The beauty industry has come a long way in recent years. Cosmetologists are able to literally "erase" several decades from a woman's face with one procedure, so it is not surprising that new products for the perfect manicure have appeared, allowing you to flaunt with magnificent nails for a couple of weeks without a single chip. Most often, gel polish is used for this purpose. If you still do not know what it is, then our article will be very useful for you.
Gel polish: what is it?
In nail salons, cute nail service girls boldly manipulate such terms as "gel polish", "shellac", "gel polish for LED lamps". From all this diversity, an ordinary woman's head is spinning. Making a choice is sometimes difficult. Although in fact there is nothing complicated in this terminology.
If we briefly describe gel polish, we can say that this is a coating that perfectly combines the best properties of conventional nail polishes andgels. It looks like a viscous plastic substance that hardens under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Gel polish properties
Thanks to this coating, the manicure will look perfect for an average of two weeks. During this period, the nails will retain a bright deep color and shine. The coating is very difficult to damage and tear off, it is removed only, as a rule, only with the help of a special tool. Not about any coating in this category, we can say that this is a gel polish for an LED lamp. Each coating cures under its own specific conditions, which we will talk about a little later.
Coating composition
Of course, each manufacturer of gel polishes has its own secret ingredients in the composition that make the product exclusive, but the basic composition of the coating is always the same. It includes the following components:
- film former - a substance that is susceptible to UV radiation;
- photoinitiator;
- active thinners;
- pigments;
- additives (they are responsible for additional coating properties and gloss retention).
A good gel polish can last long enough on nails.
Shellac and gel polish: one product under different names?
Many women believe that shellac is just another name for gel polish. But in fact there is a difference between them. After all, shellac is a completely new coating that hardens much faster and does not require additional application of a protective coating on the nail plate. In addition, gel polishrequires polishing the nail and is more difficult to remove. At home, this is almost impossible to do.
Therefore, every woman chooses which coverage suits her best. Both gel polish and shellac have fans.
Drying gel polish: time spent on manicure
The polymerization time of gel polishes differs depending on the saturation of the color pigment in the coating and the manufacturer. It happens that the same manufacturer produces coatings with different degrees of polymerization. Typically clear gels dry under UV light in about one minute. Color gel polish for LED lamp hardens in two minutes, thicker and more saturated coatings should be dried for about four minutes.
Of course, each master has his own secrets of drying nails. After all, a lot depends on the manufacturer of the coating, usually masters try to purchase several funds at once. Different batches may differ slightly in shades and properties. This creates certain difficulties when funds from different parties fall on one nail.
Are all gel polishes suitable for LED lamps?
Beginners are always interested in what gel polishes are suitable for LED lamps? They are still poorly versed in the brands and properties of coatings, so sometimes they make mistakes and buy the wrong material for work. To understand which gel polishes for the LED lamp will be ideal, you need to carefully look at the labeling of the bottle. The manufacturer always specifies for which lampssuits their coverage. In fairness, it should be noted that modern tools are designed for almost any type of lamp. But still, it’s not worth the risk, it’s better to carefully study the marking:
- UV/LED - this combination of letters indicates that you have a universal coating. It feels great in any lamp and retains all its properties.
- LED - under this marking, coatings are produced that are adapted for drying in an LED lamp. Under such conditions, gel polish dries in thirty to forty seconds. A similar gel polish for LED lamp cures well in CCFL-dryers, the total curing time varies within six minutes.
- UV - do not use this coating for drying in a lamp. Polymerization will take a long time and does not guarantee a good result. Most often, the coating begins to delaminate immediately or hardens with irregularities.
If you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, then your manicure will last the maximum amount of time possible.
Choosing gel polish: nuances
All girls want their manicure to last. This largely depends on the quality of the coating itself. Not all novice masters know what to look for when choosing manicure products. We will show you how to get the best gel polish. When looking through offers from different manufacturers, be attentive to the following points:
- the manufacturer must guarantee at least twenty-one days of durability of the coating, only inin this case, you can be sure that it will last at least two weeks;
- density of gel polish - it should not spread, but, nevertheless, the consistency cannot be too viscous;
- a wide color palette will allow you to combine shades and give a field for the manifestation of creative imagination;
- The smell of the coating should not be harsh.
Not many manufacturers meet all these characteristics. We'll talk about them now.
Gel polishes for LED lamp: brands
Several manufacturers of gel polishes have established themselves on the Russian market. Moreover, the price range in this area is very large. You can choose coverage from two hundred and fifty rubles to one thousand rubles. Please note that low cost does not mean poor quality coverage.
