LED lamp for manicure: how is it different from UV. Which lamp is best for gel polish: an overview of models Which ice lamp to choose for home use

The advantages of gel polish were appreciated not only by nail service masters, but also by ordinary women. Now there is no need to wait for the coating to dry, and most importantly, it became possible to renew the manicure not every 5-7 days, but once every two weeks.

In general, the novelty was accepted with joy, and they ran to purchase everything that is necessary for this service.

Why is it important to make the right choice

When deciding to master manicure at home, there is a problem associated with the purchase of tools. And if everything is more or less clear with brands that produce nail polish, then it’s quite difficult to understand which lamp is best for gel polish. After all, the right choice is the way to a quality manicure.

The usual coating dries due to the loss of some chemical compounds. But you can try to dry shellac without a special device as much as you like, and still nothing will work. The fact is that this coating will be fixed only after changing the composition at the micro level. And a special device is capable of starting this process.

Varieties

The polymerization nail service market offers the following types of lamps:

• LED.
• Ultraviolet.
• Gaslight.

How do they differ and which one is better to buy a lamp for gel polish? In the first two types, LED and fluorescent lamps are installed as a light source, and in gas-light types, electrodes with a cold cathode, that is, without an incandescent filament, are installed.

ultraviolet

The popularity of UV lamps among nail technicians is due to the fact that they appeared on the market earlier than others. The advantages of the device include a wide choice of case design and a price range that will please buyers with any wallet. The disadvantage of a UV lamp is that the radiation negatively affects the organs of vision, and the device also dries the nail plate and hands a little. In addition, constant operation will lead to burnout of the lamps, and these are additional costs.

Also, before buying, you should pay attention to its power. For standard ones, it is 9W, but there are others - from 18W to 54W. With an increase in this indicator, the quality of polymerization increases and the duration of gel drying decreases. Nail service masters say that 36W power will be the best choice. In such devices, 4 light bulbs are installed, and each layer of gel polish / shellac will dry perfectly in 2 minutes.

An important detail is the presence of a timer. In simple models, you can set a specific time in minutes. No less popular are devices with 2 modes - "2 minutes" and "∞", that is, constant. In the latter case, the light will turn off only after pressing the button. In the more expensive ones, it sets the second mode - the most economical option of all offered.

Another factor influencing which gel polish lamp is best to take is the size. In large models, it is possible to dry two hands at the same time, which significantly saves the duration of the procedure. But for home use, it is better to purchase a small-sized model.

LED lamps

Newcomers to the nail market. Their main advantage is the high rate of polymerization. Of course, LED lamps are slightly more expensive than UV lamps, but the durability of light emitting diodes compensates for this disadvantage. Even if one LED fails in the process, the power of the remaining LEDs will allow operation to continue. This is the second advantage. LEDs are many times superior to light bulbs in UV - gel polishes dry in 10-30 seconds, which significantly saves the duration of a manicure.

If you do not know which LED lamp for gel polish is better for home use, pay attention to 6W devices. They are compact, inexpensive, and the quality is not inferior to UV dryers. But before buying, take a closer look at the location of the LEDs. For uniform polymerization, they should be placed on the sides and top.

Some models are equipped with touch on / off, that is, they react to the hand inside. During operation, LED lamps do not cause discomfort and do not heat up. Safety of nails and skin of hands is one more advantage of the device. In addition, during polymerization, the light flux does not pulsate and does not harm the organs of vision.

• does not dry all gel polishes;
• emits ultraviolet, but has a narrower range than fluorescent.

Gaslight

While manicure masters were arguing which lamps are better for drying gel polish: UV or LED, a new variety has appeared in the world. The CCFL is a combination instrument that combines the principle of fluorescents and LEDs. It differs from the previous ones in low energy consumption and durability. In addition, it does not dry the skin, but perfectly polymerizes all types of varnishes and models gels. The disadvantage is the duration of the work, which varies from 30 seconds to three minutes.

Lamp for gel polish: what power is better

As mentioned earlier, standard UVs use 9W replacement parts. Here is the most common mistake of manufacturers, which buyers do not know about. A dryer with 2-4 replaceable lamps in total really consumes 18-36W. But the required UV radiation is much lower. Thus, a lamp with a power of 9 watts gives only 20% of the ultraviolet, that is, 1.7W.

