Today it is quite possible to make a beautiful manicure with photopolymer varnish at home. To do this, you need to choose the right lamp for drying. There is a huge selection of models, the work of which is based on different principles. Before going to the store, you need to determine their main differences, consider the rating and customer reviews. How to choose a lamp for drying nails will be discussed later.
Varieties
Which nail dryer is better? To answer this question, you need to consider which models are on sale today. The choice must be made in accordance with the type of polymer, the scope of work (lamps for home and salon use). The devices presented for sale differ in power, functionality and a host of other characteristics.
When choosing a lamp, you need to pay attention to its quality, as well as safety in use. It should not spoil the nails, negatively affect he alth. Which lamp for drying nails is better to choose? There are the following typesAppliances:
- Ultraviolet models. Such devices have the letters UV in the marking. This is one of the first varieties of lamps that appeared on the market. Today, ultraviolet models are relatively inexpensive. They allow you to polymerize different varnishes.
- LED lamps. In the marking, such devices have the letters UV LED. They are efficient and safe devices. The curing process of the varnish is very fast. LED lighting elements at the same time consume a minimum amount of electricity.
- Gas light models with a cold spectrum cathode. They are labeled CCFL. It is efficient and practical equipment. They create a luminous flux using lamps filled with an inert gas.
- Hybrid models. It is a combination of LED and CCFL lamps. This is expensive professional equipment. It favorably combines the functions of two devices.
To conclude which lamp for drying nails is better, you need to consider in detail the features of each type of equipment.
UV models
How to choose a UV lamp for drying nails? You need to know what features the presented type of equipment has. An ultraviolet lamp is able to quickly polymerize gel paint, shellac, gel polish, biogel and many other types of materials. It is not intended for modern formulations, which can only be cured under LED beams.
Ultraviolet models are used to create a manicure using acrylic or gel. For hardeningphotopolymer, depending on its type, 2-4 minutes are required. The design is equipped with fluorescent lamps that emit ultraviolet light. Their temperature reaches 50 ºС. Lamps contain mercury vapor and should be handled with care.
UV lamps have both positive and negative properties. You need to know about them before making a choice of a lamp for drying nails. Benefits include:
- The most inexpensive type of lamp, which is now considered the most affordable.
- Wide range of UV curable coatings.
- Easy and efficient to use, low power consumption.
- Can be used both by an experienced master and at home.
Among the disadvantages of this type of equipment are the following:
- Hardening takes longer than with other devices (at least 2 minutes).
- The lamp life is not long enough. It is only 10,000 hours.
- The number of inclusions is limited. If you use the lamp often, it will fail faster.
- The appliance heats up, and when applying varnish, its layer may burn.
- The light of an ultraviolet lamp is harmful to the retina of the eyes, so you can not look at the light.
- If you break the lamp, mercury vapor can cause serious harm to the body. It is also worth noting that the device requires special disposal.
- The luminous flux of the lamp decreases during operation, so they are changed every 2-3 months. Otherwise, the varnish may be baddry.
UF lamp specifications
When choosing a lamp for drying nails at home, you need to pay attention to ultraviolet varieties first of all. The spectrum of their radiation is wide. It varies from 315 to 410 nm. This makes the presented variety of equipment universal.
When choosing the best lamp for drying nails, you need to pay attention to the power of the device. It varies from 9 to 54 watts. The field of application of the device depends on this indicator. The following types of devices are most often on sale:
- 9-18 Tues. These are small lamps that can be powered by mains or batteries. Such models do not have additional functions, but their cost is the most acceptable. Most often, this type of equipment is used for home use. At one time, with the help of such lamps, varnish is polymerized on 2-3 nails.
- 36 Tues. This is the most common and versatile type of equipment presented. Such lamps are large in size, allowing you to accommodate 5 fingers at once. Most often, such devices are purchased for beauty salons. Inside the capsule has mirror plates. They allow you to increase the temperature, accelerating the process of polymerization of the varnish. Models in this group have a timer that allows you to control the drying time. It is better to choose a lamp with a removable bottom, which simplifies the procedure for replacing bulbs.
- 45-54 Tues. These are the overall and most expensive lamps of the presented group. They are used in beauty salons, allowing you to perform both manicure and pedicure. At the same time, they canhandle 10 fingers. The speed of the procedure is noticeably increased.
LED bulbs
LED lamp for drying nails allows you to almost instantly polymerize most of the existing materials for manicure. This is a practical, popular equipment, easy to use. The ICE lamp for drying nails works on light-emitting diodes, converting electricity into ultraviolet radiation. At the same time, the heating of such a lamp is minimal. The light produced by well-known manufacturers is practically devoid of pulsation. This is a safer type of equipment than UV lamps.
The spectrum emitted by the presented dryers is somewhat limited. It is only 390-405 nm. Therefore, the presented type of dryers is not suitable for all types of materials. Some of the photopolymers are simply not able to harden under the influence of an LED lamp. This category includes solid gels, which are used for nail extensions. Therefore, when buying varnish, you need to look for a mark in the LED marking. Such compositions are designed for drying with an LED lamp.
The dimensions and power of the presented variety of polymerization devices are different. There are models for home and professional use. The cost of LED lamps is relatively high, but it pays off during operation. Such lighting devices consume a minimum amount of electricity, do not require special care during use.
Among the advantages of LED lamps arenext:
- The absence of harmful substances in the composition of the device, so they are environmentally friendly.
- Wear is not affected by the number of times the appliance is turned on and off.
- The light emitted by this lamp is safe for eyes, nails and hands.
- Cure coatings in 10-60 seconds.
- Polymerization occurs without heating, which eliminates the risk of thermal burns.
- The service life is long, about 100,000 hours.
- High efficiency with low power consumption.
