How long and how to properly dry gel polish in a UV lamp and LED lamp: type of device, criteria for choosing a lamp, required drying time, common mistakes. Is it possible and how to dry gel polish without a lamp?

How and how long to dry gel polish in a lamp?
Gel polish is a product for creating a manicure, which is distinguished by its durability and attractive appearance. When using gel polishes from good manufacturers and applying them correctly, the manicure lasts on the nails for about two weeks. The gels came out ahead in all respects. In order for the “paint” on your nails to last for a long time, you need to know how long to dry the gel polish in a 36-watt lamp. The use of conventional varnishes for manicure and pedicure of nails has long been a thing of the past due to its fragility.

Gels also have a second name - “shellacs”. An indispensable device for working with marigolds is a lamp. They are divided into 3 types:

• powered by UV rays;
• from converting electricity into light radiation – Ice machines;
• hybrid.

Before talking about how long to keep gel polish under the lamp, you need to look at the characteristics of the devices.

Indicators characterizing the operation of lamps

The first thing you should pay attention to is power. It determines how long to dry the gel polish in the lamp. UV devices produce from 9 to 54 W. The lowest power is only suitable for home use, as it takes a long time to dry (up to 6 minutes). The best option is 36 W. How many minutes does it take to dry gel polish in a 36-watt lamp? 120 seconds is enough for the coating to dry completely. 54 W devices are used only in nail salons.

Ice lamps have a power of 12-45 W. Polymerization of the coating takes only 10-30 seconds. Wave radiation (its range) in UV units allows you to dry any shellac, this is their main difference from Ice lamps. However, Ice equipment does not heat up during operation; it can be called “icy”, unlike its opponent. The performance capabilities of Ice lamps are much higher than those of UV units. If the UV device is burnt out, it can be easily replaced, but in the case of LED, restoration cannot be carried out. Ice equipment is compact in size, which cannot be said about UV lamps.

It is possible to dry the coating in half a minute using a hybrid lamp. It helps in working with gels, biogels, colored shellacs and ice materials. The device includes:

• 12 ice bulbs;
• 1 spiral lamp.

The main advantage is the short drying time. The versatility of the lamp is an undoubted advantage of the “unit”. Device power – 36 W. The diodes take on 24 W, and 12 “pull” the spiral. A regular gel polymerizes in a minute.

Problems when working with gel polish

What to do if the coating peels off or cracks much earlier than this? For example, a day after application. In this case, you need to critically evaluate your technology for performing this manicure. Maybe you make some mistakes while working.

Often such problems indicate that the master has violated the technology for using this product. For example, this situation is possible if the recommended period for drying marigolds in a UF lamp is violated. We’ll talk further about how long to dry gel polish in an Ice lamp.

How long does it take to dry gel polish?

“Gel” for nails is similar to regular varnish, the same consistency, only it tends to harden when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Gel manicure lovers give particular preference to Bluesky brand gel: it is practical, beautiful, and most importantly - inexpensive (when compared with other manufacturers). Wholesalers have a price of this gel within two hundred rubles.

Fashionistas and lovers of beautiful manicures don’t have to worry about the condition of their nails for two whole weeks, just “paint over” the nail plate with Bluesky once. But it's not that simple. The coating achieves high durability and strength only after proper application of the gel and compliance with nail plate processing technologies. This is why it matters how long you need to keep the gel polish under the lamp.

If you follow all the “principles,” depending on the growth of your nail, you can forget about redoing your manicure for 14 days. When coated with gel, the nail gains strength, and the “shoot” may crack.

Bluesky gel polish palette by numbers with photos

The entire color palette (with numbers) of Bluesky gel polishes includes more than 600 shades. For convenience, they are divided into several series.

Serie A

Consists of 30 shades of pastel and rich shades for everyday manicure.

Series V

Includes 24 delicate shades. The colorful tints and micro-shine of this series are perfect for an evening manicure.

Series P

Includes 18 dense matte shades. This series is perfect for manicures made using the Feng Shui technique.