Now let's talk about cold cathode dryers. So far, they are produced only in two versions: with 1 and 3 lamps. To increase the service life, the power of each is reduced to 12 watts. But still, the intensity of their radiation exceeds the standard UV models.

How long does the lamp last

In UV devices, they are changed every 3 months, but this is an approximate period. It is difficult to say exactly how long the light bulb will last, since it all depends on how often the dryer is used. When used for personal purposes, a part of the device will last up to one year.

With LED, everything is much worse. The lamps cannot be replaced, so the dryer will have to be disposed of at the end of its useful life. But it is not all that bad. The service life of LED dryers is 100,000 hours. This is a lot, since the device dries gel polish faster than UV. This means that even with frequent use, the LED lamp will last a very long time.

And if you have not yet decided which lamp is best for gel polish, then, speaking of changing parts, you can understand that there is not much difference.

Of course, UV is cheaper, but consider the cost of elements that need to be changed every 3 months. Buying LED will cost more, but it will not require additional investments.

Let's talk about brands

To understand which lamp is better to dry gel polish, we divide all manufacturers of devices into three groups:

1. Professionals focused on the supply to beauty salons. Basically, these are American brands: Harmony, OPI, CND, Gelish. Their products are modern, prestigious, of high quality and, of course, expensive.
2. Middle-class lamps that are suitable for work in the salon and for home use. These are mainly Russian-Chinese or domestic manufacturers: RuNail, Polaris, JessNail, Planet Nails. The advantages of the models are good quality and the possibility of warranty service.
3. A huge number of nameless brands whose products are sold by Chinese sites. These lamps have a primitive design, a minimal set of features and a short lifespan. But with the main function - drying the coating - they do an excellent job and are very cheap.

Which UV lamp is best for gel polish: an overview of a budget model

JESSNAIL 36 BT is a domestic product for home use and beginner nail technicians. Thanks to the classic shape, it is possible to dry 5 fingers at the same time.

• dries all types of UV-sensitive coatings;
• in the device 4 lamps with a power of 9 watts;
• 3 operating modes: 2 and 3 minutes + "endless";
• affordable price;
• removable tray;
• Instructions in Russian included.

• lack of a timer for a shorter period of time.

The best professional UV lamp

CND UV LAMP 36W is specially designed for professional, intensively working masters. The model provides all the necessary "chips" for a high-quality and comfortable manicure: a fan, a countdown board, a retractable tray, a carrying handle, 4 timers.

Pros:

• quality performance;
• good protection of the organs of vision from radiation;
• set of durable lamps;
• versatility (dries all types of gel polishes).

• a huge number of fakes;
• high price.

The most powerful professional LED dryer

If you are the owner of a status beauty salon and don't know which gel polish lamp to choose, pay attention to the OPILED LIGHT model. Super-bright LEDs dry the coating almost instantly and enhance the effect of a high-quality mirror coating.

• fast polymerization;
• durable metal case;
• high power: 32 LED lamps, 6W each;
• 1 year warranty;
• Suitable for both manicure and pedicure.

• very high cost;
• does not dry all brands of gel polishes;
• you need an adapter to the euro socket.

Popular hybrid lamp for gel polish

LED + CCFL DIAMOND is one of the few combined models with good quality and affordable price. The device is equipped with 12 LED lamps and one spiral, which allows you to dry the coating in less than 30 seconds.

• the presence of a timer for 10, 30 and 60 seconds;
• durable lamps;
• universality;
• removable bottom for a comfortable pedicure.

• the size of the lamp allows polymerization according to the principle "4 + 4 + 2";
• the timer is located in the back of the case, which causes inconvenience during self-manicure;
• country of origin - China.

For those looking for quality at an affordable price

When asked which lamp is better for gel polish at an affordable cost, amateurs and nail service masters will answer - RUNAIL 36 BTRU 911. This model of the classic "tunnel" shape has 4 lamps with a power of 9 watts each.

• retractable bottom;
• 3 timers: 1, 2 and 3 minutes;
• high-quality polymerization;
• the ability to use at a professional level;
• price.