- No need to frequently change the luminous elements.
The disadvantages of the LED variety of devices are:
- High cost. The price of such lamps is 2-3 times higher than that of luminescent varieties of devices.
- Not all lacquer is suitable for curing with the presented device.
- Repair is expensive, so it's easier to buy a new lamp.
CCFL lamp
Considering which lamps for drying nails are best used for home and professional use, you need to consider another type of device. These are CCFL devices. The lamps of these devices are a flask that contains an inert gas, as well as a small amount of mercury vapor. They create a flicker-free glow that is safe for the eyes.
On sale are devices with 1-3 lamps. This allows you to evenly distribute the light flux. The more lamps, the more uniform polymerization occurs. At the same time, the emission spectrum of the presented varietyinstrumentation wide. It is 315-410 nm. This makes the device versatile. The lamp provides curing of almost all known coatings for photopolymer type nails. The polymerization time depends on the color of the varnish. Translucent varieties cure faster.
The advantages of the presented variety of lamps are as follows:
- Fast curing that only takes 30-60 seconds.
- Used for all polymeric lacquers, except for compounds cured with LED devices.
- The service life is quite long, 60,000 hours.
- Little power consumption.
- Safety for the he alth of eyes, nails and skin.
- The lamp does not heat up during operation, which eliminates the possibility of thermal burns.
- The number of starts does not accelerate equipment wear.
The disadvantage of the presented variety of devices is the following:
- High cost compared to UV varieties.
- CCFL bulbs consume 10-30% more electricity.
- Difficult and expensive repairs.
Hybrid varieties
Considering the recommendations of experts on how to choose a good lamp for drying nails, it is worth noting hybrid devices. In the marking, they have the designation LED + CCFL. This is a new generation of nail polish curing equipment, which is the most popular and versatile.
Hybrid lamps consume a minimum amount of electricity. AtIn this they are used for both salon and home use. Equipment of this type is quite expensive, but when using such lamps in professional activities, they quickly pay off.
Hybrid lamps combine all the advantages of LED and gas light types of equipment. They dry layers of any density, and also polymerize almost any composition. Curing speed is 30 to 60 seconds.
The advantages of hybrid varieties of lamps are:
- Used for drying all modern photopolymer coatings.
- Quick dry.
- Long equipment life of 80,000 hours.
- The number of on and off does not affect wear.
- No hazardous materials included, no special disposal required.
- Radiation is safe for nails, skin of hands and retina.
- The temperature does not rise during operation of the equipment.
- Economic operation.
The negative qualities of hybrid lamps are the high cost, the complexity of the repair.
Expert Tips
How to choose the right lamp for drying nails? This will help the advice of experts. They recommend that before making a purchase, consider for what purposes the lamp is needed, how often it will be used. It is advisable to study customer reviews of the most popular models before going to the store. This will avoid future disappointments. For home and salon use, completely different models are purchased. Their functionalityand cost are noticeably different.
How to choose a lamp for drying nails? Experts say that LED varieties of equipment are more suitable for salon use. You need to calculate their payback period. For home use, ultraviolet varieties of devices are more suitable.
Before buying, you need to familiarize yourself with the set of functions of the device. For example, the model may be provided with a timer, an automatic shutdown function, which allows you to save energy. It is convenient if the device has a retractable tray, a hinged lid, and a removable lower part. This facilitates access to the working elements of the device.
It is important to pay attention to whether warranty service is provided for a particular model. Experts recommend purchasing such devices only in a specialized store with a good reputation.
Rating of the best curing lamps
Considering tips on how to choose a lamp for drying nails, it is worth noting that experts recommend paying attention to the rating of the equipment presented. It is based on feedback from customers and experts who have chosen the 8 best models:
- CND UV Lamp 36W is the best lamp for gel polish and shellac for salon use. The device has a timer and a fan. The approximate cost of the model is 12 thousand rubles.
- JessNail 36W is the best low cost UV lamp. Designed for drying gel polish. The cost is1, 8 thousand rubles.
- OPILED Light is the most powerful professional type LED lamp. The price of the equipment is 18 thousand rubles.
- LED+CCFL Diamond is a hybrid lamp for drying gel polish. Can be used at home or in beauty salons. The approximate cost is 4.5 thousand rubles.
- RuNail 36W Ru 911 is an inexpensive professional type lamp with a timer. The price is 2.4 thousand rubles.
- Planet Nails Big Heart is a LED type model for home use. The price is 2.2 thousand rubles.
- Mini Nail Dryer LED UV Lamp is the lightest, compact LED type lamp for gel polish. The price of the model is 500 rubles.
- Aliexpress 36W is a budget yet good UV lamp for gel polish. The cost is 900 rubles.
Reviews of professional models
Before buying, you should consider reviews of lamps for drying nails. One of the best professional models is the CND UV Lamp 36W. According to customer reviews, this is a comfortable, high-quality nail dryer, which provides many useful features. There are 4 timers, a retractable tray, a countdown display until the device is turned off, the ability to program the operating time. There is also a fan, lamp power indicator. According to reviews, this is a powerful dryer, the lamp life of which, with constant use, is more than a year.
Another quality professional type model is the OPILED Light. Byreviews, this is the best option for a status beauty salon. A high-quality mirror coating enhances the efficiency, and powerful lamps polymerize different varnishes almost instantly. The model has a timer and touch sensors. The disadvantage is the need to purchase an adapter to the euro socket.
Reviews of inexpensive models
Considering tips on how to choose a lamp for drying nails, you should pay attention to reviews of inexpensive models. One simple device for home use is the Mini Nail Dryer LED UV Lamp. It has a timer, the drying result is quite acceptable.
Another interesting budget model is Aliexpress 36W. It has no additional features, but the drying quality is quite acceptable.
