Manicure is far from the easiest task, which is why many women turn to specialists to get it done. When using gel polishes in salons, special lamps are used that ensure quick and effective drying of the polish. However, you don't have to go to a salon to use such a lamp - you can purchase it yourself.
The hybrid nail lamp is available in many stores and will allow you to significantly improve the efficiency of applying gel polish manicures, as well as give you the opportunity to do nail extensions at home. However, what is this device? In this article, you will learn what a hybrid nail lamp is, why it is better to buy one rather than regular lamps, and what the advantages and disadvantages of each type are.
What is this device?
A hybrid nail lamp is a special device that allows you to dry your gel polish in minutes or even seconds. Such devices are always available in beauty salons, where they do manicures and nail extensions, but they can also be found in stores.
This means that you can freely purchase such a lamp and no longer go to the salon. However, in this case, the problem of choice arises - which hybrid lamp for nails is better? Or would it be better to choose a single lamp rather than a hybrid? This is exactly what will be discussed further.
Types of lamps
So, if you want to make such a purchase, then you should understand what types of lamps for drying nails are, what is the difference between them and what are the advantages of each type of lamp.
The most basic is a UV lamp for nails; hybrids are often based on it. Ultraviolet light will allow you to dry your gel polish quickly and effectively. However, this is not the only lamp that you can find on the market.
There are more powerful and effective options. Firstly, this is a fluorescent lamp, which has been competing with its UV counterpart for quite some time. Well, secondly, this is an LED lamp, which appeared on the market relatively recently and offers the highest drying speed, but it also has its drawbacks. And at the top of it all is the hybrid nail lamp, reviews of which are almost always positive.
What it is? This is a device that combines two or even three types of lamps, making it much more efficient. Well, since we’re talking about reviews, it’s worth taking a closer look at them. To choose the ideal device, you need to know both the advantages and disadvantages of each type of lamp, and reviews of users who already own one or another type of nail drying lamp are a great help in understanding this.
TOP 7 lamps for professional manicure
7 - TNL Professional
South Korean model for polymerization of varnishes. The device has a retractable tray, drying is carried out quickly.
TNL Professional
The coating is attached for a long time and reliably.
TNL Professional is suitable for any manicure materials.
pros | Minuses |
1.Easy to use; 2. Durability; 3. Convenience; 4. Fast drying. | 1. Price. |
The lamp has high power and two operating modes.
6 - Planet Nails
Ultraviolet lamp from a Chinese company. Attracts manicurists with its ease of use and convenient location of buttons on the panel.
LED-UV lamp planet nails Wave plus, 36 W
There is a timer for 120 seconds. Planet Nails dries materials reliably and firmly. The device is available in several colors.
pros | Minuses |
1. Size; 2. Price; 3. Fast drying; 4. Timer; 5. Capacity. | 1. There is no timer for a shorter time. |
Dimensions allow you to dry five fingers at once
5 — Irisk UF/LED Sphere 36W
The Chinese-made device is intended for professional craftsmen. The device has a timer with five modes and a removable tray.
Irisk UF/LED Sphere 36W
Irisk UF/LED Sphere 36W has motion sensors that react when a hand enters the device.
pros | Minuses |
1. Design; 2. 5 modes; 3. Good assembly; 4. Power. | 1. Price. |
Additionally, manufacturers have equipped the device with a sound alert notifying that drying is complete.
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4 – Nova CCFL/LED 48W
The Chinese-assembled device has CCFL and LED radiation. The device is characterized by a high drying speed of various coatings.
Nova CCFL/LED 48W
There are 3 operating modes, a motion sensor that automatically turns on the lamp backlight when you bring your hand to the device.
pros | Minuses |
1. Power; 2. Motion sensor; 3. Timer; 4. Removable tray. | 1. Price. |
Nova CCFL/LED 48W has a removable bottom and an eye protection screen.
3 – UV LED 48 W Runail
A domestically produced apparatus for the polymerization of varnishes. Copes perfectly with drying LED uv manicure materials. The device consists of one ultraviolet light bulb and 36 diodes, arranged in such a way that the light is evenly distributed over the surface.
UV LED 48 W Runail
UV LED 48 W Runail is powerful, spacious, and allows you to dry all your fingers.
There is a display, touch motion sensors, three modes.
pros | Minuses |
1. Large; 2. Roomy; 3. Comfortable; 4. Price. | 1. The bottom cannot be removed. |
The model is available only in white.
2 – Professional Nail 18K 48W CCFL+LED
The hybrid device is common in nail salons. Suitable for polymerization of any manicure surfaces.