• in the reviews there are complaints about the operation of the timer;
• warranty - 3 months;
• weight - 1.5 kg.

PLANET NAILS BIG HEART

The best option for those who are looking for an inexpensive professional device, but do not know which LED lamp is best for gel polish. The manufacturer promises 40,000 hours of operation, but emphasizes that it is necessary to use materials compatible with the dryer.

• affordable price + good quality;
• weight - 500 g;
• 28 lamps with a power of 4.5 watts.

• no timer.

Summing up

For the first steps in working with a gel coating, you can buy a cheap "trial" lamp made in China. For a manicure at home, masters recommend purchasing an inexpensive universal model with a power of 36 watts. However, in the process of improving skills, it will be necessary to replace it with a better and more functional device. Well, status beauty salons will not be able to do without the prestigious and "fancy" lamps for gel polish polymerization, which were described in this review.

Good luck and good manicure!

To give the hands a well-groomed look for a long time, most women use a permanent manicure. It is quite possible to master the technique of applying shellac on your own. To do this, you will have to purchase not only consumables, but also a special lamp for nails such as LED or UV. What are the features of the use of devices and which one is better to buy?

Shellac-based manicure technology provides for the sequential application of materials of different properties.

• Base - the initial layer serves to align the plate.
• Coloring with the main color - the coating is made in 1 or 2 layers.
• Fixing - at the last stage, a gel is applied that securely fixes the end part and the surface of the nail plate.

After each layer, the hands are placed under an ultraviolet or LED lamp for 0.5-2 minutes. The duration at a separate stage depends on the type of coating and the power of the device.

How does a nail dryer work?

From a technical point of view, it is a simple and easy-to-use device. The design consists of the following elements:

• protective case;
• ultraviolet or LED lamp;
• external control panel.

Some models are equipped with auxiliary elements that facilitate operation and make the process of drying nails more comfortable:

• time counter;
• fan;
• mirror surfaces inside the devices;
• removable/retractable panels;
• folding shelves.

The trading network offers lamps of different sizes and shapes, designed for one or two hands at once. The latter option significantly reduces the time of manicure. But high power and bulky dimensions make it suitable exclusively for salon procedures. According to the type of radiation, 2 types are distinguished: UV lamps for drying nails and LED lamps for manicure. Both options dry the coating equally well.

UV lamps for quick drying of nails

Devices based on ultraviolet radiation are by far the most popular and inexpensive. They are equally accessible to professional manicure masters and self-taught lovers. Power varies from 9 to 54 W, the higher this figure and the greater the number of UV elements, the faster the process. The combination of technical characteristics directly affects the cost.

Advantages:

• Low power consumption - beauty salons usually use UV devices with a capacity of 36 or 54 watts. For home manicure, it is better to buy a compact UV device with a power of 9 or 18 watts.
• Favorable cost - the cheapest model costs 900-1000 rubles.
• Versatility - equally in demand by masters of home and salon manicure. They are well suited for working with any gel materials.

The advantages also include a wide range of different brands. Specialized online stores make it possible to quickly and easily purchase any lamp.

Flaws:

• Decrease in productivity - in the course of operation, ultraviolet devices quickly lose their initial power indicators. The result of this is inadequate drying of the nails and a “spreading” coating. Equipment maintainers recommend replacing UV lamps every six months.
• Dependence on power surges - the instability of electrical networks quickly disables UV dryers.
• Increased sensitivity to ambient temperature - operation at +12 degrees and below leads to a quick breakdown.
• Short service life - continuous operation potential is 5000-10000 hours.
• Caution when disposing - breaking, lamps can release poisonous mercury vapor into the air.

The disadvantages also include the dependence on the frequency of on-off. It has long been known that ultraviolet radiation does not pose a health hazard. But some people experience negative sensations, such cases are rare and are explained by increased sensitivity of the skin.

LED (ICE) lamps for drying gel polishes and nail extensions

The work is based on LED radiation. They are far superior in power to traditional ultraviolet devices.

