How to apply gel polish on nails. Manicure with and without lamp. Instructions, new products and ideas, photos

Which gel polish is better to choose: companies

The company often determines the quality of the varnish.

And the quality of the gel polish used directly depends on:

• ease of use (correct consistency and shape of the brush, uniform application);
• appearance of the manicure after drying (color, shine);
• shelf life of manicure;
• convenience of further removal of the coating.

Among the wide range of gel polishes, there are several brands that are recognized by the best professional nail service professionals:

1. "SHELLAC" – an American brand, considered the best professional varnish for its high quality, wide selection of shades, ease of application and ease of removal. Belongs to the premium category of cosmetics, one of the highest quality and most expensive varnishes. The only negative is that it is not suitable for thin, brittle nails. The price for 1 bottle (7 ml) is about 1000 rubles.

2. “GELISH HARMONY” is also an American product, in terms of its characteristics it is absolutely not inferior to “Shellac”, in some respects it even wins - it is considered the safest for nails, it is available in larger volume bottles (15 ml each) for the same price - about 1000 rubles. The disadvantages include a more liquid consistency; it often has to be applied in several layers.
3. “KODI PROFESSIONAL” is considered the best gel polish for beginners: it has a rich palette, is easy to apply, and also attracts with its low price (about 500 rubles for 7 ml). The only negative is that it is quite difficult to remove, with the top layer of the nail being filed off.
4. “BLUESKY” is one of the best budget options (about 250 rubles for 10 ml), produced in China. It is considered one of the most popular, widely used in beauty salons, and stays on the nails for quite a long time (about two weeks). According to reviews from experts, it is easy to apply, but is too liquid in consistency and does not have a very rich palette.
5. “CANNI” is a cheap but good quality Chinese gel polish (about 150 rubles for 7 ml), sold on Aliexpress. Ideal for absolute beginners and non-professionals: there are about 200 colors available, it is easy to apply, and lasts on average 10 days.

Lamp power

Lamps for manicure also differ in power, which directly affects how long it takes to polymerize the materials. Thus, powerful lamps are capable of drying gel polish in 10-15 seconds, while weaker devices take 1-2 minutes. The power of devices is measured in watts. The most common lamps are 9 watt, 18 watt, 24 watt, 36 watt, 48 and 54 watt.

Let's consider how long it takes to polymerize gel polish in lamps of different power.

• A 9-watt lamp is the simplest and most economical option for drying gel polish. Typically these are compact and lightweight devices, often in the shape of an arch. They are only suitable for home use, since the gel polish needs to be dried under a lamp of this power for at least 2-3 minutes.

• 18 watts. Ultraviolet devices with a power of 18 watts are equipped with two 9-watt lamps. You need to dry the gel polish with an LED lamp of this power for 45 seconds, and with a UV lamp for 1-1.5 minutes.
• 24 watts. These lamps are an intermediate link between a device for home manicure and for professional use. The rate of polymerization of varnish in them is higher than in lamps of 18 and 9 watts. On average, a layer of gel polish hardens under such a lamp in 30-60 seconds.

• 36 watts. These are standard lamps for professional use. Devices of this power quickly cope with drying coatings and are often equipped with timers, which makes working with them easier. Drying time, depending on the type of lamp, is from 15 to 45 seconds.
• 48-54 watts. These are the most expensive devices, suitable for use in specialized nail design salons. They are often designed to dry nails on both hands at once, which speeds up the master’s work several times over; however, due to the high power of the lamps, the client may experience a burning sensation. Such devices are capable of drying gel polish in 10-15 seconds.

When choosing a lamp, you should focus on how often and under what conditions you will use it. If it is not very important for you how long to dry the gel polish, feel free to purchase the simplest 9-watt lamp, but 18 or 24-watt lamps are considered the best option for home manicure. To work in the salon, you need to give preference to a 36-watt lamp or more powerful devices, which will allow you to quickly dry all types of coatings and save a lot of time.

What tools are needed?

Gel polish manicure is performed using professional tools:

• manicure scissors;
• cuticle tweezers;
• files;
• buff for treating the nail plate;
• orange sticks;
• UV or LED lamp.

Lamp for drying gel polish

Gel polish is completely polymerized under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, so drying it requires a special device - an ultraviolet or LED lamp.

• LED lamp is a professional device for drying gel coatings in the shortest possible time – 30-40 seconds;
• UV lamp 9W is a portable device, drying each layer of coating takes up to 120 seconds;
• UV-36W lamp - a professional device for drying different types of gel coatings, as a rule, allows you to dry two hands at the same time.

