LED lamp for manicure: how it differs from UV, CCFL and hybrid; how to choose

Appearance, purpose, operating principle

An LED lamp is a device whose main function is to polymerize a special gel polish on nails . This happens due to the energy emitted by LEDs.

The design of the device is a plastic case, inside of which there are special light bulbs that emit light.

A control panel is located on the surface of the case. Almost all nail dryers have this structure. Different models differ in additional devices: timers, fans, retractable additional panels and other elements included in the set.

What is an LED and UV lamp for drying gel nail polishes, what is it for?

These are devices that emit UV rays. Most liquids and viscous substances dry out in air. This occurs due to the evaporation of moisture. But shellac does not dry out like that because it has a special structure. It hardens when exposed to UV rays, and if you say it correctly, it polymerizes. Gel polish will not dry in air flow or heat, only when exposed to UV rays. That is, if you do not dry such a coating in a lamp, it will remain wet and will simply be erased from the nail.

LED and UV lamps differ little in the rays themselves. These two types of lamps produce UV rays. At the same time, the operating principle is quite different. Conventional UV tunnel lamps are equipped with fluorescent bulbs that contain gas inside. Thanks to this, the lamps glow. LED lamps work differently and the rays they produce do not have as wide a wavelength as UV lamps. All devices have timers, the time can be adjusted.

Shellac drying lamp

Types of lamps for manicure: comparative characteristics

Devices for drying nails differ in many criteria: power, appearance, functionality . You can compare the advantages and disadvantages of different types using a table.

Lamp type	Principle of operation	Advantages	Flaws
Luminescent	The key elements of the device are fluorescent lamps	Economical energy consumption; service life – more than 7 thousand hours; affordable price.	Heats up to high temperatures, thereby increasing the risk of burning the nail covering; harms vision; The device contains mercury vapor, which is hazardous to health.
Gas light (CCFL lamp)	The work is based on gas glow	Operating life – up to 80 thousand hours; reduced risk of burns; no negative impact on the surface of nails and skin.	High price; the need for special storage conditions.
LED lamp	Powered by LEDs	Fast drying process; economical energy consumption; complete safety for the health of skin, eyes, nails; low heating temperature; long service life (up to 10 thousand hours).	High price; Not suitable for drying some types of nail coatings (for example, hard acrylic gels).
Hybrid	Connection of two types of lamps in the device: LED and CCFL	Used when applying all types of coating; fast-acting; the device does not heat up during use; service life does not depend on the number of starts; completely safe for health.	Not suitable for home use; has a high price.

What it is

An ultraviolet (UV) lamp for gel manicure is a small housing containing lamps. Additionally, it is equipped with a fan and a timer. There are models with a mirror inside, which improves drying quality. Appearance, size, power are different. Their main difference is the quality of the lamps that are inside.

Home Garden Lighting

When choosing or creating UV lamps, you must be guided by the rules for lighting plants, otherwise the lighting device will not only not contribute to development, but will also destroy the mini-garden. Requirements for the luminous flux from a phytolamp:

it should be as close to the natural light source as possible;
it is necessary to limit the glow time, individual for each type of plant;
electromagnetic radiation from the device must be suitable for environmental conditions;
the level of required radiation must not be exceeded;
The minimum requirement for ultraviolet light is sufficient.

Using an LED lamp

Before using the device, you must carefully study the operating instructions. Particular attention should be paid to the following information:

clarify the relationship between drying time and adjustable power ;
study the list of materials the lamp is designed to work with ;
read the list of precautions .

Proper use of the lamp will ensure high-quality manicure and the safety of the device for many years.

If you did not purchase an LED lamp from a professional store, this video will show you how to check the package, unpack, install and start using the device:

How to use at home

If you want to do gel manicure yourself at home, then a dryer is a must-have. It can be purchased in specialized stores or online.

During coating, each layer is dried to ensure a durable creation. After treating the marigolds, they are coated with an antibacterial agent. Then a primer is applied, which promotes high-quality adhesion of the nail plate to the gel polish. After the primer, a layer of gel polish is applied and the fingers are sent to dry for a couple of minutes.

The amount of time for this procedure depends on the quality of the device itself, so read the instructions for use. For convenience, first cover all fingers except the thumb, dry 4 fingers of each hand. Then apply the gel to both thumbs and dry them at the same time. The next layer is applied with color and dried. If there are additional drawings or decor, they also need to be dried. The last layer is applied with topcoat and dried.