Advantages:

• High speed - a layer of shellac polymerizes in just 10-30 seconds.
• Safety - do not contain any chemical components, therefore, when disposed of, they do not form harmful fumes. The absence of pulsation of the light flux does not adversely affect vision.
• Stability - performance is not affected by the failure of several individual LEDs.
• Durability - LED lamp life reaches 100,000 hours.
• Weak heating - during operation, the temperature of the working elements of the dryer, as well as the nails and skin of the hands, rises slightly.

Flaws:

• High cost - the cost (on average 5,000 - 6,000 rubles) is much higher than ultraviolet counterparts.
• Selective purpose - devices are not used for acrylic coatings and some high-density gels.

When buying, you need to check with the seller the possibility of self-replacement of burned-out elements. Some models can only be serviced in specialized service centers.

Other types of nail lamps

Gaslights are innovative devices that have not yet received wide distribution. The light source in them are CCFL lamps filled with a special gas. They provide up to 80,000 hours of uninterrupted drying operation while consuming a minimum amount of electricity. The advantages include weak heating of the illuminated surfaces, as well as no harm to the skin and eyes.

Hybrids show the best result in combination with stability and high safety. They are equipped with two types of lighting elements: LED and CCFL. When connected to the network, both lamps are lit, combining their advantages in operation. Hybrid devices are suitable for drying manicures with all types of gel polishes and acrylics. Polymerization takes place in seconds. This eliminates burning and deformation of the gel, as well as heating the device. They do not harm health and create a durable coating. The service life does not depend on the frequency and number of on-off. The high cost is the main reason for the limited prevalence.

Overview of popular models

1. Jess Nail 36W UV.

• number of UV lamps: 4, 9 W each;
• 3 operating modes (built-in timer for 1.2-3 minutes + endless mode);
• removable tray, mirror inserts.

It dries well all types of gels and varnishes sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. A great budget option for home manicure and beginners. The classic shape of the case allows you to place all the fingers of one hand at once.

2. Runail 36W RU911 UV.

• number of lamps: 4 x 9 W;
• 3 timers for 1,2 and 3 minutes;
• retractable bottom;
• weight of the structure - 1.5 kg.

Inexpensive design for professional use. The case of a classical tunnel form is convenient in operation. It dries gel coatings of various properties well. Disadvantage: bulky and heavy. The optimal combination of high performance and affordable cost makes it popular among craftsmen and amateurs.

3. Planet Nails Big Heart LED.

• power - 45 W;
• number of LED lamps - 28;
• reflective interior surfaces.

Inexpensive high-quality LED lamp, quite suitable for teaching gel manicure at home. Lightweight compact device allows you to dry all the fingers of one hand at the same time. Due to the high power (45 W), polymerization occurs in 30-90 seconds. Guaranteed service life is 40,000 working hours. The disadvantage is the lack of a timer.

4. Mini Nail Dryer LED.

The smallest and lightest model in the line of LED lamps, equipped with a timer. Best suited for initial training in the art of manicure. Convenient shape, stylish design, different color schemes. The device does not require special care, easy to operate, affordable. Its compact size makes it easy to take it on the go.

Of the shortcomings:

• low power (9 W) - 30 seconds is not always enough to completely dry nails;
• No more than 4 fingers can be treated per session.

5. CND Lamp 36W UV.

• Number of timers - 4;
• power indicator;
• countdown display;
• built-in fan;
• sliding panel with finger dividers;
• Has a convenient carrying handle.

It is characterized by high-quality execution and functionality. Supports drying of any material that reacts to UV light. Manual time adjustment allows you to independently set the duration of a gel manicure and pedicure session. The closed design with a deep niche provides reliable eye protection. Withstands more than a year in continuous operation. Disadvantages: expensive, high probability of fakes.

Wide operational capabilities allow you to use a UV lamp for gel nails or shellac in intensive mode. It is best used in a professional environment.

First of all, you need to decide on the type (UV or LED) and the number of lamps in the device for drying gel polish. This affects the performance and features of operation.

Then pay attention to the main characteristics:

1. Power - strong devices are usually used in a professional environment. At home, it is good to use medium or low performance options.

2. Design - so that the light of the lamp does not blind your eyes, it is better to choose models with a closed niche.

3. The presence of additional elements - the fan prevents overheating of the skin, the timer helps to control the duration of the shellac drying. Mirror surfaces provide deep polymerization. Retractable bottom makes cleaning easy.

