In this article we will look at how to dry gel polish in a lamp correctly and for how long, and also talk about some nuances that affect the drying time of the coating.
Just a few years ago, an amazingly long-lasting manicure cost a lot of money, and it was done only by masters in professional salons or at home. Now you can make a high-quality gel coating at home, with your own hands. But the so-called “heart” of this manicure – the lamp – requires special attention. After all, it must not only be chosen correctly, but also used properly. This is what we will talk about today in this material.
Do I need to dry the base in a lamp?
To dry the base, use ultraviolet or LED lamps. It is recommended to read in advance the instructions that come with the bottle with the base about how much time it takes for complete drying. If this time is shortened, problems will arise with applying the top layer. If you expose your nails to a light source, the texture of the base will become deformed, and this will also negatively affect the quality of the manicure.
After waiting the required time, the master applies a colored coating to the nails. After this, the nails dry again. The rule here is very simple: the color coating dries exactly as long as the base.
Attention! The base must be completely dry before applying the top coat. If you ignore this rule, the colored varnish will lie unevenly. Because of this, the manicure will soon begin to peel off, and instead of a month, the polish will only last a week on the nails.
Common mistakes
The problem of gel coating curling or shrinking is common among both professional and amateur artists. The reasons for these troubles can be very diverse.
Most often, insufficient power or the wrong type of lamp is to blame. If you buy another one, you may have the problem that the varnish for which it is intended will be removed from sale. Before purchasing a new fixture, check the gel coating label to ensure you know exactly what type of lamp is needed.
Another common cause is outdated light bulbs. The only way out here is to replace them.
UV lamps are not able to dry a thick layer of coating. The opposite reason is a very thin layer, which is very easy to dry out. Both the first and second options spoil the quality of the manicure.
If the above options can be excluded, the problem is the quality of the products used. It may be expired or not original. It is better to throw away such products. They can be hazardous to health.
The drying process for gel polish is simple and fast. By doing everything correctly, you can get the perfect manicure. Therefore, be sure to read the instructions included with gel products and drying devices.
In the next video, watch a review of gel polish lamps.
How to properly dry gel polish in a lamp
To ensure that the gel polish dries well, you must keep the following in mind:
- Some types of gel polish contain substances that change their structure under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, before placing your nails under the lamp, you need to carefully read the instructions.
- Before work, you need to carefully inspect the lighting fixture. If there is any external or internal damage, do not use the device.
- After each client, the lamp must be disinfected without fail.
- Once a light bulb has expired, it needs to be replaced, even if it still shines brightly. If you use a lamp that has expired, the coating will not be durable.
When working with an ultraviolet light source, it is prohibited to use abrasive materials and products containing acetone, because the aggressive effects of these substances can damage the working surface of the light bulb. If the surface of the device begins to heat up during operation, it is recommended to turn off the light bulb for a while, otherwise it may fail.
You need to know not only how long it takes for gel polish to dry in a lamp, but also how you can speed up drying. To speed things up, you need to take a more powerful device.
Lifetime
The service life of LED lamps is 7 times longer than that of UV lamps. But, if the UV lamp burns out, it can be replaced, but the LED cannot be restored. UV lamps are large in size and weight, which cannot be said about LED lamps.
LED lamps are absolutely safe to use, their LEDs are shock-resistant, and the heating elements of UV lamps contain mercury and careless handling can be dangerous.
How long to dry the base?
The rules for drying the base depend on what kind of lamp is used. Therefore, different masters take different amounts of time to work.
How long to dry gel polish in an LED lamp
Drying time using an LED lamp depends on its power:
- 6 watts – the base dries in half a minute, the main layer will have to spend twice as long;
- 18– the base can be finished in 20 seconds, gel polish and top will dry 10 seconds longer;
- 20–same time;
- 48–5 seconds are spent on the base, 15 on the polish.
Such light bulbs are expensive, but they have a long service life.
