LED nail lamp: how to choose and how to use?

Gel polish manicure is popular among women who care about their appearance and value their own time. It is impossible to create a beautiful coating without a special lamp. LED lamps for manicure are used by beauty salons and home craftsmen. Such devices belong to a new generation, they greatly simplify the process of decorating nails. Before buying this technique, you should know all the intricacies of their operation and choice.

The LED nail lamp is powered by LEDs. It is used for drying gel polish and nail extension materials. The lamps themselves in the device work for about 50-100 hours, therefore they do not require frequent replacement. For manicure with such a device, only LED-active gel polishes and gels are suitable. Drying under the influence of LEDs is faster than under the influence of ultraviolet lamps.

Manicure lamps are divided into UV, CCFL, LED. The first type is considered the most common, especially among home craftsmen. The cost of such a device is the most democratic, it is simple to use it. In such a device there are fluorescent lamps of 9 watts, they are 4-5 times more economical than incandescent lamps.The 36 W UV lamp contains 4 lamps, which can heat up to + 50 ° C and higher during operation. Craftsmen should take this factor into account when working. The device will last about 8000-12000 hours, but such a lamp does not like power surges and may not turn on in vain if the voltage drops by more than 15%.

LED lamps are considered the next generation. They are more economical and practical, and also do not heat up during operation. Replacement bulbs are not required as they last about 100,000 hours. The LED lamp significantly speeds up the work, which means that the master can serve more customers. It is important to choose the right material for manicure, because not all gels dry under the influence of LEDs.

An interesting option is considered a hybrid device that combines LED lamps (total power 24W) and spiral CCFL lamps (power 12 W). Such drying lamps allow you to work with any gels and gel varnishes. Hybrid appliances are compact, dry quickly and have an interesting design.

A special spiral dries thick materials with ease, and 6 LEDs around the perimeter dry more liquid material. The hybrid has a long service life, which does not depend on the number of switching on and off the device. This method of drying gel and gel polish helps to save money, the device consumes little electricity.

Many people mistakenly believe that the ultraviolet radiation of the gel polish lamp is harmful to the skin and the body in general. Such fears are "warmed up" by the requests of the craftsmen not to look at the device during operation. The light emitting diodes in the material curing machine use ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 375-410 nanometers. In nature, there is a source of ultraviolet radiation - the Sun. This spectrum has a wavelength in the range of 10-400 nanometers. Waves shorter than 295 nm are harmful to the body. The ozone ball absorbs this radiation and protects the skin from burns. The ozonosphere freely transmits 315–400 nm wavelengths called UV-A.

The radiation from the lamp is no more harmful than ordinary sunlight on a summer day. Only now you walk under the sun much longer than keeping your hands under the lamp. It is not worth looking at the device during operation because of the bright light, which can harm the eyes. But many manicure drying devices have special protective screens. In rare cases, ultraviolet light can cause allergies. The causative agent can be the radiation itself. The cause may be a genetic predisposition. Allergies occur in people who have taken antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time.

Alcohol before a manicure increases the likelihood of a negative reaction of the body to ultraviolet light. The main risk group includes the following categories:

• people with impaired liver and kidney function;
• malfunctioning of the thyroid gland;
• various autoimmune diseases;
• people prone to allergic reactions.

Allergy to radiation has its own mechanism of development. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, the immune system produces antibodies. The main reasons for the development of such a reaction of the body are as follows:

• white or pale skin;
• taking herbal and anti-inflammatory medicines, antibiotics;
• an allergic reaction to the sun's rays;
• increased skin sensitivity;
• decreased function of the immune system;
• genetic predisposition to ultraviolet allergy.

You can only enjoy the manicure drying device if it is of really high quality.Numerous reviews make it clear which models of LED lamps you can safely entrust your manicure to. The masters have checked the operation of these devices and recommend to beginners.

The use of this device does not require special skills, therefore it is suitable for beginners and home use. The features of the model are as follows:

• power - 6 W;
• designed for 1 hand;
• open design;
• has a beautiful design;
• works about 50 thousand hours.

The device is suitable for polymerizing biogel, permanent varnish, gel varnish and shellac. Its features are as follows:

• the device contains 40 LEDs;
• power - 6 W;
• you can dry 5 nails at the same time.

The lamp turns off by itself as soon as you reach your hand. You do not have to be distracted by turning it on and off, which is especially convenient when decorating your nails for yourself. It is great for home use.

