Beautiful hands, well-groomed nails, modern manicure - all these are components of the image of a real lady. Today it is difficult to surprise anyone with a beautiful manicure. Our salons offer regular nail polish, extended nails, and the now famous shellac. But many women do not want to waste their time and money on visiting manicurists and do their own manicures. Is it possible to do a manicure with shellac at home so that it is as beautiful as one from a salon? How long to dry shellac: tools and step-by-step instructions. Will such a simple procedure as a manicure turn into a useless pastime?
Shellac
Lamps
A very important tool in the shellac manicure process is a lamp. There are two types of lamps - UV lamps, which operate on ultraviolet radiation, and LED lamps, which convert electricity into light radiation. Before saying how long to dry shellac in a lamp, it is necessary to consider how UV and Ice lamps differ from each other.
Shellac lamp
Types of varnish drying devices
The drying lamp is a central tool in creating a manicure and requires careful attention in its selection and proper use. There are mainly three types of these devices used in manicure.
- Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are the most common option. They are universal and can be used to dry gel polish and other nail coatings. The disadvantage is the relatively short service life of fluorescent lamps.
- Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are just beginning to gain popularity in the manicure business. They have a long service life. LEDs are built into the surface of the device. However, only certain gel polishes are dried.
- Hybrid. Combines the properties of ultraviolet and LED lamps. Outperforms other devices in terms of service life. Speed up the drying process several times. Absolutely safe for the skin and nail plate. But such devices have a very high cost.
The CCFL fluorescent lamp is very rare. It has a cold cathode, which prevents the device from heating up, which undoubtedly increases its service life. Has a maximum power 1.5 times more than other lamps. Despite this, it takes the same amount of time to dry your nails as with other drying devices.
Manufacturers of gel polishes always mark on the label in which lamp the coating should be dried. It is imperative to pay attention to UV or LED icons.
If you use a lamp that is not suitable for a particular manicure product, you can run into a lot of trouble.
Power
Lamps are available in different wattages, and this determines how long shellac needs to be dried in each of these lamps:
- UV lamps are available in several powers from 9 W to 54 W. The 9 W lamp is intended for manicure at home and one layer of shellac is polymerized in 4-6 minutes (this is written in the instructions for the lamp). However, this drying time is not suitable for everyone. The most optimal in this regard is a 36 W UV lamp. How long does it take to dry shellac in a 36 W lamp? According to reviews from those who have already tried such lamps, we can say that two minutes of drying is enough for the shellac to polymerize well. UV lamps 54 W are used only in beauty salons;
- LED lamps are produced with powers from 12 W to 45 W. This power is enough to polymerize shellac in a time period of 10 to 30 seconds.
Important information about varnishes
Classic coating for the nail plate is the most common and profitable option. It can be purchased at any store. In order not to harm your nails or coating, give preference to popular manufacturers, although their price is several times more expensive. However, this will not affect the intensity of drying in any way - such a coating will dry in up to half an hour, it all depends on the thickness of the applied ball.
ATTENTION! Simple varnish is more affordable, but the coating will also take longer to dry.
A coating that dries quickly speaks for itself. The price of these jars is several times more expensive than classic ones, but drying time will take no more than five minutes. By the way, it is important to apply such a coating to the nail plate as quickly as possible, because it immediately begins to harden immediately after application. It is important not to skimp on effective coatings and buy those that contain UV filter particles so that the ball of varnish does not turn white from the influence of sunlight.
It is important to choose quick-drying coatings from high-quality and trusted companies.
Reinforcing coating. Designed to strengthen and heal the nail plate, and create an additional protective layer, including for the varnish layer. The hardener is often used as a base or base coat, if pigments are added to its composition, the varnish dries in a few minutes and looks optimal on the handles.
Gel polish is very popular and famous in recent years. It is often used not only as a coloring pigment, but also as a means of strengthening the nail plate. Previously, this procedure was carried out in professional beauty salons, but today, having bought varnishes and a special lamp, everything can be safely done at home. True, the procedure itself is not lightning fast, because to create a high-quality coating you need to work in three stages lasting up to 120 minutes.
Shellac is a brilliant and unique invention that can be classified as gel polishes. It stands out for its separate application tactics and practically lightning-fast drying. According to reviews from girls, the coating retains its original appearance for up to a month without losing its brightness or integrity.
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 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.
Instructions
- remove cuticles, polish nails with a soft nail file;
- Using a cotton pad (without lint) using alcohol or any other nail polish remover without acetone, degrease your nails. This is one of the important stages, on which good adhesion of the varnish to the nail will depend in the future. Do not use greasy hand and nail cream before manicure;
- apply the base varnish (primer) necessary to strengthen the nail plate and for good adhesion of the varnish to the nail;
- Be sure to dry the primer under a lamp. How long to dry the shellac base does not matter, as it should be sticky. If a 9 W UV lamp is used for shellac manicure, then dry for 20 seconds, if a 36 W UV lamp, then 10 seconds;
- One of the important stages is coating with the first layer of the main colored shellac. When applying, try to apply a thin layer;
- dry the varnish using a 36 W UV lamp - 2 minutes, in a 9 W lamp - 6 minutes;
- applying a second layer of basic colored shellac;
- dry in a 36 W UV lamp for 2 minutes, in a 9 W UV lamp for 4 minutes;
- coat with varnish - a fixative;
- remove the sticky layer with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol or other degreaser.
If you are left-handed, then do the manicure on your left hand first, if you are right-handed, then do the manicure on your right hand first. First of all, coat your thumbs with shellac, then the other four together, this will make it easier to dry in a lamp.
That's the whole manicure, it should take approximately 30 to 40 minutes. There is another nice thing, and not just quick application, is that varnish manufacturers assure us that shellac will stay on the nails for up to 3 weeks. In order for this to really be the case, use all the components (primer, base shellac, fixative varnish) from the same company.
It is worth noting
Manufacturers promise 2-3 weeks of cloudless life with perfect manicure, bright nail color and long-lasting coating. True, they make a reservation. Shellac does not withstand constant water treatments, exposure to detergents, or impacts, for example, on a keyboard.
It turns out that for the average woman, who is responsible for washing dishes, cleaning the apartment and shopping for groceries, shellac becomes something unattainable. But every representative of the fair sex wants to have beautiful and well-groomed nails for a long time.
Rubber gloves save the situation. They will help extend the life of shellac on your nails. Plus, the skin of your hands will be less susceptible to household chemicals and dehydrated. At first it will be inconvenient to do household chores wearing gloves. But believe me, you just need to get used to it.
How long shellac lasts depends only on you. But the optimal period would be 7-10 days.
We recommend: French manicure with shellac: decor options
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.
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.
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.