Professional Nail 18K 48W CCFL+LED
The design has a sensor that responds to hand insertion, a magnetic tray, and three operating modes.
pros | Minuses |
1. Price; 2. Large; 3. Convenient to operate; 4. Radiation protection. | 1. There is no display. |
The Professional Nail shape allows you to dry all your fingers. The model is characterized by its large size, reliability, and is used in nail salons.
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1 – LED UV Sun 5X 48 W
A popular device from a Chinese company. The device has a display showing time, 4 operating modes, and a removable bottom.
LED UV UV Sun 5X 48 W
During operation, you can reduce the power if necessary.
pros | Minuses |
1. Exterior design; 2. Timer; 3. Motion sensor; 4. Magnetic bottom. | 1. No |
LED UV Sun 5X is powerful and dries varnish perfectly, even when applied in a thick layer.
Following the technique of performing a manicure with gel polish helps to make your nails well-groomed, strengthen, and protect the nail plate.
Advantages of UV lamps
Naturally, first of all it is worth talking about ultraviolet lamps, since they are the most common of all. What are the reasons? Users report that it most often lies in the low cost of the device. Such lamps and hybrid lamps for nail extensions, in which the main element is the UV element, can be purchased by almost every person, but at the same time they are quite effective.
People report that UV lamps affect the largest number of materials used due to the widest spectrum. Moreover, there is absolutely no discomfort when using them, so hybrid lamps for drying nails with a UV base are the right choice.
But don’t rush, because everything has its drawbacks. It is enough to think about why exactly there are no unpleasant sensations. You will find the answer to this question below.
Disadvantages of UV lamps
So, if you want to have a UV lamp for drying nails, then you should understand that the absence of unpleasant sensations is due to the fact that the operating speed of the device is not too high. The gel polish in this device dries from one to three minutes, which is not very fast compared to other types of lamps - you will see this later.
Users also report that these lamps get very hot and therefore have a short lifespan of only three thousand hours. This may seem like an impressive amount of time, but when compared with other types, these lamps are far inferior to their competitors in terms of this indicator.
If the number of hours does not mean anything to you, then you can contact those users who reported the approximate operating time of the device. Depending on how often you use it, you will have to change the lamp every six months if you rarely use it. If you use it constantly, then you will have to change the lamps much more often - approximately every two months.
For this reason, users are starting to ask questions about how to make a hybrid nail lamp if they have both UV and LED lamps, but it is not recommended to do such things if you are not an expert in this field - the result may be sad .
Lamps for manicure part 3. How to choose hybrid lamps for drying gel polish and what is it?
What is a hybrid manicure lamp? how is it different from the others? We will try to answer these questions for you in this article.
What is a hybrid manicure lamp?
This type of lamp in its design has two types of emitting elements. These are the so-called CCFL (cold cathode fluorescence lamp) - lamps based on cold fluorescent cathodes, as well as LED (light emitting diode) - a lamp based on light-emitting diodes. As we can see, in the design of these lamps there are no incandescent lamps at all, which prevents overheating of the nail plate. At the same time, the light intensity is several times higher, even compared to conventional ultraviolet lamps. Hybrids cover the entire spectrum of radiation, so they are suitable for all types of gel polishes, regardless of the manufacturer. You can be sure that your coating will definitely harden in this lamp.
Like all other lamps, hybrids come in different wattages. The one shown at the beginning of the article has a power of 48W. This instance has a power of 36W (in our opinion, you can choose any of them for your home, it all depends on your desire).
So how long does it take to dry gel polish in a hybrid lamp, you ask?
But that's not all the advantages! Unlike their cheaper counterparts, such as ultraviolet or conventional LED lamps, hybrids have many advantages! Here are some of them:
- Hybrids are suitable for all gel polishes on the market - any coating will definitely harden!
- Accelerated polymerization process - in high-power lamps this takes less than 30 seconds!
- Extremely low energy consumption - these are the most economical lamps of all!
- Low heat generation - does not create discomfort during use, unlike others.
- Long service life - the service life of a hybrid lamp is almost the same as that of LED lamps, and this is more than five years of continuous operation!
- Compact dimensions - compared to ultraviolet lamps, hybrids are significantly smaller in size!
Yes, hybrid manicure lamps are more expensive than ultraviolet or regular LED lamps. But the price is not so high that you miss out on all these obvious advantages!
Using them is as easy as other types:
- turn on the lamp
- Place your fingers with the applied gel polish into the opening
- drying process to finish
That's all! nothing complicated.