How long to dry gel polish in a UV lamp
When using ultraviolet light source, the time will be as follows:
- 9 watts – 2 minutes for base, 5 minutes for gel polish and top;
- 18– 1 minute for base, 3 minutes for varnish;
- 36 – 1 minute and 2 minutes respectively;
- 48 – the same indicators.
Ultraviolet light bulbs are inexpensive, but they burn out frequently.
How long to dry the base in a 36 watt lamp
Not all masters know how long to keep their nails under a 36-watt lamp, since ice devices with such power are rarely used: 48-watt bulbs are more common on sale. If the master has a 36 W LED device, the time will be as follows: 10 seconds will be spent on the base, 15–20 seconds on the varnish.
How long to dry the gel in a 9 W lamp
Ice devices with 9 watts are the smallest in power. However, the drying speed of the coating will still be faster compared to a UV lamp of similar power. It will be: 30 seconds – base, 1 minute – main coating.
Drying time
Any nuance mentioned above affects the drying time of the gel coating. But it is worth remembering that each layer has individual requirements for polymerization time.
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The highest power UV lamp is 48 Watt. The optimal and universal option is 36 watts. This lamp is suitable for both home and salon manicures. It will dry the base coat in one minute. Color and finishing - for two.
A 24-watt lamp will increase the polymerization time by one minute. A 9-watt one will take up to five minutes per color layer.
A 35-watt LED lamp dries the first layer in ten seconds, and the rest of the coating in twenty. A model with a lower power (from 18 to 24 watts) will handle it in thirty seconds. This option, in all its characteristics, is ideal for home manicure. Models with a power of 9 watts or less will require up to one minute for color and finishing coating.
The biogel dries in a UV lamp for three minutes; in an LED, this product takes no more than a minute at maximum power.
The polymerization time in a hybrid apparatus depends on the characteristics of the coating. These lamps are equipped with both second and minute timers. 36 Watt lamps are best suited for home manicure.
Is it necessary to dry the top in a lamp?
Recently, special types of topcoat have appeared on sale: when it is applied to the nails, it speeds up the drying process of the color coating. It does not require special drying (and this will be mentioned in the instructions).
Important! Top coatings from different companies contain different chemicals, so drying must be done in strict accordance with the instructions on the bottle.
Other types of topcoat can be dried in the same way as varnish and base, using lighting fixtures of varying power. Since the topcoat is usually applied in a thinner layer compared to a color coating, low-power light bulbs can be used to dry it. The best option is an 18-watt ultraviolet lamp or a 9-watt LED device. In this case, the final layer of manicure will dry quickly and efficiently, and your nails will maintain a neat appearance for a long time. If the top coat contains glitter, it may take a little longer to dry. This time must be maintained, otherwise the structure of the sparkles will be deformed and they will lose their beauty.
Alternative drying options
For unforeseen cases, when you urgently need to fix a damaged coating and there is no lamp at hand, there are alternative methods for drying gel varnishes. Such experiments can be tried out of interest. But you need to immediately tune in to the low quality of the manicure.
To dry gel products without a lamp, one might say, improvised means are used.
- Ice baths. Freeze and dry the gel coating. This option is considered the most suitable, as it is safe and allows you to get good results. However, not everyone is comfortable holding their hands in ice water for about ten minutes.
- Cold remedy. A variation of the previous option. Before application, the coated bottle is placed in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes. Applying cold gel polish increases the drying time several times.
- An ordinary hairdryer. They need to dry the coating for thirty minutes. The air flow deforms the gel polish, it can shift and gather in waves, so it is unlikely that a perfectly even coating can be obtained using this method.
- Solar UV rays. The result will take more than an hour to arrive.
The thing is that the power of solar power is very small compared to lamps.
- Gel coating catalysts are an innovation in the manicure industry. The product quickly dries out all gel manicure products. There are three varieties, which come in the form of an ointment, spray or gel. When using this new product, it is important to apply the product evenly. Otherwise, the coating will dry unevenly.
- blue spectrum lamp is an exceptional option. The polymerization speed depends on the power of the device. Does not guarantee good quality.
None of these methods guarantee the quality of manicure that is obtained with a lamp.
