The lamp is the one part of gel polish application that technique can't make up for. If it doesn't deliver enough power, even a flawlessly applied manicure won't cure all the way through.
UV or LED
UV lamps use fluorescent bulbs and emit a wider range of wavelengths, so they will cure virtually any gel product. The downsides are a longer curing time (up to 2 minutes) and bulbs that need replacing.
LED lamps cure faster (30–60 seconds), the diodes don't wear out and never need replacing. However, LED emits a narrower range of wavelengths, so some older products won't cure in them.
Today the most practical solution is a hybrid UV/LED lamp. It covers both ranges and suits all products, so if you're choosing your first lamp, it's worth going straight for one. Browse our lamps.
How many watts you need
For home use, 36–48 W is enough. For salon work, choose 48 W or more – not so much for the power as for the speed: with ten clients a day, every half minute saved adds up to hours over a month.
More important than the total wattage is the diode layout. A lamp with diodes only on top leaves the sides of the nail poorly lit, and the coating stays softer there. Choose models with diodes on the sides as well.
What else to check
- Chamber size – whether the whole hand fits with the thumb. Cheaper lamps force you to cure the thumbs separately.
- Timer – 10/30/60/99-second modes cover every need.
- Motion sensor – handy in the salon when your hands are full.
- Removable base – essential if you want to cure pedicures.
- Low-heat mode – it raises the power more slowly, so clients don't feel a burning sensation. This matters a lot for clients with thin nails.
Why a lamp stops working even though it lights up
This is the classic UV lamp problem. Fluorescent bulbs lose power after roughly 6 months of intensive use, yet look perfectly normal. The sign: the coating suddenly stays soft even though your technique hasn't changed. The solution is to replace the bulbs, not the products.
LED diodes don't have this problem and last tens of thousands of hours – the main argument for choosing an LED or hybrid lamp.
Why it sometimes burns
A burning sensation means polymerisation is happening too quickly and too much heat is released. It most often happens with thin nails or an overly thick layer. What helps: thinner layers, the low-heat mode, or briefly pulling the hand out and putting it back after a few seconds.