These can be timers, touch panels, power adjustment buttons, pull-out trays, screens showing the time, as well as the time remaining until the process is completed.
You can choose any option that pleases your eyes, as well as your capabilities. But let us repeat once again, for home use, you don’t have to throw away 10 or even 20 thousand rubles; an economical option that will cope with all tasks with a bang will be enough! For example, this lamp costs only 1,500 rubles without a discount:
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I hope we were able to answer your question: what is a hybrid ice lamp for manicure and what are its advantages, and if you liked the article, you might like others:
Advantages of fluorescent lamps
What does a hybrid nail lamp look like? Photos online often only scratch the surface, but you can also find an inside look. And then you can see that there are two types of lamps inside (or three, if it is a UV-CCFL-LED hybrid).
What is the second type after ultraviolet? These are fluorescent lamps that are smaller in size and more efficient. How is it shown? The fact is that, according to user reviews, they practically do not heat up, unlike their ultraviolet counterparts, and at the same time they last much longer. They need to be changed extremely rarely, because their service life ranges from 30 to 50 thousand hours, that is, 10-20 times longer than that of ultraviolet lamps.
Lamp for gel polish: which one is better according to reviews from experts, rating
The rating of the best lamps for gel polish was compiled based on reviews from masters, so even when choosing such equipment for home use, you should be guided by them.
Gel lamp drying lamp model | a brief description of | Photo |
Solomeya | Manufactured in Britain, on the market since 1999, equally suitable for professional and home use | |
Planet Nails | From a German manufacturer, it is distinguished by high quality and affordable price, suitable for working with any type of varnish | |
ruNail | Russian production, characterized by an optimal combination of quality and price. Polymerization can be carried out on all fingers of one hand at once. | |
TNL | Korean brand, on the market since 2008, the lamps can be used to dry 5 fingers at the same time. | |
SUN | The lamp is from a Chinese manufacturer, the equipment “entered the market” only in 2021, operates in different modes and has a touch sensor. |
5th place – Solomeya lamps
Such equipment is designed for drying any gel polishes, if they have marks on the possibility of combining the material with ultraviolet rays and LEDs. The drying speed of one layer is 10 seconds, sometimes 15-20 seconds. They are multifunctional:
- can be used for manicure and pedicure;
- equipped with a removable magnetic bottom;
- make it possible to polymerize 5 fingers of one hand at the same time;
- operating life exceeds 50,000 hours.
Craftsmen note that the lamp dries gel polish efficiently, has an interesting design (can vary, there is a decent choice) and an average cost.
But the manufacturer Solomeya has some drawbacks - the range of cosmetic equipment does not include lamps for drying hybrid gel polish.
4th place – Planet Nails
Such lamps are suitable for working with any materials for decorative coating of nails - gel polishes, biogels, shellac, permanent varnishes. The service life of the device is up to 50 thousand hours, the case is equipped with a timer - it can be set for 30, 60 and 120 seconds of continuous light emission.
Experts note the following advantages of lamps from this manufacturer:
- varied design;
- The range includes all types of lamps, including hybrid ones;
- polymerization of gel polish is carried out with the highest quality.
Watch the video about the DEVICE gel polymerization lamp from Planet Nails:
But there are also “disadvantages”: the cost of the product is above average, in most cases the declared operating life of the device does not correspond to reality.
3rd place – ruNail
A Russian-made lamp, which has a fairly low cost, but also high quality
Experts recommend paying attention to the following “advantages” of this model:
- the range is quite large;
- the working life of 50,000 hours fully corresponds to the declared one;
- The device has a timer, display and removable bottom.
The design of the ruNail lamp allows you to immediately dry gel polish on 5 fingers of one hand, and there will be no harmful effects of light radiation. The manufacturer also has some drawbacks - for example, there are no hybrid lamps in the range, and complaints about insufficiently high-quality polymerization are occasionally received.
2nd place – TNL lamps
The products of the Korean manufacturer must undergo several stages of testing before going on sale, so the quality of polymerization is very high and all declared characteristics correspond to reality:
- relatively low cost of equipment;
- can be used for manicure and pedicure;
- suitable for drying all types of gel polish;
- allows you to dry 5 fingers on one hand at the same time.
The product range does not include hybrid type lamps, although they are considered the most popular and effective nail industry professionals.