How long to dry the top
In domestic beauty salons, ultraviolet lamps with a power of 18–20 watts are usually used to process the final coating of nails. LED devices are used less frequently due to their high cost. A 20W UV light will dry a thin layer of topcoat in 3 minutes. Processing the top applied in several layers will take 4 minutes. Working with glitter may take 4.5 – 5 minutes. In this case, the master must warn the client that the final stage will take longer.
And is it necessary to do this?
The gel will dry on its own and without our efforts. With the usual analogue the situation is more serious. Some fixatives can crack, exposing the coating to extreme stress and deteriorating the design. Cold water and oil work flawlessly. All of the above methods have a right to exist and are used for regular varnish, but it is better to take the time to create beauty and not be nervous about looking for ice to speed up the process.
Is it possible to dry gel polish in a lamp?
In order not to overexpose the main coating under the lamp, you should choose models equipped with a built-in timer with an audible signal. Additionally, the master can set an alarm on his mobile phone, notifying him about the end of drying. Immediately after the signal sounds, the nails are carefully removed from the light source. If the device has become hot during operation, it can only be turned on after it has completely cooled down.
Attention! If you keep the gel polish under the lamp for longer than the time specified according to the instructions, the coating will quickly begin to deform, crack and peel off.
Instructions for applying shellac
Unlike nail extensions, which require special skills and training, shellac can be done by anyone. The main thing is to do everything according to the instructions and carefully.
- Nail preparation. The nails need to be given the desired shape, cuticles removed, and the edges filed well. After this, you need to lightly walk the buff over the entire nail plate and file off the gloss; this is called polishing the nail and has nothing to do with filing before extensions.
- Wipe your nails with a degreaser (or substitute).
- Apply a thin layer of top. Do not forget to “seal” the edge of the nail, that is, go over the top not only along the plate itself, but also along the edge of the edge of the nail. Make sure that the transparent top does not extend beyond the nail. You can remove excess with an orange stick. If the varnish is “baked” in the lamp, nothing can dissolve it and the varnish that has gone beyond the nail can cause the manicure to become unstable. “Bake” the top in the lamp for 2 minutes or 30 seconds depending on the type of lamp.
- Apply a thin layer of colored shellac. The layer should be very thin, almost transparent! Layer thickness is a typical mistake for beginners. By analogy with ordinary varnish, when we try to even out all the flaws with new and new strokes, beginners do the same with shellac, as a result, a too thick layer of varnish swells up after a couple of days. You also need to “seal” the edge with color. Cure the layer in a lamp.
- Apply the next layer of colored varnish. The layer should again be thin. Each layer is polymerized in a lamp. Remember the main rule of shellac: 4 thin layers are better than 2 thick ones! Excess colored varnish also needs to be removed with an orange stick before sending the layer to dry in the lamp. If you are not going to decorate your nails, then you don’t need to remove the sticky layer that remains after drying in the lamp, just don’t pay attention to it.
- Once you are satisfied with the density of the color, you can cover it with top . The top coat is applied in a moderately thick layer and is also polymerized in the lamp.
- You should always remove the sticky layer from the top! Simply wipe with alcohol or a degreaser soaked in a lint-free cloth.
You can literally go about your business right away, your manicure is ready. There is no need to sit for another hour, afraid to move a finger, as happens with ordinary varnishes.
A simple shellac manicure without complex decor takes 30-40 minutes, provided that all five fingers are dried in the lamp at once.
Experts recommend first completely finishing one hand, and only then starting on the second.
How to dry NO-light gel
There are several ways to dry this coating:
- Natural way: after application, you can simply wait a while (usually up to an hour) without doing anything with your hands. This is the longest method, but the easiest at home, when there are no additional funds at hand.
- Using a catalyst - a special liquid that speeds up the drying of nails. It is available in several forms: spray, cream, and also as varnish. It is applied about a minute or two after the gel coating.
It is important to remember that before using any nail product, you need to put them in proper shape: trim the cuticles and give them a beautiful shape. Even the most unusual varnish looks ridiculous on untreated hands.