This lamp is suitable for both personal and professional use. The device can be easily moved as it visually resembles a laptop. Closed flaps protect the LEDs from damage. It has the following features:

• power - 10 W;
• interesting design;
• built-in timer up to 45 seconds.

The lamp is great for professional use. Girls rarely purchase such a device for the home because of the high cost. The drying speed is increased by a special mirror coating inside the lamp. The special handle makes it easy to transport the OPI LED Lamp. This model has such features as:

• power - 6 W (32 LEDs);
• fast drying of materials;
• convenient to use for both manicure and pedicure;
• stylish design.

The body of the device is made of metal, which significantly increases the strength and service life. The lamp has touch sensors, so you can not be distracted by turning it on and off. It is especially convenient during a pedicure. If you need to dry the coating for a certain time, then you can use the built-in timer.

The LED lamp attracts special attention of girls because of the speed of work. You can dry the material literally in 10-30 seconds. In comparison, a conventional UV lamp does the same task in 2–4 minutes. When choosing a device, it is important to pay attention to several characteristics.

• Power. It happens that after a manicure, the coating simply gradually peels off the nails. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the material is not completely frozen. Avoiding trouble is simple, choose the right lamp wattage. The most affordable device will be 9 watts. It will come in handy if you do not do manicure, but only sometimes do it yourself. For regular home use, pick up a mid-range 18W lamp. For professional activities, it is worth spending money on a 45W model.

• Timer. It will allow you to establish complete control over drying. The timer will turn off the lamp when the layer is already dry. You don't have to keep track of the time yourself. Most models are equipped with several timers (for 30 seconds, for 1, 2, 3 minutes). This is convenient for masters with a large flow of clients. If you buy a lamp for your home, then you can take one with one timer.
• Reflector. There may be reflectors on the inside of the lamp. They serve to diffuse light along the side parts.This design ensures high-quality drying of the material from all sides. Models without reflectors may not hold material well on the sides, so be careful with them.

• Dimensions and construction. LED lamps can be both small (for drying one finger) and very large (for drying two hands at once). Some models are equipped with special handles for easy transport. Larger models are suitable for showrooms. For the home, a lamp is enough to dry one hand. If you are going on vacation, the mini-lamp will help you make the correction at the right time.
• Additional equipment. The built-in fan will cool the device, which is necessary for professional activities. The removable bottom allows you to use the lamp for pedicure. The device may not have a bottom at all or have a convenient stand.

When choosing an LED lamp for a manicure, it is worth considering where and for what purpose you will use it. For professional activities, it is worth choosing the most complete apparatus, and for home use, you can take a middle-class lamp.

LED lamp technology as follows:

• plug the lamp into an outlet before use;
• press the power button on the body and let the lamps warm up for 1–2 minutes;
• set the timer for the required number of seconds;
• place your hand in the lamp so that the nail plates themselves are located under the lamps;
• switch off the lamp using the button and unplug it from the socket.

Each layer of material must be dried in an LED lamp. When applying gel polish, first dry the base, then each layer of color, and finally the top coat. The base and volume take a little longer to dry than the color gel. The drying time of gel polish directly depends on the degree of pigmentation. The brighter and darker the color, the longer it takes to cure.

The optimal life of LEDs is 3000 hours, which is 125 days. There is an opinion that it is necessary to replace the LEDs about 1 time per month, but this information is far from reality. Even if a pair of LEDs goes out during operation, this will have little effect on the total power of the manicure lamp. Your machine will last longer if you handle and care for it properly. Follow a few simple rules to extend your life.

• Remove dust from the device regularly. Do not use water or detergents. A light dry cleaning is sufficient to remove small debris. It is especially important to observe this rule if the hood cannot cope with removing the old coating from the nails.
• Do not place the appliance near heat sources or under incandescent lamps. If you use a table lamp, make sure that it does not heat up the apparatus to dry the material.
• If the device is not used for a long time, unplug it from the outlet. First press the power button on the case.
• Always use an internal fan when working. It lowers the temperature of the LEDs, prevents overheating.
• Wipe the entire unit with a degreaser regularly. The substrate on which the client's hands lie must be additionally treated with an antiseptic.

It is easy to answer this question if you understand the composition of an ordinary varnish and, in principle, its drying. The material contains components such as:

• pigment - a substance due to which the varnish has a specific color;
• polymers - the base of the varnish provides a shiny film on top; substances are fragile;
• plasticizers - these components provide the plasticity and strength of the material;
• solvent - such a substance evaporates, due to which the material hardens (dries up).

In the next video, unboxing and using the LED nail lamp is waiting for you.