Can I Cure My Gel Polish With Any UV/LED Lamp🤔?
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- When in doubt... Ask am Expert! I’m not a chemist, but I know one. I really don’t want to spend money on all these different lamps! Do I have to buy the matching lamp? Jim McConnell, Co-Founder and Head Chemist of Light Elegance shares his expert opinion on whether this is safe to do.
When in doubt... Ask an Expert! I’m not a chemist, but I know one. I really don’t want to spend money on all these different lamps! Do I have to buy the matching lamp? Jim McConnell, Co-Founder and Head Chemist of Light Elegance shares his expert advice.
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Thanks to the talented composers, musicians and producers who created the music used in this video!
00.01 Grand Waltz by Julian Gallant | Jeff Meegan | David Tobin ✫
00.12 Change Up by Terry Devine-King ✫
00.23 So Deep by Peter Peters | Jamie Elder ✫
08.34 So Deep by Peter Peters | Jamie Elder ✫
✫ Music courtesy of Audio Network Canada Inc.
I have to respect that this guy owns his own brand and his own company, but there's a few things I think are a bit frustrating about this video. This is easily the longest comment I've ever left on anything and I appreciate you reading it.
If you have an LED lamp, it will say either on the box, or in the instructions, what the range of light it produces is in nanometers. Usually between 350-405. UV lamps can usually hit a very broad range of wavelengths. Every gel product needs to be hit by a certain wavelength of UV Light for a certain amount of time, and generally more light=faster cure=faster reaction, more heat. LED lamps are usually brighter, that's why they tend to heat spike more and cure faster. Additionally, there are very, VERY few gel products that can't be fully cured in the average UV lamp because it's a broader spectrum of UV light filtered down to UVA, which is the only light any product should need to cure (the other ones give you cancer, literally.)
The way this guy is phrasing this is deceptive- Its not a "right lamp" for the right product. It's about the light that the lamp produces. There are hundreds and hundreds of manufacturers of product that do not produce their own lamp, and they will state on the packaging what the curing time and what wavelength of light is required. This doesn't make them an irresponsible company, it makes them a transparent company that isn't trying to force you to buy a lamp for every brand of gel they create. Yes, there's variability in quality of lamps, that's true. Especially in these dumb little one-off lamps that polish producers are pumping out, there is LOADS of variability in quality. But a salon-supplier providing lamps for professionals is going to tell you every last specification of their lamp. Match those specifications to the requirement of the polish, and bam. Fully cured product.
I really don't like the way he handwaves the science behind uv-curing polymers as if it's all too complex for us ditzy nail technicians, using words like "photoinitiator" without explaining what that is, it's not that complex. It's the chemical that initiates curing when it gets hit with UV light, and it functions the same way as acetone does in nail polish- it keeps the product from forming solid structures so they don't cure until you want them to. There are different types of photoinitiators, and they require different wavelengths of light. That is the level of understanding you need as a nail tech, no more and no less.
What's actually happening here is some companies throw 3 different photosensitive compounds or more into their products to create a false sense of complexity and specialty to sell lamps as well, if you make your polishes require a weird combination of wavelengths, then you need a weird combination of LEDs, and you can force consumers and professionals to buy more crappy lamps that die in a year. Well guess what? I have 2 high wattage LED lamp types. If a gel product doesn't cure in one of those two, and it isn't literally a completely unique effect product that no other producer creates- I throw it out, leave a bad review, and never order it again. Why? Because non-standardized lamps harm consumers and professionals alike, and its a scummy business practice. Sorry, hun, but I can get "sea blue" creme polishes or "thick builder gel" from 90 different manufacturers. If yours doesn't cure in my lamp, I'm not using it.
I'm willing to pay for a unique polish system, but if you want me to buy a 60 dollar lamp for your crappy flaky glitter topcoat you got another thing coming, sis. Cause the thing is, 90% of clients want a good french or a solid color nail. I don't need 10,000 special effect polishes from 30 different companies to get clients, and neither do you. Give me some crappy builder gel that cures rock-hard and frosty and some 4 year old opened Essie over this "90 lamps for 90 polish brands" crap any day.
In your experience what lamp has served you best?
Yes! Thank you for this comment!
HIT IT ON THE HEAD with this one... nail tech here as well
Thank you! If a gel polish doesn't cure with an average LED lamp, it's going back to the store, and the store and manufacturer are going to loose money on that.
👏👏👏👏👏
Technically it makes sense what you both are saying. But I feel like many times nail brands sell the exact same lamp, just with their own logo. The lamps are manufactured by a third party and that third-party sells to many brands to than sell under their name.
Yes I think that is true. We may have to investigate and find out if they are just selling the lamp because it’s available or did they actually test the gel polish to be cured by that particular lab. And a company that is done their homework will have tested it
@@kristinaveirum just because it looks the same doesn't mean it works the same/have the same quality parts on the inside. I'd be especially wary off electronics off of wish, since a lot of their products are things that failed quality check, which doesn't matter with a t-shirt if there's a loose seam but can be deadly with electronics
My boyfriend bought a 1dollar power bank just to see what turned up, he got the casing and an usb-port that didn't connect to anything because nothing else was in there
@@lizzzesI know!!! They’re horrible and I’ve experienced almost the same thing. My daughter told me this morning it was bought from AliExpress, don’t know if that’s better or worse 😂 Here comes the juicy part. My dad is an Electrician Technician, if you can say that in English. He disassembled them both, and the difference was zero!!!
bingo!
