The beauty industry has stepped forward in recent years. Beauticians can literally wipe off a woman’s face for several decades with one procedure, so it’s not surprising that new tools for a perfect manicure have appeared, allowing you to flaunt a couple of weeks with gorgeous nails 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 girls-masters of nail service boldly manipulate terms such as "gel polish", "shellac", "gel polish for LED lamps." From all this diversity, an ordinary woman has a head spinning. Making a choice is sometimes quite difficult. Although in fact there is nothing complicated in this terminology.
If you describe gel polish briefly, then we can say that this coating is ideally combining the best properties of ordinary nail polishes and gels. It looks like a viscous plastic substance that hardens under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Properties of gel polish
Thanks to this coating, a manicure will look ideal 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 it is a gel polish for an LED lamp. Each coating hardens in its own special 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, which 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;
- photo initiator;
- active diluents;
- pigments
- additives (they are responsible for additional coating properties and gloss retention).
A good gel polish is able to hold out on nails for a long time.
Shellac and gel polish: one product under different names?
Many women believe that shellac is just another name for gel polish. But actually 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 polish requires nail polishing and is more difficult to remove. At home, it is almost impossible to do.
Therefore, each woman chooses which cover suits her best. Both gel polish and shellac have fans.
Drying gel polish: time spent on manicure
Gel polish polymerization time 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 out under UV rays in approximately one minute. The color gel polish for the 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. Indeed, a lot depends on the manufacturer of the coating, usually the masters try to buy several funds at once. Different batches may vary 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 are mistaken and buy the wrong material for work. To understand which gel polishes for an LED lamp will be ideal, you need to carefully look at the labeling of the bottle. The manufacturer always specifies for which lamps their coating is suitable. In fairness, it is worth noting that modern means are designed for almost any type of lamp. But still do not take risks, it is better to carefully study the labeling:
- UV / LED - this combination of letters indicates that you have a universal coverage. It feels great in any lamp and retains all its properties.
- LED - under this marking they produce coatings that are adapted for drying in an LED lamp. In such conditions, the gel polish dries in thirty to forty seconds. A similar gel polish for an LED lamp cures well in CCFL dryers; the total curing time ranges from 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 bumps.
If you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, then your manicure will last the maximum amount of time possible.
The choice of gel polish: the nuances
All the girls want their manicure to last a long time. It largely depends on the quality of the coating itself. Not all novice masters know what to look for when choosing tools for manicure. We will show you how to get the best gel polish. Looking through offers from different manufacturers, be attentive to the following points:
- the manufacturer must guarantee at least twenty-one days of coating durability, only in 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 sticky;
- 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 sharp.
Not all manufacturers correspond to all these characteristics. We’ll talk about them now.
Gel varnishes for LED lamps: brands
Several manufacturers of gel polishes have fixed on the Russian market. Moreover, the price range in this area is very large. You can choose a coverage from two hundred and fifty rubles to one thousand rubles. Please note that low cost does not mean poor coating quality.
The very first gel varnishes of American manufacturers came to our market. They have a wide range of colors and excellent quality. This product does not emit a pungent odor and often contains an innovative formula that helps increase coating strength. Naturally, the most popular among US manufacturers is Shellac CND. This innovative gel polish has become a household name in the world of nail service. But in fact shellac can only be called the coating of this brand. The cost of one bottle varies within one thousand rubles, the bottles have an average volume.
American Gelish Harmony has already proved to be the most harmless gel polish of all. It is produced in large bottles of at least fifteen milliliters, and the cost does not exceed one thousand rubles. This gel polish for LED lamps receives the most enthusiastic feedback from customers. The coating is held on the nails until the nail is completely overgrown, and this in some cases exceeds thirty days.
In terms of durability, only the Pnb brand can compete with the previous brand. This product is in a lower price category, but the quality of the coating exceeds all expectations of nail salon clients. The cost of one bottle usually does not exceed four hundred rubles.
Do not be afraid of the Chinese manufacturers of gel polishes. They are very popular, and in quality they are not inferior to American brands. The most common is Bluesky. This Chinese gel polish is able to adequately withstand competition with 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 off along with the base layer.
Recently, Russian gel varnishes have appeared on the market. So far they have not managed to win the love of consumers, but 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. According to reviews of this product, we can assume that it will soon enter the top five most popular 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 of a Chinese manufacturer.
LED lamp: features and a brief description
A good LED lamp for gel polish is almost 80% of the perfect manicure. It largely determines how long the coating will last on your nails. But let's talk about everything in order.
Modern LED lamps use LED bulbs. They allow you to not 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 mean turning off the device. Masters of nail service highly appreciate the capabilities of an LED lamp, because you do not need to change the LEDs in the device. Even if you have one or two diodes burned, the lamp will work just as well as before.
What is the difference between an LED lamp and other dryers?
The LED lamp for drying gel polish has a certain wavelength, to which other coatings are immune. Standard UV lamps emit a wide range of waves, they are suitable for any shellac and gel polish. But LED lamps can emit only 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 process of polymerization of the composition. This will reduce the time spent on manicure. According to experts, the LED lamp for nails should have a power in the range from twenty to thirty-five watts. Do not forget that the power of the drying device does not affect the quality of polymerization. Any lamp will completely dry the gel polish, but only the speed of this process can be completely different.
How to choose a lamp?
Buying a nail dryer is a very difficult undertaking. You need to take into account a lot of nuances and characteristics:
- Capacity of the device - now manufacturers produce several types of LED lamps. You can choose to dry with five fingers or one, it all depends on your personal preferences.
- 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 allow you to dry any type of gel polish.
- A circuit breaker 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 deal not only with manicure, but also with 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 necessarily.
The cost of a device for drying nails
So, how much does the LED lamp for gel polish cost? First of all, the price depends on the manufacturer and the power of the device. If you want to buy a device that combines spaciousness and quality, then you should take a closer look at MelodySusie Violetili. This is a great model with several types of timers and everything you need to make your workflow enjoyable. The price of the device ranges from 6,000 rubles.
If you want to purchase a more expensive LED lamp, then Creative Nail is right for you. This model is slightly more expensive than the previous one - its cost is close to 6500 rubles. It should be noted 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 it dries the coating on the nails in just five seconds. Great for professional use.
Conclusion
Of course, each master chooses what material to buy for his work. But if you are just starting your activity as a master of nail services or planning to do a manicure at home for yourself, then the average set for gel polish with an LED lamp will cost you about 10,000 rubles. Professionals can choose for themselves a set of higher quality and value.
We hope that our tips will help you choose the right coating that will make your nails perfect.