1st place – SUN
The Chinese company has been on the market for cosmetics products for quite some time, but lamps for drying gel polish have recently gone on sale from the SUN brand. This is universal equipment that is optimally suited for the polymerization of gel polishes and hard materials. It is equipped with several light bulbs at once, the power is high, which allows you to dry 5 fingers of one hand at the same time. The lamps have the following characteristics:
- suitable for manicure and pedicure;
- work in several modes;
- equipped with touch sensors;
- have a removable bottom and a timer for automatic shutdown.
But even the lamp that took first place in the rating, the experts found shortcomings - the design of the device is monotonous, the company’s assortment does not include hybrid models.
Disadvantages of fluorescent lamps
Naturally, this lamp also has disadvantages, but they are not as pronounced as those of its ultraviolet counterpart. Firstly, they still take a long time to dry their nails - from one to three minutes. Secondly, they have a slightly narrower spectrum - therefore, they may not affect some of the materials that a UV lamp can dry. Therefore, if you want to combine them, then a hybrid of UV and CCFL will be extremely effective - it will be able to dry your nails efficiently, although not as quickly as you would like.
Advantages of LED lamps
As you can already understand, compared to the previous two types, this lamp is the fastest. It can dry your nails in 10-30 seconds, which is significantly faster than the 1-3 minutes in both previous cases.
However, this is not the only thing that can be distinguished from LED lamps. They also have an impressive lifespan that rivals fluorescent lamps. Well, another important difference that many users notice in reviews is its compact size while maintaining efficiency. Devices with LED lamps can be 2-3 times smaller than those with UV lamps, but you can still fit a whole palm in them.
However, why then are other lamps and even hybrids needed if this look is so magnificent? The reason is simple - range.
Operating principle and device
A hybrid nail lamp is called in such an intricate way because it combines 2 types of lamps:
- CCFL with a cold cathode, filled with an inert gas with a small addition of mercury;
- 12 LED bulbs based on the LED principle.
Simultaneous operation ensures almost instantaneous (within 30 seconds) polymerization of the coating. It can also be used to dry regular nail polish without adding gel. The minimum service life of the device itself is 6 years; light bulbs sometimes have to be changed. It is used both for home manicure and in salons with a large number of clients.
The duration of activation is determined by a timer designed for different times depending on the coverage - from 10 to 30 seconds. The total power of all lighting devices is 36w, of which 12 are CCFL, the rest are evenly distributed between 12 LED bulbs.
The internal structure is made of metal, lined with a mirror surface so that the light falls evenly on the entire nail plate of each finger. The outer part of the case is mostly made of plastic to lighten the overall weight. The power supply is compact and built into the device.
Can be used to work with the following materials:
- gel polish;
- ultraviolet gel polish;
- LED gel polish;
- Biogel;
- acrylic.
On average, polymerization takes no more than 30 seconds, with the exception of acrylic and UV gel polish, which take 2 times longer.
VIDEO: How to choose a lamp for gel polish
What types of hybrid nail lamps are there?
When choosing which hybrid lamp to buy or with mono lamps, you should figure out what each of them can give you and what you will be deprived of.
UV lamp
The simplest inexpensive device, which often acts as the basis for hybrids. Works with all types of coatings, but requires a lot of time - from 1 to 3 minutes.
UV lamp - the most inexpensive option for home use
Among the advantages:
- price – you can buy such a lamp for 715 rubles. and it will last for 3-4 years;
- a wide range of actions - we repeat, during operation any gel-based coating polymerizes;
- there is no unpleasant sensation in the form of burning. But only because it works slowly and the bottom layer has time to cool down.
- spends a lot of time drying;
- relatively short lamp life - 3000 hours;
- the need for frequent changes due to strong heating.
It is not recommended to make a hybrid lamp yourself from separate UV and/or LED devices. Simply shining light on the nail plate is not enough; it must be illuminated evenly from all sides and with the same intensity, otherwise the polish will slide off.
Aluorescent lamp (CCFL)
Hybrid lamp Professional Nail 48 W CCFL+LED white with sensor
The only disadvantages are the wrong choice. If it is only LED, then it will not be able to work with conventional gel polishes, and the same amount of time will be spent on drying. You should only buy a hybrid lamp, which includes either all 3 elements - UV-CCFL-LED at 48 watts, or 2 - CCFL-LED at 36.
LED lamp
This is the most compact variety among all the listed types, which has the same great potential as fluorescent (50,000 hours), but at the same time it is very compact. The size is made in such a way that the entire palm or half of the foot, if we are talking about a pedicure, fits. The intensity of the glow reduces the time spent on drying by half, but at the same time it is so high that a strong burning sensation is felt - the top and bottom layers are baked instantly.