According to experts, a compact UV lamp is quite sufficient for home use: it copes well with its intended purpose, takes up little space and has a minimal cost (about 500 rubles).

The only caveat is that drying the nails will take quite a long time - 2 minutes for each layer. For professional work, you need a lamp that allows you to dry the coating quickly and efficiently; in this case, the best option is an LED lamp (price about 3,000 rubles) or a 36 W UV lamp (price about 2,000 rubles)

They quickly accomplish their intended purpose, but they are much more expensive and also require a separate space in the work area. The process of drying gel polish using a lamp is carried out as follows: after covering the nails, the hand is completely immersed in the lamp (or one nail at a time), the timer is turned on (the time must be set according to the instructions in the materials used).

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What to look for in order to quickly and efficiently dry gel polish in a lamp: selection criteria

It’s not enough to just point your finger and decide on the type of lamp. Even each type has its own nuances that you should pay attention to before purchasing. More precisely, this is what you should rely on when making a decision.

Important condition or time for drying each layer

Now the type of lamp will reveal itself. After all, the drying speed completely depends on the characteristics of the device, or rather the inscription “UV” or “LED”.

• The latter tool attracted fans precisely because of its speed, because ultraviolet, despite its versatility and practicality, takes 2 times or even more time to work with each layer. And this is due to the wide light used. LEDs in ice lamps operate in a relatively narrow spectrum.

After variety power sets drying time

• All lamps have different power - from 6-9 W and above. It is logical to understand that the higher the power, the shorter the drying time. This also affects the quality of the coating.
• Thus, the power of the lamp is also a big factor contributing to the choice of nail devices. For example, it is better not to buy ultraviolet below 24 W, which is equivalent to 12 W for an LED lamp. Below this indicator, drying will not give good results. However, prices also increase as the lamp wattage increases.

The more power, the less time needed.
How does price affect our choice and drying time?

Yes, the price directly affects or even depends on the lamp. It is quite reasonable that more power will require more money.

• Also, LED lamps are an order of magnitude more expensive, although this depends on the power of the lamps. If we equate them to ultraviolet radiation, then there is not such a big jump in price.
• A hybrid, which is similar to two different lamps, is more expensive. For home use, it is absolutely not needed. It’s also not worth chasing just a high price. For example, acceptable models can be purchased at a minimal cost on Aliexpress . In terms of quality, they are absolutely not inferior to expensive brands.
• Consider only the minimum power. Also, start from your needs. For example, a novice master will not be able to get his nails done, so a miniature version of an LED lamp is quite suitable.

Size matters both for drying time and for your comfort.

• Basically, the market offers lamps of an acceptable size, which will allow you to dry your entire hand. Even compact devices easily cope with this function, but they simply work longer. Although, most likely, this is due not to the size, but to the presence of the number of lamps.
• More lamp area means more LEDs. UV lamps come in a standard box, in which the number of lamps only varies.
• There are also mini lamps that dry only one finger. Our verdict is that they are great for some single nail repairs, but not for a general manicure. After all, the time, naturally, increases significantly, by 10 times.

Lamp size matters
Lamp life is equal to lamp life

• Manufacturers claim that LED lamps have a service life of up to 50,000 hours. But, again, this is also affected by the power of the LEDs. In total, if you add up all the maximum equations, then such a device can burn without interruption for more than 2 years.
• UV lamps are relatively durable in use. For example, 1 drying per week will last you for 23 years. Of course, power also affects. On average, manufacturers claim that it is enough for 100 thousand hours of use. But the lamps will need to be changed after six months of use. Even if you don't turn it on often.

And a few words about design

• It does not affect the drying time of the layers in any way. If a certain color is important to you, then it is only your choice. We recommend not to overpay more, but rather to focus on the power and number of lamps.

But the design will not affect the drying speed in any way

Additional materials

Performing a manicure with gel polishes requires the use of a special set of products, which includes:

• degreaser;
• base and top coats;
• gel polishes directly;
• coating remover;
• lint-free wipes;
• decor (rhinestones, rubbing, stencils - optional).

How to prepare your nails

Knowing how to use gel nail polish is not enough for a perfect manicure. The quality of preparation of nail plates for coating directly affects the appearance and lifespan of the manicure.

