UV lamp for nails: what are the features, how to choose and how to use?

In recent years, the UV nail dryer is no longer associated with professional salon equipment. A small device is already owned by many women who prefer to do long-lasting manicure with shellac at home. You can order your device from your local specialty store or online. The price varies depending on many characteristics. How to choose the best device for yourself is described below.

UV lamp for nails is a plastic case with buttons and a control panel, inside which an ultraviolet lamp (or several) is built in. It is used to dry a special shellac coating, which was invented not so long ago. It is popular for its beautiful appearance, versatility and durability. Such gel polishes do not dry in the air like a usual coating. For their hardening, a UV lamp is needed.

For home manicure, the most inexpensive Chinese-made options are most often used. They have 1 or 2 9 Watt lamps. The cost of such devices does not exceed 120-150 US dollars. They are in great demand due to their low price, compactness and versatility. In professional manicure studios, higher wattage lamps are used, which allow you to make a more durable coating in just a couple of minutes.They often have additional options such as a fan or timer.

Modern devices look very attractive and have a wide range of colors for every taste: from silver or pink palette to leopard print. The trendy lamp design will brighten up any dressing table.

Dryers differ in shape and size, power, additional functionality. The smallest mini lamp fits easily into any purse. It is quite cheap, the cost starts from 700 rubles. Such a device is popular with beginners. Even if something does not work out or the results of the manicure are disappointing, you will not have to regret the money spent too much.

For home use, a small device with a power of 18 watts is also recommended. It is versatile in use, it works quite well. With infrequent use (1-2 times a month), the bulbs will last for about a year without replacement. It will take a little longer to dry the coating than in a beauty salon. Some people buy 27 watt UV lamps.

Professionals buy manicure lamps of 36 watts and 54 watts for work. They are capable of qualitatively polarizing any kind of coatings with the densest texture. Dry one layer, as a rule, in 2-3 minutes. These lamps are much larger in size, they can dry 2 hands at once, which further reduces the time to work. Also in this apparatus, you can dry the nails on the toes. But usually the craftsmen have a separate lamp for this.

More recently, fundamentally new LED lamps have appeared in the world of nail design. They have their own advantages over the usual ultraviolet, but they also have a number of disadvantages. Such an LED lamp is considered to be a more advanced device of a new generation.

Here are some criteria that differentiate UV lamps from LED lamps.

• Dimensions. The newer devices are more compact than UV lamps. For some, this is a significant plus. But drying 2 hands at the same time and even more so a manicure on the feet in such a device will not work. But the LED lamp has an interesting design and an unusual shape.
• Life time. In terms of the durability of the use of lamps, LED lamps are several times superior to UV lamps. If, with active use in the cabin, gas lamps have to be changed every 2-3 months, then the service life of LEDs is measured in tens of thousands of hours. In addition, over time, UV lamps begin to shine worse, gradually losing power. This does not happen with LED devices. They shine equally well both at the beginning and at the end of their service life.

• Maintainability. If something breaks in the ultraviolet lamp, then, as a rule, it is not a problem to find replacement elements. The light bulbs are very easy to change. If the LED lamp breaks, it will be difficult to find individual LEDs. And the cost of repairs will be almost comparable to buying a new device.
• Functional. This is one of the major advantages of old-style lamps over new ones. UV lamps polarize a wide variety of coatings: acrylic, gel, shellac of any density and texture. The LED lamp does not guarantee complete drying of some types of coatings. Some of the most dense species do not lend themselves to it at all. We'll have to act experimentally. Or choose those varnishes that are specially designed for polarization under the influence of LEDs. And this greatly reduces the choice.
• Drying quality and speed. On the other hand, LEDs do their job faster, especially on coatings with a liquid texture. It takes a maximum of 30 seconds to dry one layer, while in a UV lamp one layer cures for at least 180 seconds. Working speed and time saving play a big role for professional craftsmen.

• Price. The price of different types of lamps differs at times. If a cheap version of an ultraviolet device can be purchased for 1000 rubles, then the cost of the simplest LED devices starts from 2500 rubles. For this money, you can buy a powerful UV device for semi-professional use, while a device of the same level with LEDs will cost 7000-8000 rubles.

Thus, the main advantages of LED lamps are their compactness, long service life and quick drying. They allow you to save 4 times more electricity. And their light is less harmful than ultraviolet light, since some girls have an allergic reaction on the skin of their hands when using UV lamps.

This question arises for girls who are going to do a manicure with gel polish for the first time, as well as for those who use a UV lamp all the time. It is difficult to get a burn with such a device. But due to the use of devices with high power, it is often felt that the lamp is burning. If the light bakes strongly, exerting a thermal effect, it is worth choosing a device with a lower radiation power. Accordingly, the thermal effect will be less. If the lamp bakes, then the manicurist turns on the fan built into the device for greater comfort of the procedure. Professional devices of high power of 36 and 58 watts usually have this option.