LED lamps for nails
There is one more drawback, and a rather significant one - a limited range, due to which they do not work with some materials. In particular, we are talking about extensions and the use of UV gel polishes.
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Hybrid lamp
When it comes to home use, you can limit yourself to mono-designs designed for a specific type of varnish, especially since not a single hybrid will cost as much as it costs. But for salons, such acquisitions can be called excesses - it is better to choose a combined type that can cover the entire range of materials.
Combination of 3 types of UV-CCFL-LED lamps at once
When you need regular care, it’s enough to choose a budget option, having first studied reviews not only about it, but also about the manufacturer. The most optimal price/range of work ratio would be a CCFL-LED hybrid lamp. It is this type of product that occupies first place today, not only for personal but also for salon use.
Let's sum it up
Regardless of the type of device, the duration of operation is not affected by the number of on/off cycles. Light does not have a negative effect on the eyes, so you can admire it without fear. While the nails are drying.
The removable panel is very convenient in modern models. This makes it more convenient to dry your toenails, since the lamp is simply placed on top, rather than sticking your foot in there.
One of the general disadvantages is that the compact size means that only one hand is dried at a time. For home - ok, for the salon - not very good. There are no on/off sensors; on hybrids you still need to press buttons.
Price is another factor that usually does not favor a hybrid. Compared to ultraviolet, the difference is several thousand rubles.
And the last thing we want to draw your attention to is that no nail dryer will dry out regular polish; they are intended only for working with gels and their components.
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Disadvantages of LED lamps
As will become clear rather quickly, LED lamps have an extremely short range, which means they will not work on many materials, making their efficiency significantly lower. Moreover, many users report that due to the speed of impact, an unpleasant sensation is created in the fingers, which is not present in the previous two types.
And, of course, it is worth noting the cost of the device, which is quite high. As you can see, there is no perfection in the world, but you can try to achieve it if you like any hybrid nail lamp. 36 W is an excellent indicator in terms of energy saving, so you can focus on it. If energy consumption is noticeably higher, then you will not be able to save on purchasing such a product.
Hybrid lamps
What types of hybrid lamps are there for drying nails? In fact, lamps can be combined in a variety of ways, and if you want to navigate, then you need to understand what this or that type of lamp is called.
So, ultraviolet lamps are designated as UV, fluorescent lamps are designated as CCFL, and LED lamps, in fact, are designated just that – LED. Thus, if you see a UV-CCFL device, you can be sure that this is a gel polish drying device that works using ultraviolet and fluorescent lamps.
Which combination is best to choose? This depends largely on your budget, as well as what functionality you want to achieve. Naturally, the most functional devices will be the most expensive. For example, a high-power LED lamp from leading brands can cost more than $300, let alone hybrids that combine this lamp with another type.
However, the most effective device is the one that combines all three types - it dries very quickly and at the same time acts on the entire spectrum, covering every substance used in gel polishes. But its cost is appropriate, so if you don’t do manicures too often, then you are unlikely to need such a device.
If you do not need professional care for your nails on an ongoing basis, then you can choose a more budget-friendly hybrid, such as CCFL-LED. Recently, these devices have the highest popularity in the budget segment. But at the same time, you should understand that neither single lamps nor hybrids are suitable for drying regular nail polish; they are intended for gel polishes and for nail extensions.
How to choose the right one
The choice of a nail lamp depends on the purpose for which and how often it is intended to be used. When choosing a hybrid lamp, you should pay attention to some details:
- Power. The rate of polymerization directly depends on this indicator. At low power, the bottom layer of gel may not harden enough, and the varnish will adhere less well. Therefore, for professional use, it is better to buy a more powerful hybrid nail lamp, 12 or 18 W. A lamp that is too powerful can cause burning of nails, so it is better to give preference to medium power.
- Location of light bulbs. It is better if they are located on different sides, this promotes uniform polymerization
- The presence of a reflective coating around the luminous elements. It scatters light and helps ensure a uniform polymerization process.
- Timer buttons. They make it much easier to control the time that should be allowed for complete polymerization of materials. There may be two or three timer buttons on the case
- Size. Compact models are suitable for home use; for a nail salon it is better to buy comfortable lamps for nails of a larger size.
- Removable bottom cover. It makes it possible to easily change the luminous elements, and also increases functionality and allows you to use a pedicure lamp
- Pull-out shelf. Helps you quickly and accurately insert your hand inside without touching the body with your nails.
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