It consists of several stages:

1. Cleaning nails (removing previous coating or varnish).
2. Removing cuticles, adjusting the length and shape of nails using a classic trimmed or European manicure.
3. Treatment of nail plates with a buff (sanding file): it is necessary to remove the shine for a more uniform distribution of the coating.
4. Degreasing nails with a special substance or medical alcohol.

Technique for applying gel polish with drying in a lamp - step by step

When performing all subsequent actions, it is important to ensure that the nail plates do not come into contact with any other surfaces, because even the smallest particles of fat, dust particles, etc. get on them. will noticeably spoil the appearance of the manicure and affect its durability.

1. Applying the base coat: the entire nail plate, as well as its outer edge, is carefully coated with a thin layer of a transparent product. Then the base is dried under a UV lamp for 2 minutes.
2. Apply gel polish of the desired shade. It may be necessary to apply one or more layers (depending on the thickness of the varnish and its color), each of which should be dried under a lamp for 2 minutes. It is very important to apply the product carefully; excess varnish should be immediately removed with an orange stick (before the drying process).
3. Top coating: carefully cover the nails with a thick layer, “sealing” the sections. The top is also dried under a lamp for 2 minutes, the sticky layer is removed with a degreaser.

Troubles at work

When using gel polishes, some problems may arise. For example, the coating of the nail plate begins to crack and loses its aesthetic appearance or even peels off a short time after application (say, after a day). In such a situation, it is necessary to reconsider the technology of nail treatment and drying.

These signs indicate a violation of technology when covering the nail. Such cases may arise if you don’t really know which lamp to dry the gel polish with and how long to keep it on.

How to apply gel polish at home without a lamp

There are two types of gel polishes on sale: photosensitive and not. The first of them harden exclusively under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

Those that are insensitive to light harden after applying special catalysts; the tube with this type of varnish is marked “No-light gel”.

Using this gel nail polish yourself is as easy as using regular nail polish. After preliminary preparation of the nails, an even layer of varnish is applied and then covered with a catalyst. After which the hands are immersed in cold water for 5 minutes, during which time the varnish should completely harden.

Reviews

How to dry gel polish without a lamp? We already found out. What do women think about these methods? Girls who have tried the methods described in our article say that they really work. But still, many women advise using a lamp to dry gel polish. But as a last resort, you can choose one of the described methods for yourself. The easiest and cheapest way, as the ladies say, is to use cold water and ice.

How to do a French manicure with gel polish: instructions

For French manicure with gel polish, the following materials are used:

• manicure instruments for hygienic manicure;
• buff;
• degreaser;
• white and light gel polish of natural color;
• top and base;
• stencils for French;
• Ultraviolet lamp.

Nails are tidied up through a regular hygienic manicure - removing the previous coating or nail polish, getting rid of cuticles, and adjusting the length and shape of the nails.

Only after this can you proceed to performing the French:

1. Use a soft buff to remove shine from nails.
2. Wipe your nails thoroughly with a degreaser.
3. Cover the nails with a base and dry under a lamp.
4. Apply natural color, hold hands for 120 seconds. under UV rays.
5. Fix the stencils and paint the tips of the nails white. Dry it. If necessary, repeat the procedure again, then carefully remove the stencils.
6. Cover the nails with top coat. Dry for 120 seconds. under the lamp.
7. Use a cloth with a degreaser to get rid of the sticky layer.

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.

Mirror manicure with gel polish

Mirror manicure is one of the most stylish modern trends. To create such a design with your own hands, you can use two methods - apply gel polish of the appropriate metallic shade to your nails, or create a mirror surface using a special rub.

The second option looks the most impressive; it will require the following tools and materials:

• manicure instruments for hygienic manicure;
• buff;
• degreaser;
• base and top;
• gel polish;
• mirror rubbing;
• fan brush, sponge;
• orange sticks;
• Ultraviolet lamp.

They remove the old coating, perform a hygienic manicure - adjust the length and shape of the nails, get rid of the cuticle:

1. Then the nail plate is treated with a buff; it must be well leveled, otherwise the mirror coating will lie unevenly.
2. Wipe the nail plates with a degreaser.
3. Cover the nails with a base and dry under UV rays.
4. Apply gel polish of the selected color and dry the layer.
5. Apply an even layer of powder with a brush, then gently rub it in with a sponge. Achieve uniform distribution. Excess is removed with an orange stick.
6. Cover the nails with top coat and dry under a lamp.

