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

In recent years, the ultraviolet lamp for drying nails is no longer associated with professional salon equipment. Many women already have a small size device, and they prefer to make a lasting manicure with shellac at home. The device can be ordered at a local specialty store or online. The price varies depending on many characteristics. How to choose the optimal device for yourself is described below.

The UV lamp for nails is a plastic case with buttons and a control panel, inside which is built an ultraviolet lamp (or several). It is used for drying special shellac coating, which was invented not so long ago. It is popular for its beautiful appearance, the ability to create a diverse design and high durability. Such gel polishes do not dry in the air, as usual coating. For their curing and UV-lamp is necessary.

For home manicure most often use the most inexpensive options made in China. They have 1 or 2 lamps of 9 watts each. The cost of such devices does not exceed 120-150 US dollars. They are in great demand because of the low price, compactness and universality. In professional manicure studios use lamps of greater power, which allow you to make a more durable coating in just a couple of minutes. Often they have additional options, such as a fan or a timer.

Modern devices look very attractive and have a wide range of colors for every taste: from a silver or pink palette to a leopard pattern. Fashionable design of the lamp will decorate any dressing table.

Apparatus for drying differ in shape and size, power, additional functionality. The mini-lamp, the most compact by the size, is easily located in any handbag. 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 too much about the money spent.

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

Professionals buy for work manicure lamps of 36 watts and 54 watts. They are able to qualitatively polarize any type of coating with a very dense texture. Dry one layer, usually 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 machine can be dried toenails. But usually the masters have for this a separate lamp.

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

Here are some criteria that distinguish UV lamps from LED.

• Dimensions. New appliances are more compact than ultraviolet lamps. For some, this is a significant plus. But it’s impossible to dry 2 hands at once, and the more so a manicure on the feet in this device. But the LED-lamp has an interesting design and unusual shape.
• Life time. On the durability of the use of lamps, LED is many 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 start to shine worse, gradually losing power. With LED devices this does not happen. They shine equally well at the beginning and at the end of their service life.

• Maintainability. If something is broken in the UV lamp, then finding replacement elements is usually not a problem. Light bulbs are very easy to change. If the LED lamp breaks, it will be difficult to find individual LEDs. Yes, and the repair cost will be almost comparable to the purchase of a new device.
• Functional. This is one of the major advantages of old type lamps over new ones. UV lamps polarize a variety of coatings: acrylic, gel, shellac of any density and texture. LED-lamp does not guarantee complete drying of some types of coating. Some of the most dense types of it generally can not be. Will have to act experimentally. Or choose those varnishes that are specifically designed for polarization under the influence of LEDs. And this greatly reduces the choice.
• Quality and speed of drying. But the LEDs do their job faster, especially on coatings with a liquid texture. It takes a maximum of 30 seconds to dry one layer, whereas in a UV lamp one layer polymerizes for at least 180 seconds. Speed ​​of work and time saving play a big role for professional craftsmen.

• Cost The price of different types of lamps is different 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 the device of the same level with LEDs will cost 7,000-8,000 rubles.

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

Such a question arises among girls who are going to make a manicure with gel polish for the first time, and also constantly using UV lamps. To get a burn with such a device is difficult. But due to the use of devices with high power, it is often felt that the lamp is burning. If the light strongly bakes, exerting a thermal effect, you should choose a device with a lower radiation power. Accordingly, the thermal effect will be less. If the lamp bakes, then the manicure master includes a fan built into the device for greater comfort of the procedure.For professional high power devices of 36 and 58 watts, this option is usually available.

There is an opinion that bright light can negatively affect vision. As well as ultraviolet radiation can cause aging of the skin of the hands and in general negatively affect its condition. It is worth noting, however, that such a risk is several times less than when visiting a tanning salon or sunbathing. A manicure lamp can be harmful if you have a rare reaction to ultraviolet light.

Allergies appear in a small number of women, but it is better to warn the master in advance. It is usually manifested by reddening of the skin and rashes on the surface during the solar period of the year. UV-lamp does not harm the nail plate, as the nail is covered with several layers of varnish. If you are allergic to ultraviolet light, it is better to buy an LED lamp.

To select a nail lamp, you should consider many factors. Chief among these will be your individual tolerance of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, first of all, it is worth checking the body's reaction to ultraviolet. If it is, then you should definitely buy a LED-lamp, even though it is much more expensive. It will also have to pick up gel polishes with a special suitable texture.

The next factor is financial capacity and purpose of use. If you do not want to spend too much, and the lamp will be needed only for personal home use, then you can buy the most budget 18-watt UV lamp. 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, you will only do a manicure or decorate the nails on the legs too. In the latter case, you will need to purchase a device of a larger size. The correct option would be a medium-power ultraviolet lamp. For home use, defining characteristics are often cost, size, and durability. For professionals, important functionality and the ability to quickly dry, as well as the reliability of the device. Although the choice is individual here. Those who fall in love with gel polish get home appliances and good devices with powerful lamps in the middle price category.

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

The device is multifunctional and can be used for both manicure and pedicure. Lamp power is sufficient for high-quality drying of different types of coating. On the case there is a display showing the power used (it can be changed) and the countdown in the reverse order. The device is convenient for transportation. Professionals celebrate the ergonomic removable tray.

The device 4 lamps of 9 watts, it turns out quite powerful drying. The device is quite simple, made in Russia. It is especially popular with novice craftsmen due to the optimal ratio of price and quality. Of the additional options there is a countdown timer for 2 and 3 minutes. This is very convenient, according to most reviews, since this is the time most often used for polymerization.

The powerful lamp of the famous manufacturer will please the professionals.Reviews of her are usually very good. Inside there are 32 of the most powerful LED of excellent quality. In addition, there is a mirror diffuser of a special configuration, which distinguishes the lamp from a number of similar ones. Durable housing made of metal. Touch control in the device - as in the most top models of modern technology. The coatings are dried in a very short time, just 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 device. It has powerful LEDs and 1 ultraviolet lamp. You can dry your nails quickly and with any coating. Compact sizes are an advantage for some, but a disadvantage for others. Inconsistent reviews has a timer. Useful option, but only if you make nails, like a master in the salon. The device is not intended for independent use, as the timer panel is on its back side.

To obtain a durable coating, it is important to use the device correctly. To do this, before working should be familiar with the instructions. Lamps are used only for those types of coatings that are specified by the manufacturer, otherwise a manicure may have an unpredictable result. For UV lamps before direct drying, it is recommended to turn on the lamp and warm it up for 5 minutes.

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

Drying ordinary varnish under LED lamps will have no effect. They are designed not to dry the surface, but to polymerize under the action of a stream of light particles of the special components of the gel varnish. Such substances are not in the usual varnish, so the desired acceleration of the process will not work.

Replacement depends on the intensity of use of the device. LEDs are not replaceable. But to install a new lamp ultraviolet spectrum is not difficult. If you do a manicure only for yourself or a couple of girlfriends, then high-quality lamps may be enough for a year. In nail salons, they are changed approximately every 3 months, as older devices gradually lose power, and the work time of the master due to longer drying time increases. The need to change the lamp will say the reduction in brightness by 40% or more or darkening of individual sections of the light element.

Luminescent elements in a nail lamp quickly deteriorate not only as a result of long-term work. From frequent switching on and off, they also fail, in addition, because they consume more electricity. Optimally, the lamp worked continuously for 2-3 hours with a break of at least 1 hour.

On how to choose the right UV lamp for nails, see the following video.