It is believed that bright light can adversely affect vision. Also, ultraviolet radiation can cause aging of the skin of the hands and, in general, negatively affect its condition. It should be noted, however, that this risk is several times less than when visiting a solarium or sunbathing. A manicure lamp can be harmful if you have a rare UV reaction.

Allergies appear in a small number of women, but it is better to warn the master about this in advance. It usually manifests itself as reddening of the skin and rashes on the surface during the sunny period of the year. The UV lamp does not harm the nail plate, since the nail is covered with several layers of varnish. If you are allergic to ultraviolet light, it is better to purchase an LED lamp.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a manicure lamp. Chief among them will be your individual UV tolerance. Therefore, first of all, it is worth checking the body's reaction to ultraviolet light. If it is, then you should definitely buy an LED lamp, although it costs an order of magnitude more. She will also have to pick up gel polishes with a special suitable texture.

The next factor is financial capabilities and purpose of use. If you do not want to spend a lot, and the lamp will be needed only for personal home use, then you can buy the most budgetary UV lamp with a power of 18 watts. If possible, you can buy an LED device, it is more compact and will last longer. And its higher cost will pay off with a long service life and energy saving. For professional use, it is better to buy a hybrid that combines the advantages of both drying devices.

It is important to consider whether you will only do a manicure or decorate your toenails too. In the latter case, you will need to purchase a larger device. The correct option would be a medium-power UV lamp. For home use, the defining characteristics are often cost, size and durability.For professionals, wide functionality and the ability to dry quickly, as well as the reliability of the device, are important. Although the choice is individual here too. Those who fall in love with gel polish buy good devices for the house with powerful lamps in the middle price category.

According to the reviews of professional craftsmen, there are several of the most popular models. All of them are of high quality. Different professionals choose lamps to suit their needs. They may differ in size and additional options important for salon use.

The device is multifunctional and can be used for both manicure and pedicure. The power of the lamps is sufficient for high-quality drying of various types of coatings. The case has a display showing the power used (it can be changed) and the countdown in reverse order. The device is easy to transport. Professionals note the ergonomic removable pallet.

The device has 4 lamps of 9 watts each, a fairly powerful drying is obtained. The device is quite simple, it is produced in Russia. It is especially popular with novice craftsmen due to its optimal price-quality ratio. Additional options include a countdown timer for 2 and 3 minutes. This is very convenient, according to most reviews, since it is this time that is most often used for polymerization.

A powerful lamp from a renowned manufacturer will delight professionals. The reviews about her are usually the best. Inside there are 32 powerful LEDs of excellent quality. In addition, there is a specular diffuser of a special configuration, which sets the lamp apart from similar ones. The robust body is made of metal. Touch control in the device is like in the most top models of modern technology. The coatings dry in a very short time, only 10-30 seconds, which is very important for professional craftsmen.

The device has become a favorite of professional craftsmen. This is a typical example of a hybrid vehicle. It contains powerful LEDs and 1 UV lamp. You can dry your nails in record time and with any coating. Compact size is an advantage for some, but a disadvantage for others. The timer has conflicting reviews. A useful option, but only if you do your nails like a master in a salon. The device is not intended for independent use, since the timer panel is located on its rear side.

Correct use of the device is essential to obtain a permanent coating. To do this, read the instructions before work. Lamps are used only for those types of coatings that are specified by the manufacturer, otherwise the manicure may have an unpredictable result. For UV lamps, before direct drying, it is recommended to pre-switch on and warm up the lamp for 5 minutes.

The usual varnish can theoretically be dried under an ultraviolet lamp. The effect will be similar to that of the sun.However, this is not recommended, as the device heats up and the coating may simply leak. If you need to dry the nails faster, it is better to purchase a quick-drying varnish that completely hardens on the nails in a minute.

Drying regular varnish under LED lights will have no effect. They are designed not for drying the surface, but for polymerization under the influence of the flux of light particles of special components of the gel polish. There are no such substances in ordinary varnish, so the necessary acceleration of the process will not work.

Replacement depends on the intensity of use of the device. LEDs are not replaceable. But installing new UV lamps is not difficult. If you are doing a manicure only for yourself or for a couple of friends, then high-quality lamps may be enough for a year. In nail salons, they are changed about every 3 months, since old devices gradually lose power, and the master's work time increases due to a longer drying time. The need to change the lamp will be indicated by a decrease in brightness by 40% or more, or a darkening of individual sections of the light element.

Luminescent elements in a manicure lamp quickly deteriorate, not only as a result of prolonged work. They also fail from frequent switching on and off, in addition, they consume more electricity. It is optimal for the lamp to work continuously for 2-3 hours with a break of at least 1 hour.

For information on how to choose the right UV lamp for nails, see the next video.