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How long should you keep your nails on depending on the power of 9, 24, 36 and 48 Watts?

ultraviolet lamp

UV lamps are veterans on the market, in which the gel polish dries under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. But in the modern nail industry, such devices are being replaced by competitors - LED and hybrid lamps. UV lamps polymerize any material except that labeled ICE.

ON A NOTE! A significant disadvantage of UV devices is their short service life. After 2-3 months, the luminescent emitter will have to be replaced. The phosphor layer quickly becomes thinner, and it takes more time to dry the gel polish.

Depending on the power of the lamp, polymerization of gel polish takes a certain amount of time:

• 9 W – 4 min.;
• 24 W – 3 min.;
• 36 and 48 W – 2 min.

If we consider highly pigmented shades, such as white, black and beige, then their polymerization lasts 4 minutes in a 36 W device.

How long does it take shellac to dry in an LED lamp?

An LED lamp also produces UV rays, but their source is LEDs. They are durable and environmentally friendly, and can operate for up to 50,000 hours. With the help of an LED lamp, the material polymerizes 2 times faster. But the device with LEDs has one drawback - its high cost.

When choosing a lamp, you should pay attention to the location of the LEDs inside the device. In order for the gel to polymerize evenly, the diodes must be located not only on top, but also on the sides of the device. The touch switch function simplifies the work of the master. The lamps automatically turn on when the client inserts his hand, then a pre-set timer turns off the light.

In LED lamps, the polymerization time of the color coating is determined taking into account the brand and power:

• 9 W – 1 minute;
• 18 W – 20–30 seconds;
• 36 W – 10–20 seconds.

It is better to polymerize problematic shades, base and top for 60 seconds, and gel colors harden in 10–20 seconds.

How to apply pearl rub

Pearl rub gives your nails an elegant, noble look thanks to its soft, warm, discreet shine and elegant shades.

Applying pearl powder to nails follows the same principle as mirror powder: it is rubbed into the dried gel polish with a sponge and then secured with a top coat.

How to achieve perfect coverage

It is recommended to follow professional recommendations when applying gel nail polish. The following list of rules will help you figure out how to use gel polish so that the coating turns out perfect (it looks aesthetically pleasing, hides imperfections, and lasts a long time)

1. High-quality preparation : careful removal of the cuticle and pterygium, adjustment of length and shape with the obligatory removal of the exfoliated part, treatment of the plates with a soft buff.
2. High-quality degreasing is a guarantee of long-lasting manicure.
3. The base should be applied as carefully as possible , it is important to prevent it from coming into contact with the skin. In addition to the nail plate itself, it must also be applied to the end, this will ensure the durability of the manicure. Experts recommend drying the base coat one nail at a time in a lamp.
4. The correct technique for applying gel polish will ensure a beautiful, even color and neat manicure. You should pick up a small amount of varnish with a brush, apply a wide stroke, stepping back 1 mm from the base, from top to bottom, carefully bring it to the bottom, then paint the side parts. It is very important not to catch the skin around the nail; if this happens, you need to immediately remove the excess with an orange stick.
5. The topcoat must be thoroughly dried.

How to make designs on nails with gel polish

To make drawings with gel polish, additional tools are required - brushes of different shapes and sizes, dots, stencils. The drawing is applied before the very last stage - applying the top coat; it also needs to be dried under a lamp. You can complement your manicure with original patterns or drawings at home, even with minimal drawing skills.

A few simple ideas:

• dotted drawings : made with a special tool (dots), dots can be used to draw “polka dots”, flowers, fantasy patterns and many others. etc.;
• geometric patterns of stripes and various shapes can be easily made using ordinary adhesive tape; just cut out the blanks of the desired shape, glue them to the nail, apply varnish on top, and then remove them after drying;
• special stencils allow you to decorate your nails with the most complex, intricate designs in a matter of minutes: the blank is glued to the nail, gel polish is applied and dried on top, the stencil is removed.

How long to keep

For home use, you can purchase a UV lamp with a small output of 9 watts; the drying time in this case will take 6-10 minutes. For professional use, you will need a 36 W UV device that will dry your nails in 2 minutes. Lamps with a power of 48 W and above are intended exclusively for use in beauty salons by professional professionals.

In the LED model, you only need to hold your nails for 10-30 seconds - during this time the coating will have time to polymerize and become hard and durable.

LED equipment is small in size, which is very convenient, and unlike a UV lamp, it does not heat up during operation. Moreover, the service life of LED lamps reaches 5 years on average, which is very economical in operation.