Series L

Includes 48 shades with varied textures. This series is preferred by young girls.

Series N

Includes 18 acid shades. When ultraviolet light hits the gel polish of this series, the nails begin to glow. Nightclub regulars love this series very much.

Series Nat

Includes 12 sophisticated shades for an elegant manicure.

Series O

Includes 9 glitter shades. This series is great for holiday manicure.

Series M

Includes 12 shades of Bluesky stained glass gel polishes.

YYF Series

Includes 12 fine glitter shades.

Series W

Consists of 12 shades with pearlescent tints and matte colors.

Lady VIP Series

Contains 12 glittery shades.

Cat's eye series

With its help, the effect of precious stones is created on the nails.

One Step Series

Gel polishes in this series do not require the use of a base or finish. The manicure lasts on the nails for 14 days.

Series “Fairytale Night”

14 shades of gel polish that glow in the dark.

Bluesky thermo-gel polish palette

Thermal varnishes have the ability to change their color. It depends on the temperature of the hands and air. Bluesky gel polishes create absolutely incredible transitions.

Camouflage gel polish Bluesky

A rubber base with a camouflage effect ideally smoothes out unevenness of the nail plate . This allows you to reduce the time of manicure. Because there is no need to apply a transparent base under camouflage gel polish.

Bluesky gel polishes with spreading effect

Bluesky flowing gel polishes are very popular among beginners and professional artists due to their unusual structure. Let's figure out how to properly apply this Bluesky gel polish.

Stages of work:

1. Prepare your nails for applying gel polish.
2. Polish the nails with a buff and degrease.
3. Cover the marigolds with base and dry them in a lamp.

4. We take gel polishes with a spreading effect in two colors.
5. We apply the first gel polish to the nails and do not dry them.

6. Apply the next layer of gel polish of a different color and draw a pattern using a brush or dotter.

7. We wait a few seconds for the varnish to spread.
8. Dry it in a lamp.
9. We cover it with topcoat and send it to dry again in the lamp. Manicure is ready.

When using flowing gel polishes, the patterns have soft lines with shaded edges.

Troubles at work

When using gel polishes, some problems may arise. For example, the coating of the nail plate begins to crack and loses its aesthetic appearance or even peels off a short time after application (say, after a day). In such a situation, it is necessary to reconsider the technology of nail treatment and drying.

These signs indicate a violation of technology when covering the nail. Such cases may arise if you don’t really know which lamp to dry the gel polish with and how long to keep it on.

How long does it take to dry gel polish in an ice lamp?

The most common question among the fair sex. Many people do not see any special differences in drying with UV and Ice lamps, but you need to find out how long to keep the gel polish in the lamp in each case.

The drying time is affected by the type of lamp used and the manufacturer of the gel (its quality). These factors determine the amount of time. Here, of course, we cannot do without studying the manufacturer; let’s dwell on this point in more detail and study the table below.

How long does it take to dry gel polish in a 9-watt LED lamp if the manufacturer is China? Bluesky is the cheapest of the varnishes described above; it requires a long drying time, otherwise the manicure will not last long.

Why does the lamp not dry the gel polish, it is soft after drying

If after drying the gel polish remains soft, but there are no bubbles or signs of wrinkling, then most likely the problem lies in the lamp. First of all, you need to check how correctly the light sources work - often it is enough to replace 1-2 light bulbs to restore the drying power of the gel polish.

Lamp quality

The lamp can be ultraviolet, light-emitting diode (LED) or hybrid. Professionals recommend choosing hybrid types of equipment, but beginners in the nail industry can use simple UV lamps. It is important that the lamp has a power in the range of 16-36 W, and what light elements it will be equipped with depends on the requirements of the master. The fact is that some gel polishes are dried only under LED lamps, while there are materials for drying exclusively in ultraviolet equipment.

