shine. If you learn the right tactics or get your manis done professionally, you will see your UV/LED cured nail gels last so well and need fewer reapplications or changes.
3) Using low-quality nail polishes and redoing them again and again can cause dryness and brittleness of your natural nails sometimes leading to fungal nail infections. But if you invest in good-quality gel nail polishes and curing lamps, particularly LED ones, it will in fact be healthier for your nails. Though it may sound like too much exposure to these strong lights and nail tools may adversely affect your nail health, but trust us. This is far better than those store-bought nail polishes that chip in a few minutes or hours and require alcohol-based removers to take off.
UV or LED: Which is Better for Curing Gel Polish?
Simply put, both UV and LED lamps are quite effective when it comes to curing gel polishes and other nail gels. Depending on personal preference, you can choose whichever suits you best. However, there are some points of comparison that make them different from each other.
Generally, LED lamps are considered better than UV lamps because:
- They offer faster curing,
- They produce less heat,
- They are more environment-friendly as they consume less power,
- They do not emit harmful UV rays, and
- They are better for people with skin and nail sensitivity.
Wrap-Up
Mastering how to use a UV/LED nail lamp opens up a world of salon-quality manicures right at home. With the right techniques and a bit of practice, you can achieve long-lasting, glossy nails that rival professional results. Remember, the key to a perfect gel manicure lies in the details – from proper nail prep to choosing the right lamp and polish. Don’t rush the curing process and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best outcomes.
Now that you’re equipped with all the knowledge with our complete guide to curing gel polish, it’s time to get creative and let your nails shine. Happy curing, and may your gel manicures always be flawless!
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Confused between nail lamps and which one to buy? Our complete guide on how to use UV/LED lamps for curing gel polishes is here to help.