The very first gel polishes from American manufacturers hit our market. They have a wide range of colors and excellent quality. This product does not emit a strong odor and often contains an innovative formula that helps increase the strength of the coating. Naturally, the most popular among American manufacturers is Shellac CND. This innovative gel polish has already become a household name in the world of nail service. But in fact, only the coating of this brand can be called shellac. The cost of one bottle varies within one thousand rubles, the bottles have an average volume.
American Gelish Harmony has already shown itself to be the most harmless gel polish of all. It is available in largebottles of at least fifteen milliliters, and the cost does not exceed one thousand rubles. This LED lamp gel polish gets the most enthusiastic reviews from clients. The coating is kept on the nails until the nail is completely grown, and this in some cases exceeds thirty days.
Only the Pnb brand can compete with the previous brand in durability. This product is in a lower price category, but the quality of the coating exceeds all expectations of nail salon customers. The cost of one bottle usually does not exceed four hundred rubles.
Don't be afraid of Chinese gel polish manufacturers. They are very popular, and the quality is not inferior to American brands. The most common is Bluesky. This Chinese gel polish is able to adequately withstand competition from more expensive American manufacturers. The average cost of a bottle of this brand is two hundred and thirty rubles, which allows you to purchase the entire color palette without financial losses for the budget. The only disadvantage of this brand is the difficulty in removing the coating, it is cut along with the base layer.
Recently, Russian gel polishes have also appeared on the market. So far, they have not managed to win the love of consumers, but they are confidently moving in this direction. The RuNail brand stands out among Russian manufacturers. This coating is great for thin nails, during use it noticeably heals the nail plate. Based on reviews of this product, we can assume that it will soon enter the top fivepopular gel polishes in the country. The cost of one bottle does not exceed two hundred and fifty rubles. This allows the Russian brand to successfully compete with a cheap product from a Chinese manufacturer.
LED lamp: features and brief description
A good LED lamp for gel polish is almost 80% of a perfect manicure. It largely determines how long the coating will stay on your nails. But let's talk about everything in order.
Modern LED lamps use LED bulbs. They allow you not to change them in the device for as long as possible, because the average burning time of such a lamp is designed for fifty thousand hours. Moreover, this figure does not even imply turning off the device. Nail service masters highly appreciate the capabilities of the LED lamp, because there is no need to change the LEDs in the device. Even if you burn out one or two diodes, the lamp will work just as well as before.
What is the difference between an LED lamp and other dryers?
LED lamp for drying gel polish has a certain wavelength, to which other coatings are immune. Standard UV lamps emit a wide range of wavelengths, they are suitable for any shellac and gel polish. But LED lamps can only emit a narrow A-type wave, it requires a special composition. Otherwise, the gel polish will not harden under the influence of this type of wave.
LED-lamp for nails can have different power. The more power your device has, the less time will be spent on the polymerization process of the composition. This will also reduce the time spent on manicure. According tospecialists, an LED nail lamp should have a power in the range of twenty to thirty-five watts. Do not forget that the power of the drying device does not affect the quality of the polymerization. Any lamp will completely dry the gel polish, but the speed of this process can be completely different.
How to choose a lamp?
Buying a dryer for nails is a very difficult undertaking. You need to take into account a lot of nuances and characteristics:
- Device capacity - manufacturers now produce several types of LED lamps. You can choose to dry with five fingers or one, it all depends on your personal preference.
- Timer - it must be installed on all devices. It is best if your lamp has a minute and second timer, the so-called hybrid. This will dry any type of gel polish.
- The automatic switch is a very good feature that allows you to control the polymerization process.
- Pallet - if your pallet has the ability to be removed, then you can do not only manicure, but also pedicure.
Of course, you can find lamps with more functionality. It all depends on your preferences and financial capabilities. But the listed characteristics must be present in the device.
Cost of nail dryer
So, how much does a gel polish LED lamp cost? First of all, the price depends on the manufacturer and the power of the device. If you want to purchase a device that combinescapacity and quality, then you should take a closer look at MelodySusie Violetili. This is a great model that has several types of timers and everything you need to make your workflow enjoyable. The price of the device ranges from 6000 rubles.
If you want to buy a more expensive LED lamp, then Creative Nail is for you. This model is slightly more expensive than the previous one - its cost is close to 6500 rubles. It is worth noting that this device has a lot of additional functions and is almost universal. With it, you can do manicures, pedicures, take the device with you and change its settings.
One of the most expensive models is the Nail Harmony Gelish lamp. This device costs at least 15,000 rubles, but dries the coating on the nails in just five seconds. Great for professional use.
Conclusion
Of course, each master himself chooses what material to buy for his work. But if you are just starting out as a nail technician or are planning to do a manicure at home for yourself, then an average gel polish kit with an LED lamp will cost you about 10,000 rubles. Professionals can opt for a higher quality and value kit.
We hope that our tips will help you choose the right coating that will make your nails flawless.