Watch the video on how to choose a lamp for gel polish:

It should be borne in mind that on average a lamp is designed for 3 thousand hours of operation, but some equipment serves trouble-free for six months even with hyperactive use. Ultraviolet lamps wear out the most, so after 1 month of use you need to check the equipment and, if necessary, change the light elements. You can tell that the lamp's life has been exhausted by increasing the drying time of the gel polish.

Presence of contamination

The cleanliness of the lamp for drying gel polish is not only a demonstration of neatness and neatness to clients, but also the key to long-term, impeccable service of the lighting equipment. Even a slight layer of dirt and dust on the lamp can cause a decrease in the efficiency of drying the decorative coating. Professionals recommend wiping equipment daily with adhesive remover for medium levels of dirt and nail polish remover for heavy levels.

Equipment and its characteristics

A UV lamp is used to polymerize the gel when creating a nail coating. It is also used for extensions. The time during which the gel needs to be dried depends on the quality of the equipment (its power).

How long should you keep gel polish on (minutes) in a 9-watt lamp? The total time that will be spent “under the lamp” is 6 minutes. A 9 W lamp is the cheapest device with low power, so the drying time of the coating with such a device is quite long. The option with more power will be more expensive. If you don’t plan to cover your nails with gel very often, then you don’t have to spend money on a more powerful “unit”. Or you can choose a “partner” that is a little more powerful, say, 18 W.

For manicure at home, the best option is with an 18-watt lamp; the coating “hardens” in 2 minutes.

If the manicure “device” is of high quality, then it has sufficient drying power. In the case of a power of 36 W, the base will “harden” in 1 minute, and the remaining layers will have to spend 2 minutes each. The ideal device for manicure is designed for 36 W.

Is it possible to dry gel polish in a 9-watt lamp of Chinese origin? Yes, the estimated time for drying the coating will be 60 seconds (per layer). The market also offers hybrid samples of manicure equipment that perform drying with several types of rays.

It is important to note that an LED lamp is an expensive product that is used for expensive coatings. This Ice coating is of high quality, but it also costs a lot.

If you use regular gels for manicure, then there is no need to use an Ice lamp, since drying can be done using a UV “unit”, without the high costs of purchasing an Ice model and a hybrid. Therefore, the question of how long to dry gel polish in an Ice lamp 9 watts, 36 watts immediately disappears.

Step by step instructions for applying Bluesky Shellac

Instructions for using Bluesky Shellac Color are similar to the technique for applying Shellac CND. But, if previously it was not possible to create a manicure using these products, then there are instructions on how to apply bluesky shellac:

1. Preparation. At this stage, it is necessary to remove the cuticle, level the surface of the plate with a buff, and shape the nails. Then the nails are treated with a degreaser. These actions must be performed so that the gel polish “adheses” to the plate better.
2. The basis. You need to take a small amount of base onto the brush and carefully begin to apply the liquid to the nail from the cuticle to the free edge. It is necessary to cover the entire surface of the nail, leaving no unfilled areas. Then dry the layer with a UV lamp.
3. Color layer. Bluesky should be applied in a thin layer to the plate. Dry it under a lamp. Then repeat these steps twice more.
4. Protection. Fix is ​​applied so that the gel polish lasts for a long time, so that chips and microcracks do not occur.
5. Removing excess. Treat your nails again with degreaser.

You can repeat this technique at home if you have a UV lamp and Bluesky materials.

Some tips

If you are left-handed, then manicure should start on the left side and vice versa. Cover the thumb first, dry it, then all the other fingers, and so on for each hand. When drying, you need to place your fingers evenly in the lamp so that the “light” falls evenly, and not twist your thumb. The entire manicure process should take you half an hour or a little more. In addition to quick application, shellac manufacturers assure that they last not up to two weeks, but even up to three without chips or cracks. To achieve this effect, you need to use components from a single manufacturer (base, top, primer).

After several manicure procedures, you need to take a break for at least a week; during this period you need to take care of the health of your nails and cuticles.

Photo of nail polish coating

Even more photos at the link: Gel polish photo.