Buyers also have to make a choice on the size, shape and color of the case. When buying an inexpensive device, you need to give preference to trusted brands.

Price table of popular nail dryers:

Everything about how the UV lamp differs from the ICE lamp for nails, and what are the features of each of them, you will learn here. Relatively recently, LED lamps designed to work with gel polishes have appeared on the market for manicure devices. Compared to traditional ultraviolet, they have a number of advantages, but at the same time they are many times more expensive.

What is UV Nail Lamp

This is the most popular and common equipment for creating a durable manicure. It is a small box with a hole for hands or fingers. Almost all models are equipped with a timer, and they can work both from the mains and on batteries. The principle of operation is quite simple - ultraviolet radiation from the bulbs located inside acts on shellac or gel, drying and fixing it.

The efficiency of the device depends on its power. There are lamps from 9 to 54 watts. Models with a power of 36 W or more are considered the most popular, since their drying time is much lower. In the weakest, this procedure lasts several minutes. They are suitable only for work at home, but for professional salons, more powerful devices are purchased.

Advantages and disadvantages

UV lamps have a number of advantages in comparison with the main competitors:

• Price. The cheapest can be purchased for less than 1000 rubles. Of course, its power will be low, and reliability too. But for home use, such a device is quite suitable.
• Versatility. Traditional UV lamps are suitable for working with any gel coatings. They are used both in salons and at home.
• Big choice. You can buy such a device in almost any electronics and home appliances store, without going to specialized stores.

However, there are also objective disadvantages of such equipment. Knowing them is also important in order to find out how the UV lamp differs from the LED nail lamp and which one is better.

So the cons:

• Service. Despite the fact that it is not so difficult to find accessories for UV lamps, they quickly lose their properties. UV bulbs with regular use must be changed every few months, otherwise the effectiveness of the device will drop dramatically, and with it the quality of the gel coating.
• Safety. Fluorescent lamps located in the housing require careful handling, since if their integrity is violated, mercury vapor is released into the air. Therefore, it is recommended to responsibly approach both their operation and disposal.
• Skin reaction. Some people experienced burning and redness of the skin when working with such devices. This is due to individual intolerance to ultraviolet rays, which is often difficult to predict.

What is LED nail lamp

Translated from English, this name means "light-emitting diode" - "light-emitting diode". It works on the basis of semiconductors, which, when current is applied, emit light, in this case ultraviolet. This is a completely different technology, so the devices using it have significant differences.

Such lamps are called devices of the new generation. The speed of their work is impressive - gel polish or shellac is fixed in them in just 10-30 seconds. But there are other benefits as well:

• Dimensions. Often the dimensions of LED devices are much smaller than analogues. It's all about the lighting. In this case, very small diodes are used to save space.
• Durability. The service life of the diodes is about 50 thousand hours. This is more than 5.5 years of non-stop operation. For comparison: the same indicator for a UV lamp is approximately 3000 hours.
• Safety. No risk of release of hazardous gases if damaged.
• Breakage resistance. The device contains a large number of diodes, so if one or more of them fails, the device will continue to work. But finding a replacement for broken parts is more difficult than in the case of a UV lamp.
• The luminous flux is supplied without pulsation, which does not harm vision and the psyche.
• Safe radiation does not cause burns and irritation of even the most sensitive skin.

Many models of this type have an auto-on function. Quite a useful feature that saves both time and electricity. As you can see, the advantages of LED devices are much greater than those of competitors. But for a comprehensive assessment, it is necessary to evaluate the cons.

Disadvantages of LED nail lamp

The first thing that catches your eye is the high price. LED lamps often cost 2-3 times more than fluorescent counterparts of the same power. Of course, this is justified by the novelty, high cost of technology and durability. But the purchase of such a device for home use in any case will be expensive.

Let's figure out what else can scare away potential buyers:

• Compatibility. Not all gel coats will cure when exposed to LED light. The problem lies in the wavelength. ICE has a narrower spectrum, which does not allow influencing various types of materials. Therefore, to obtain a guaranteed result, it is better to purchase gel and shellac marked LED.
• Repair cost. As you already know, replacement LEDs are very hard to find. Often, repairing such a device is comparable in price to buying a new one, so you should handle it as carefully as possible.

