Lamp help and advice

The last 10 years have seen a massive shift to the daily necessity of using a Curing Lamp for the curing of hard gels and Gel Polish formulated product which have UV inhibitors embedded in its DNA in order for the Base Coat and Gel to create that strengthening property which our clients look for in a nail product.

Now with traditional hard gels, and the 1st generation gel polishes formulated with a traditional UV cure, which are still used today requiring a 2 minute cure time, the demand for faster cure times have seen the entry of LED Curing lamps into the industry over the past 6 years.

Which lamp should I be using for the best result?

There is no right or wrong answer here – it is down to the specifics of the Gel product you are using, and it really a choice as all Gel products will work under both types of lamps

So what is the difference between a UV & LED Lamp?

Simply put – the bulbs used within them and the way the wavelengths are distributed so they react with the photoinitiators contained with the Gel product.

Photoinitiators is a chemical within the gel product that needs the UV or LED wavelength to activate the product to cure or harden.

A UV Lamp emits wavelengths through the UV bulbs which are longer tubes therefore the wavelength spans across the inside of the lamp therefore emitting a broader spectrum over the nails when placed in the lamp. This is why it requires a longer cure time – up to 2 minutes.

An LED Lamp emits its wavelengths through many smaller LED bulbs which are spaced out over the inside of the roof of the lamp. This allows the wavelengths to precisely hit all sides of the nail bed when placed under the lamp hence why shorter cure times are needed.

If the LED lamp is a quicker option should I not just get this type of lamp?

If you’re looking for speed then the answer is yes, but you have to consider the following:

Check your brand of Gel Polish, as some are still formulated to ONLY work with UV Lamps.
LED Gel Polishes will contain a different initiator that works with LED lamps.
All Gel products will work with a UV Lamp
LED Lamps cost more than a UV Lamp

Check the spacing of the bulbs within an LED lamp to ensure they are spaced evening to cover the side walls of the nails

Can I use any lamp with any Gel Polish?

The safest answer to this is no. Remember that Gel Polish performance have been formulated to work with the lamp they were tested with.

Now for the science. LED Bulbs emit frequency in nanometers (nm). Gel Polish formulas have been tested under a specific nm range. So the lamp that is supplied by the brand will have the exact nm that the gel polish formula requires.

UV Bulbs traditionally are measured in watts with each bulb having a certain strength Watt. The higher the wattage the quicker the cure. The standard is a 36W but low wattage lamps are available 9w, 18W but you must check the cure times required for the gel you are using.

It would be wrong to assume all gel polishes are formulated with the same requirements.

Is it dangerous to use another brands lamp?

Most insurance companies insist you must use the brands specific lamp that is sold with the gel polish to prevent harmful reactions and allergies.

You could also be in difficulty with under & over curing if you are using another brands lamp. In the main 36W is the standard energy output but if you find a cheap lamp and it is only a 9W lamp – you will need to be mindful this may need a longer cure time.

UV has been proven to damage skin – should I avoid using UV Lamps altogether?

Whilst this is true, UV is proven to harm skin over long exposure to the UV light. A 2 minute cure is not deemed as dangerous or harmful. If your client is concerned, switching to an LED is a safe option.

Cuccio have a range of both UV and LED lamps which have been tested to work with all Cuccio Veneer Gel Polish and T3 Gels and are all safety assessed and fall within the EU Compliancy standards.