LED lamp for nails: 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 masters. Such devices belong to a new generation, they greatly simplify the process of decorating nails. Before buying this equipment, you should find out all the intricacies of their operation and choice.

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

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

The next generation is LED lamps. They are more economical and practical, and also do not heat up during operation. Replaceable lamps are not required, since they work for about 100 thousand hours. 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 out under the influence of LEDs.

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

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

Many people mistakenly believe that the ultraviolet radiation of a lamp for gel polish causes harm to the skin and the body as a whole. Such fears are “fueled” by the requests of masters not to look at the device during operation. Light emitting diodes in the device for the polymerization of materials 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 harm the body. The ozone ball absorbs such radiation and protects the skin from burns. The ozonosphere freely transmits waves of 315–400 nm in length, which are called UV-A.

The radiation from the lamp does no more harm than ordinary sunlight on a summer day. Only here under the sun you go much longer than holding your hands under the lamp. You should not look at the device during operation due to the bright light, which can harm the eyes. But many devices for drying manicure have special protective screens. In rare cases, ultraviolet light can cause allergies. The causative agent may be the radiation itself. The cause may be a genetic predisposition. Allergies occur in people who have been taking 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 groups include 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 development mechanism. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the immune system produces antibodies. The main reasons for the development of such an organism reaction are the following:

• white or pale skin;
• taking herbal and anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics;
• allergic reaction to sunlight;
• hypersensitivity of the skin;
• decreased immune system function;
• genetic predisposition to allergy to ultraviolet.

You can enjoy the device for drying manicure only if it is really high-quality.Numerous reviews make it clear which LED lamp models can be safely entrusted with your manicure. Masters checked the operation of these devices and recommend it to beginners.

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

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

The device is suitable for the polymerization of biogel, permanent varnish, gel polish and shellac. Its features are as follows:

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

The lamp itself turns off 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 yourself. It is great for home use.

Such a lamp is suitable both for personal use and for professional. The device can be easily moved because it visually resembles a laptop. Closed shutters 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. Drying speed is increased due to the special mirror coating inside the lamp. A special handle allows you to easily transport the OPI LED Lamp. This model has features such as:

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

The case of the device is made of metal, which significantly increases the strength and durability. The lamp has touch sensors, so you can not be distracted by turning it on and off. This is especially convenient during pedicures. 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 in just 10-30 seconds. For comparison, a conventional ultraviolet lamp does the same thing 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 comes off the nails. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the material is not completely frozen. To avoid trouble, just choose the right lamp. The most affordable device will be 9 watts. It is useful if you do not do manicure, but only sometimes do it yourself. For regular home use, pick up an 18W mid-range lamp. For professional activities, it is worth investing in a 45 W model.

• Timer. It will allow to establish full control over drying. The timer will turn off the lamp when the layer is already dry. You do not 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 craftsmen with a large flow of customers. If you buy a lamp for the home, then you can take with one timers.
• Reflector. There may be reflectors on the inside of the lamp. They serve to scatter light on the side parts.This design provides high-quality drying of the material from all sides. Models without reflectors can poorly fix the material on the sides, so you should be careful with them.

• Dimensions and design. LED lamps can be either small (to dry one finger) or very large (to dry two hands at once). Some models are equipped with special handles that facilitate transportation. Large models are suitable for salons. A lamp is enough for a house to dry one hand. If you are going to rest, then a mini-lamp will help to make a correction at the right time.
• Additional equipment. A built-in fan will cool the device, which is necessary for professional activities. The removable bottom allows you to use the lamp for pedicures. The device may not have a bottom at all or have a convenient stand.

When choosing an LED lamp for 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:

• before use, plug the lamp into a power outlet;
• on the case, press the power button 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;
• turn off the lamp using the button and unplug it.

In the LED lamp, it is necessary to dry each layer of material. When coating with gel polish, first dry the base, then each layer of color, at the end the finish coating. The base and tom dry out a little longer than the colored 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 polymerize.

The optimal life of the LEDs is 3000 hours, which is 125 days. There is an opinion that it is necessary to replace LEDs about 1 time per month, but such 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 lamp for manicure. The device will last you longer if you handle it properly and take care of it. Follow a few simple guidelines to extend your life.

• Clean the unit regularly from dust. Do not use water or detergents. Sufficiently light dry cleaning, which will remove fine debris. It is especially important to observe this rule if the hood does not cope when removing the old coating from the nails.
• Do not place the device near heat sources or under incandescent lamps. If you use a desk lamp, make sure that it does not heat the apparatus for drying the material.
• If the device is not used for a long time, unplug it from the outlet. Pre-press the power button on the case.
• Always use an internal fan during operation. It reduces the temperature of the LEDs, prevents overheating.
• Wipe the entire unit regularly with a degreaser. The substrate on which the client’s hands rest must be further treated with an antiseptic.

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

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

In the next video, you are waiting for the unpacking and use of LED-lamp for nails.