Features of care

The manicure lamp is easy to use, and many models are available for use at home. In order for it to serve longer and remain operational, you need to follow the rules of caring for it:

the device requires careful handling: it must be stored in a box, avoid shock and mechanical damage ;
you need to take care of the serviceability of sockets to avoid voltage surges ;
Do not use for a long time without interruption.

To avoid power surges, it is better to turn on the LED lamp through a surge protector.

Compliance with these rules will preserve the integrity of the LED lamp for a long time.

Choosing a lamp for the home

Initially, you need to decide for what purpose you need such a lamp.

Since power is the most significant criterion, we will focus on it. What does power affect? It depends on how the unit will be used. So, if the lamp will be purchased for a master who has a flow of clients every day, then it is necessary to give preference to a high-power device. If you work from home and don’t have many clients or want to buy one for yourself and a girlfriend, then a low-power dryer with small dimensions will be enough. As mentioned above, such devices do not dry all types of coatings. When buying gel polish, pay attention to the markings and choose one so that it can harden specifically in your dryer model.

Today stores offer LED - CCFL lamps. This model combines all the best from previous generations. It dries all gel polishes, while having low energy consumption, high energy efficiency, and maximum service life.

DIY manicure lamp: myth or truth

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to make a manicure device with your own hands. It is proposed to make it from an empty box from the system unit or use copper plates for this. But not a single method guarantees high-quality operation of the device. The LED nail lamp has a complex structure, because for the gel polish to dry, many external conditions must be met.

You should not try to make the device yourself. It is better to contact a specialist or purchase an inexpensive, easy-to-use lamp for manicure at home.

An LED lamp is one of the most popular devices in professional circles for drying nails during design or extension. The question of choosing between this expensive device and a conventional UV lamp should be decided taking into account all the criteria listed in the article.

How to buy a UV and LED lamp in the Aliexpress online store: links to catalogs

Aliexpress has a huge selection of manicure products. Lamps are no exception. Now you can choose both LED and UV lamps. At the same time, hybrid lamps are now available for sale. Their advantage is that they dry any coatings and extension gels. At the same time, the polymerization time, thanks to the directed beam and high power, is reduced to 30 seconds. These devices are now the most popular among nail service professionals who do nail modeling.

To make your first order on Aliexpress, read the instructions for registering and searching for goods, payment and delivery on the official website here, or read the article on our website “First order on Aliexpress”.

LED lamps are also selling well due to their very low price and small size. This device can be easily hidden in a cosmetic bag, since it is the same size as a powder.

UV lamps are mainly purchased for extensions and pedicures. But it is not profitable to purchase them, since the light sources themselves quickly fail. They need to be changed every 3 months with active use.

Hybrid lamp for drying gel polish

As you can see, even if you have never applied gel polish before, everything is very simple. Purchase a hybrid lamp and all the necessary tools.

Criterias of choice

The main criterion for choosing LED lamps is their power, since the quality and speed of the procedure will depend on this indicator. This indicator is determined by the power of the LEDs: their number may vary in different models, and their parameters can be 1, 2 or 5 W. The main features depending on this characteristic are discussed below:

9 W LED lamps are the weakest devices; it is recommended to choose more powerful analogues, since the use of such devices can negatively affect the quality of the manicure created. They regularly perform all the basic functions, but the safety of the achieved result is usually quite low.
18 W LED lamps represent the middle class of such equipment. The quality is much higher than that of weaker analogs; such models are characterized by increased mobility and are a good choice if you plan to frequently transport the device. A large number of positive reviews indicate that this is one of the most optimal options for home use.
45 W LED lamps are intended for use by specialists in beauty salons, but many people also purchase them for home use. They are considered top-class devices, since the drying speed of the nail plates is increased to the maximum level.
72 W LED lamps are exclusively professional equipment and are usually used only in specialized salons.

It is also extremely important to understand under what conditions the LED lamp will be used, since the presence of a timer or other additional elements that expand the functionality significantly increases the size of the equipment. If you plan to transport it frequently, it is recommended to choose simpler devices with increased mobility.

Which gel polish lamp to choose for a home manicure?