How to Choose the Best UV Nail Lamp

Getting the best UV nail lamp makes a lot of difference in providing quality client services or doing your nails at home. It significantly enhances your or your clients’ manicure experience, ensuring you or they get quality results. Whether you’re a beginner in DIY manicuring, a seasoned nail devotee or a professional nail tech, choosing the right device is important in consistently achieving beautiful and professional-looking manicures.

In this article, we are going to give you tips or steps to ensure you get the best UV lamp. You’ll also learn what the device really is and how it’s different from an LED lamp, its proper maintenance and other crucial information about it that you need to know. So, let’s start!

What Is a Nail UV Lamp?

A UV nail lamp is a device used to dry and cure gel manicures in just minutes. It uses ultraviolet wavelengths to dry or cure manicures in 2 minutes on average. However, this device is the older version for drying and curing nail polishes.

About UV Light

UV light comes in UVA, UVB and UVC forms, and UVA is what nail lamps use because it’s the least harmful and has the longest wavelength. UVA’s wavelengths are effective in triggering the gel polish’s photoinitiators to cause the process of curing. UVB and UVC are more dangerous forms.

UV Lamp vs LED Lamp

A UV lamp is considered the older version because it produces a broad spectrum of UV wavelengths that can cure at an average of 2 minutes. An LED lamp, on the other hand, is a newer technology and costs a little more than UV lamps. What makes it different from UV lamps is it emits a more focused wavelength, allowing the manicure to dry in just 30 seconds.

Tips to Get the Best Nail UV Lamp

Power

When it comes to UV nail lamps, the first thing you need to consider is the power of the device. The recommended power is at least 36 watts, with each bulb having a capacity of 9 watts or less. With the right set of bulbs that emit the proper wavelength of energy, you can guarantee complete and quality curing.

Wavelength

This is the element that works on curing or drying nail polishes. The ideal wavelength for UV nail lamps is around 320-400 nm, which effectively energises the photoinitiators included in the formulation of gel nail polishes. Energised photoinitiators pass their absorbed energy from the UV light to the oligomers and monomers in gel polishes, causing these chemicals to join together where curing happens. Without the right wavelengths, proper curing won’t happen, which doesn’t harden gel polish.

Bulb Positioning

Checking bulb positioning is also an extremely important aspect of choosing the best UV nail lamp. You must know if the bulbs are positioned enough to cater to the back and front of the lamp, if there’s one for the thumb, if there are a lot of bulbs inside and so on. With these factors, you make sure you’ve checked the bulbs properly to help you decide if the device is what you’re looking for.

Size and Shape

The size and shape of your UV lamp depend on how you want to use the device. If you’re a nail tech, you would want a lamp that’s large enough to cater to your clients’ mani and pedi demands but not too big that takes a lot of space. An oval or rectangular lamp shape is ideal for you as this gives more room for your clients to place their hands and feet. For home use, a smaller UV lamp will do.

Timer Settings

Make sure your lamp has adjustable settings as well because different gel polishes require various curing times. With adjustable settings, you can easily set the time for a specific gel polish product to cure. You’ll be sure to properly cure the manicure and make it last long.

Extra Features

Extra features like having a fan provide a greater experience with the device. This is optional, and you can always opt for a nail lamp with the standard features only. But if you’re willing to pay extra dollars just to make your curing experience much better, then why not?

Dual Technology

Many brands offer dual technology with their lamps that have UV and LED functionalities. With this, you’re able to get a broader range of gel nail products and enjoy experimenting with designs.

Brand

Many brands have already established a significant level of reputation for producing high-quality nail lamps. This is why it’s beneficial to check out reputable brands and see what they offer. Check their customer reviews to know how their products are able to help other people with their manicure services. You’ll also get some helpful tips from them on how to properly use the device to achieve a better experience.

How to Maintain Your UV Nail Lamp

Maintaining your device is crucial in your investment in the lamp. You may be getting the best quality out there, but without proper care, your lamp will eventually get damaged. Here are the tips for keeping your UV nail lamp:

• Schedule a maintenance check with your device, which includes cleaning and checking of bulbs and other components.
• When cleaning, remove the removable parts to make cleaning more convenient and ensure you clean all parts properly. Just be sure not to disassemble the device because you might damage it and may void your warranty.
• Avoid frequent quick ignitions as this can cause damage to the tungsten electrodes through contamination of the bulb’s inside.
• Allow enough time for the lamp to cool down after every use.
• Make sure that the lamp head is in good condition and clean prior to changing the lamp.
• If there’s dirt on the glass of the bulb, remove it with soft tissue dipped in isopropyl alcohol before turning it on.
• Wear latex gloves when doing maintenance checks and cleaning and don’t use your bare hands.
• Keep your UV nail lamp in a dry place with a not-too-cold or not-too-hot temperature.
• Label your lamp as much as possible for easy identification. If possible, isolate it from your other things at home to reduce the risk of damage.

How to Cure Nails Using a UV Nail Lamp

1. Protect Your Skin

As mentioned earlier, you must protect your skin before you place your hands under UV light. You can wear sunscreen or gloves designed for UV light. This step is extremely important to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Another thing to follow is to wear protective eyewear when curing to shield your eyes from UV light. It may not be as risky as your hands, but your eyes are still exposed to the artificial light.

2. Look for a Convenient Spot to Cure Your Nails

This is rarely talked about but is crucial in the success of curing gel polish. This includes getting the most comfortable space at home and not just because it’s near a plug. Your table should also be set based on the comfort you want when doing your nails. Once you secure the spot, you’re ready.

3. Prepare Your Nails

This is where you perform the manicuring process. You clean your nails and prepare them for the gel polish later. Shape and cut your nails to your preference and push back your nail cuticles. Before applying the polish, make sure you understand the manufacturer’s instructions on how their product works. Usually, manufacturers put how long the gel should be cured under UV light, and we strongly advise to follow their instructions.

4. Cure the Gel Polish

Paint all the nails of your one hand first and then place them under the lamp. Make sure the nails are facing upwards and keep your palm pressed against the lamp’s base. You should also create small gaps between your fingers. For each layer of gel nail polish, always cure it, starting with the base coat up to the top coat. Set the timer properly based on the recommended curing time.

You can cure your thumb finger separately to ensure it’s properly dried. Also, remove excess product on your skin using a cotton pad before curing. Enjoy the process of curing your nails, and take note of the tiny details you’ve learned from your first curing attempts, so your manicure gets better on your next applications.

Are UV Nail Lamps Harmful?

The use of UV nail lamps for manicures and pedicures has been linked with much controversy because of its risk of skin cancer. The thing is this device doesn’t cause skin cancer when you’ve just exposed your hands to its UV light. But if you have been regularly having gel polishes for many years, then you may notice freckles starting to become visible on your hands. The more you’re exposed to the device, the higher the chance of developing skin cancer.

To answer the question, UV lamps can become harmful to you if you’ve been exposed to them frequently for a very long period. However, you can reduce the harmful risk by protecting your skin. You can wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before you place your hands under UV light or wear hand gloves when curing.

Should You Buy a Nail Kit with a UV Lamp?

This is entirely up to you. Many nail kits that include the device are already offering good-quality UV nail lamps. Now, the question is whether it’s economical to buy kits with the device. In many cases, you can save money by purchasing kits with UV lamps as these have discounted prices.

Final Thoughts

With our guide in choosing the best UV nail lamp, you’re able to pick the perfect device for you. No rush on getting the lamp. Take your time in checking the ones that appeal to you and see if they tick all the boxes. Enjoy searching!