The main advantage of a UV device is its ability to dry any shellac, which an LED lamp cannot boast of.

A hybrid lamp can provide a short drying time - only 30 seconds. Such a device is suitable for drying absolutely any material: gel polish, colored LED coating, biogel.

In many ways, the choice of lamp depends on its purpose - for drying any shellac in a salon or a certain brand at home, as well as personal preferences.

It is worth noting that gel polish must be dried correctly - if it is not dried, the coating will be fragile and will quickly crack, peel off, in a word, become unusable . And most importantly, if you overdry the gel polish, nothing will happen. The product simply polymerizes and that’s it. No metamorphosis will happen to him. Take this into account when creating your ideal manicure.

Sometimes in the work of a nail artist or amateur, unforeseen difficulties with the quality of the coating may occur - the gel polish bubbles, wrinkles, and collects. Let's find out what to do in such cases and how to avoid them.

How to glue decorative elements onto gel polish

Another simple way to make a manicure more impressive and interesting is to complement it with decorative elements such as rhinestones, sparkles, and stickers.

The sequence of performing a gel polish manicure using decor will be traditional. Decorations are attached to the nails after applying and drying the base color. If the rhinestones do not have an adhesive base, they are fixed in the desired position with tweezers and special glue. A top coat is applied and dried over the decorative elements.

Recommendations

Now you know how to dry gel polish without a lamp. Remember that drying time depends on the specific varnish. Before applying the coating, carefully read the instructions and read the recommendations. After all, when using a lamp, gel polish dries faster, but without this device it takes longer than usual.

When using water-based gel polishes, use purified drinking water. However, you definitely need to add ice cubes for a quick reaction. It takes about two minutes for gel polish with monomer to dry. To simplify the process, topcoat varnish can be applied on top, but this action will cause cracks and dullness. You should buy gel polish in specialized stores and those companies that have good recommendations; do not buy them in the market or in underground passages.

Gel polishes cannot be applied endlessly; it is necessary to give the nails a period of rest. Do this at least once every 2 months. At this time, absolutely do not cover while biogel or another restoration method is used.

It is recommended to wear gloves while working; This is important when washing floors or dishes so that the gel polish does not crack.

Biogel dries without any activators, monomers, ice water and UV lamps. Therefore, it is easy to use at home. If you want a matte finish after drying, you must additionally purchase a matte topcoat that is not sensitive to light. It is applied after some time, when the base has dried, it is necessary to dry it directly.

Application errors

The main mistakes when using gel nail polish, which spoil both the appearance of the manicure and affect the duration of its wear:

• Insufficient preparation of the nail plate with a buffer - the coating does not adhere well to a smooth surface.
• Treating the cuticle with greasy products before manicure - this procedure must be performed after all layers have been applied and dried.
• Poor degreasing, including the use of cotton pads, which can leave lint on the plate.
• Uneven application of layers, as well as too much colored varnish.
• Shaking bottles of gel polish before use leads to the formation of bubbles.
• Cleaning the sticky layer between coats.
• Poor drying.

  
  If you use and apply gel nail polish incorrectly, then after just a day such consequences are possible

Knowing such mistakes when using gel nail polish will allow you to learn how to do a neat and long-lasting manicure at home, like a specialist, in the shortest possible time.

Gel polish is an indispensable find for women who care about the beauty of their hands and nails. If until recently such a manicure was considered exclusively a salon procedure, today, thanks to the availability of the necessary means and tools, you can master it at home.

Manufacturers of manicure lamps

Lamps from well-known manufacturers of nail design products are considered the most effective and safe. These include American companies CND, OPI, Kodi, Gelish, Harmony. These companies specialize in high-quality manicure devices and tools, and the price of their products is quite high. The cost of 36-watt lamps from these manufacturers starts from 10 thousand rubles.

RuNail, JessNail, Polaris lamps are the golden mean in terms of price and quality ratio. Devices from these manufacturers have good performance and affordability.

Lamps made in China. These include devices from little-known manufacturers from China. These lamps are inexpensive, but often fail quickly. Many girls are interested in whether it is possible to purchase such lamps, but there is no definite answer to this question. You may be lucky and your lamp will work properly, but there is a risk of receiving a low-quality product. In any case, it is appropriate to buy such lamps only for home use.

To summarize, we can say that the best option, suitable for both home and professional use, can be an LED or hybrid lamp with a power of at least 36 watts. At the same time, the modern choice of tools for nail design is very wide, and you can choose a lamp based on your own needs.