Before choosing one of the options, you need to consider the features of each of them. Even if the LED lamp seemed more attractive to you, calculate how long its payback will take. The range of special gels and shellacs intended for use in them is low. This is especially true for the CIS countries.

The best option for working at home would be an ultraviolet lamp with a power of 9-18 watts. Yes, polymerization will take a little longer, but you will save money on the purchase and will not limit yourself in choosing gel polishes.

With the help of an LED lamp for drying nails, the manicure procedure, which involves applying gel polish or shellac to the nails, is reduced by several times. The material, under the influence of the radiation emitted by LED bulbs, dries completely within ten to fifty seconds, while when drying in a classic UV lamp, this stage of the procedure takes from two to three minutes.

So, with skill, you can completely make a manicure with gel polish in half an hour, while using an ultraviolet lamp, the procedure can take up to an hour.

LED lamps for drying nails are small devices in which the gel polish applied to the nails, shellac, as well as the base layer and the top coat solidify (polymerize). The device is not suitable for acrylic, since the main component due to which the polymerization of this material occurs is acid, while gel polish hardens under the influence of ultraviolet rays of a certain wave.

Only a high-quality lamp can give such a wave, so experts advise not to chase cheap products, but to purchase models of recognized brands, be sure to read the reviews about them on the sites. Poor-quality devices are not able to give a sufficient length of the light beam for the polymerization of the coating applied to the nail to occur, although they can heat and slightly dry the shellac. Therefore, the varnish fixed with the help of such devices does not last long.

Like classic ultraviolet devices, shellac LED lamps are dried by ultraviolet radiation. But, while the classic models work at the expense of fluorescent lamps, LEDs are installed in the new generation devices. Among the advantages of LED-devices, they distinguish not only the ability to quickly cope with the drying of the material applied to the nails, but also the fact that the rays do not cause burning of the nail.

But it is necessary to work with such a lamp carefully, for example, if the primer, which is applied to the nail for better adhesion of the gel to the nail, accidentally appears on the skin during drying, causes very painful sensations, and it will be difficult to remove it (according to reviews, it does not come off for two days ).

The advantage of an LED lamp is durability (if we talk about a quality device). While the average life of a fluorescent fixture is 3,000 hours, an LED lamp can last 50,000 hours, which is six years of continuous operation. Unlike UV lamps, LEDs do not lose their radiation power over time, so you can not be afraid that the gel polish will not fully set and the shellac will not dry out.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that LED devices consume much less energy in operation than fluorescent lamps, which saves a considerable amount. For the same reason, the case of LED devices does not heat up during operation. Another plus of the LED device is that LEDs, unlike fluorescent lamps, do not contain mercury, therefore they are environmentally friendly and do not require special disposal.

Cons of the device

But LED devices also have disadvantages. Due to the fact that the wavelength of light emitted by LED lamps is different from the wavelength of fluorescent devices, most LEDs can only work with those types of varnishes that were developed specifically for this device.

The fact is that classic devices emit light in a wider range than LED lamps. Accordingly, during the drying of nails in a UV lamp, any gel polish applied to the nails finds its “wave”, while LED ones have less capabilities. Therefore, before buying a shellac, base or top coat, you need to make sure that it can be dried under LED lights. Otherwise, the varnish may not dry.

True, devices have recently appeared (for example, SIMEI Hybrid), which combined the characteristics of LED and luminescent devices that can cope with any type of gel polish. They dry the material applied to the nails four times faster, and are designed for 80 thousand hours of work.

LED devices are much inferior to fluorescent lamps in price: an LED lamp costs ten times more than a traditional counterpart. Experts recommend buying only high-quality models of well-known brands, since cheap ones do a poor job, and the time spent on polymerizing the coating takes the same amount as when drying with UV lamps, and it happens that shellac does not freeze at all.

Lamp parameters

Lamps designed for drying nails have different dimensions. Among them there are both bulky devices that allow you to dry two hands at once, and more compact models. Some of them are provided only for manicure, but there are also models that allow you to do a pedicure. For home use, mini-devices are suitable; when buying, special attention should be paid to the bulbs, reflectors and other devices that make manicure easier in the device.

