Nail Dryers and UV/LED Lamps
Few things in the beauty world are as anxiety-inducing as that brief window of time between the ages spent perfecting a manicure and waiting for it to dry without a major smudging catastrophe. An essential component in a professional salon and a welcome addition to any home beauty arsenal, nail lamps dry your nails in a fast and efficient manner for an unsmudged, fuss-free manicure that will last for weeks.
What is the difference between LED and UV lamps?UV lamps can effectively cure both UV and LED gel polish, while LED nail lamps only cure gel polish that is specifically formulated for use with an LED lamp. Otherwise, the most noticeable difference between lamp types is curing time. LED nail lamps are able to cure gel nail polish within 30 to 60 seconds. UV lamps can take between 2 and 3 minutes to cure.
Can you dry gel nails without a lamp?In short, not really. Gel nail polishes are not dried in the normal sense of the word. Gel polish contains a specially formulated polymer that must be hardened, or cured, by application of either LED or UV light. Theoretically, with enough sun, you could dry UV gel through normal sun exposure, but it would likely take a long time.
Does lamp type change how long a gel manicures lasts?No, there is no noticeable difference. Both types of lamps will effectively cure a gel manicure in the same manner. How long a UV gel finish remains shiny and chip-free will depend largely upon the application, the number of coats, and the quality of the nail polish that you use.
Can a nail lamp dry regular nail polish?Normal nail polishes, which do not contain the same polymer as gel nail polishes, require air-drying to harden. Although the UV light of a nail lamp itself does not help to harden regular polish, the heat emitted by the lamp may help with faster drying times. Warm air dryers, which force warm air over the surface of the nail, can be used for setting acrylic nails and drying regular nail varnish.
What is the typical LED and UV bulb lifespan?LED bulbs reportedly last much longer than their UV counterparts, sometimes lasting as long as the lifetime of the lamp itself. Most LEDs used in nail lamps will have a life expectancy of up to 50,000 hours. UV bulbs, on the other hand, can be expected to last up to around 5,000 hours of use.