The device itself is usually a closed case that has an opening for the hands (a mini-device for home use may have a slightly different shape). When buying, you need to pay attention to the fact that ultraviolet rays during drying in no case fall into the eyes.

When choosing an LED lamp for manicure, it is better to give preference to a device in which a time counter is installed and an auto-off function is provided. This allows you not to keep track of time, makes it possible, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, to hold hands for the time clearly indicated in the instructions, without fear of underdrying or overdrying.

When choosing an LED nail dryer, you need to pay attention to the power. For example, some sellers lure buyers with a cheap product by selling 2W devices. If you do not pay attention to these parameters, the money will be thrown to the wind.

LED lamps are usually divided into two types - conventional and ultra-bright. The usual ones include lamps with a power of up to 12 watts (for work at home, according to reviews, a mini-device from 6 to 9W is quite suitable). Super-bright devices include devices with higher power, 18 and 45 watts are especially popular.

It should be borne in mind: the stronger the lamp, the faster the shellac will dry. Therefore, for work in salons, it is better to purchase a more powerful device: it reduces the drying time of nails, and therefore saves time and money.

Also, when choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the reflectors that are inside the device. Their main purpose is to effectively distribute light along the side panels of the device. How well they cope with the task, the faster the gel polish applied to the nails will harden. Before buying, you need to make sure that you have high-quality mirror reflectors.

Compact devices

Mini-devices are suitable for home manicure. For example, there are models from a Chinese manufacturer called "bridge", they are very cheap, but the reviews have been good. They are made in the form of a handset, along the edges of which there are special devices that do not allow the device to slide. Products are designed for low power (from 6 to 9W), the design provides for the presence of several LED bulbs.

Despite the low power, many are satisfied with such a device. Lightweight, compact, mains powered, like many LED lamps, it only works on certain types of gels. Although there are cases when it did not even work on varnishes intended for LED lamps, there are few such reviews on the Internet.

The "bridge" is designed for only thirty seconds of operation, after which the lamp goes out. This is not always convenient, since it may take about 45 seconds for the gel polish to fully polymerize, but according to reviews, it is usually enough: thin layers of varnish from some manufacturers can dry in ten seconds. If there is not enough time, the device can be turned on again. Since there is no timer, if the material needs to be dried for less than thirty seconds, you must time yourself.

Shellac applied to the fingers in such a device can be dried in two ways. The first is more convenient and involves first drying four fingers, then separately the big one. If you apply the second method, you can dry all the fingers of the hand at a time, but it is a little more difficult: collect the fingers in a “pile”, and the lamp itself will have to be held with the other hand in weight.

During polymerization, according to reviews, a slight heat is felt on the nail plate. Women are also advised to protect their skin from ultraviolet radiation: although the device is more gentle than UV lamps for manicure, in some cases the skin after the procedure becomes too dry. For this purpose, you can buy special gloves with cut off tips for nails. If they could not be found, women are advised to cut off an old cotton glove.

Device care

In order for LED lamps for manicure to serve as long as possible, they must be properly looked after. After each use, you need to check if one or more bulbs in the device have burned out. Although this does not affect the quality of the manicure as much as when using a UV lamp, the drying speed slows down, especially if the power of the device is low and there are few LED bulbs.

You can not keep the device on all the time. This can cause the mechanism to overheat and damage the device. If there are drops of gel polish on the body of the device, they must be removed. Pry off the frozen mass carefully with a sharp object. It is undesirable to use solvents or other chemicals for this, as they can adversely affect the body of the device and even corrode it.

Before and after the procedure, be sure to treat the device with a disinfectant. This should be done by wetting a sponge in the solution: you can’t spray it, because the product can get on the contacts and ruin them. If the polymerization time exceeds twice that specified in the instructions, the device must be taken to a service center. This indicates that the LED lamp is defective.

If the device starts to crackle in the on mode and a smell appears, it must be immediately turned off, disconnected from the mains and taken for repair. Also, do not drop the device on the floor - the LED lamp does not have anti-shock characteristics and may break.