@@kristinaveirum girl, u need to understand that wish and ali express rip off existing products, its how they make their money. Doesn't mean that its the same quality, or that its even safe... do some people buy cheap stuff on there to resell? Yes, but 90% of the stuff on there are cheap knock offs
Interesting idea. I still think its a money maker. In a salon situation with so many brands it can be quite an expensive and a nuisance to have to have a different lamp for each brand. Its just not realistic. Especially for people just starting out. There are so many great brands for gel polishes these days.
And therefore, pro nail techs don't have 12 different lamps scattered on their work space.
Very true. I use 1 lamp for all of my polishes being careful to read the amount of time to cure- which is always stated. My lamp has 4 settings so Ihave those options
I have a black metal OPI GC900 LED lamp that I bought in 2013 that has cured everything I’ve ever used, including Light Elegance hard gel, glitter gel, buttercream and gel polish. It was an expensive lamp, but money well spent. I will keep it until it dies. Interesting video.
Same here, my lamp is from Emmi Nail (German brand) and it cures literally everything I‘ve ever come across. Just a very basic 36W, 365-405nm LED lamp and I feel like that‘s what 99% of the lamps are.
Which lamp LED or UV do anyone feel is the better brand. 😎🤔 And why ❓.how much did you have to spin when getting the lamp that should be able to cure on most gels, & gel polish.🤔🤔🤔🤷🏼♀️ I've been thinking about getting back into the industry been license this year 30 years. And I've been out of practice for about a good fifteen years but I still know how to use regular acrylic. I think I like the ideal of acrylic better than Gel.
@@monie2514 The good lamps cure both LED/UV. I've had mine from Target, 36W bulb, over 6 years & I will never part with it! It cures everything. Only variable is CURE TIME & Wipe or No-Wipe Finish, & bulb wattages.
@@jillruff1655 what is the name of the lamp?
@@jillruff1655 also curious what is your lamp
I must have the greatest lamp on the market because I have used it with many different brands of gel polish I've never had a problem.
What do u use? I have bought from cheapest to expensive top gels frustrating because doy own nails put so much work for top gel to be lumpy bubble or chip 😭 Thanks
That’s nice. Could you actually tell us what lamp that is?
Same. 4 settings- no issues!
From the ecological point of view, this is awful - wasteful :(...It should be more standardized.
Suzie, I expect to see you use a different lamp for every different brand of gel from now on.
I’ve noticed in some of the comments how She is getting a little roasted in the comments for saying this. Some comments are suggesting that it’s convenient for her to make this suggestion because she is sponsored or something? What am I missing?
@@baddie1shoe The whole statement from this "expert" is pretty ridiculous. Go to any nail salon and they don't use specific lamps for different polish brands. Even Suzie doesn't do so and I doubt she will start. This guy works for a company and has an interest in marketing all of their products.
IMO this guy is more of a hack than anything.
Most lamps that gel polish companies sell are generic Chinese lamps with private label. Most standard combined lamps nowadays emit UV LED light with wave length 365 + 405 nm. As long as you check with the gel polish brand that their products cure under the same wave length that your lamp emits, you're fine to use a lamp by any brand.
I have a uv lamp with the wave length you mentioned 365 + 405 nm, but they tan my hands and my clients 😭 I am in training still, but now I have to put on sunscreen and gloves to prevent tanning since I do lots of layers with art. Has this happened to anybody else? or is my lamp just bad lmao
@@nat7611it does happen to me and my clients too, i guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the lamp itself, it just our skin tendency towards pigmentation easily.
Agreed. Most women are going into a store looking for a UV curable polish. They are sold "whatever is on the shelf". Many of these will fail unless your specify the power of your UV Lamp
Not all UV curable polishes will cure and dry at the same wavelength.
@@nat7611do you apply sunscreen to your hands before using the lamp?
I have a question you might have already addressed in a video: How safe are gel lamps? Will they cause damage over continued use? Do they cause aging or even cancer?
Yes they can cause both. I always wear the protective gloves that you can buy for this purpose - I wear sunscreen on hands as well avoiding nails. Be safe
Do you walk out in the sun? It’s the same thing.
I know now, but I am extremely fair skinned, so no I don't go without sunblock
I respect his opinion as a professional but this its total BS my amazon light cured all my gel polishes and never had a issue with my gel polish witch i have multiple brands this its ridiculous
And I would think most people use a mix of several different brands. Like hair care (most of them say use our products might I mention). You don’t have to exclusively use the same brand. It’s a marketing gimmick. They never made a point to bring that up because why why they? I think this guy sells UV lamps for nail polish so gee I wonder why he’s mostly on the yes side of things when he answers “yes and no” when asked do you need multiple lamps for different gel polish brands
Of course you don't need a bunch of different lamps. Do you see different lamps at a salon? No. They buy a really good one that cures whatever you put under it.
I agree. He’s also trying to sell his products
I agree. Total BS.
What lamp cause The Beatles lamp is not working with the other beetle product
But the lamp that came with the beetle product is working to cure the beetle nail
what about the at home nail tech that doesn't do people per say but do your own... do i have to have 14 lamps just because i have 14 different brands of polish?
Exactly.... I'll give extra lamps a big hard pass!!
Same! I'm currently trying to do research on what led lamp and gels to get in order to save money by doing my nails at home. On top of not having ANY gel polishes I've looked at how I can still use my transitional polishes and if it's even worth to start spending money on new polishes. I got so stressed to see that I may have to do additional research to get the right lamp and then commit to a specific line polishes of a specific company. But thankfully the comments here are saying that as long as the lamp meets the criteria of the polish, it's fine. And at the end of the day, a lamp is expensive, so if you really like a color of a polish that doesn't meet your lamp's capabilities then I'm pretty sure you can find another formula on the market that does. 🤷🏻♀️ Like hell I'm gonna buy a lamp just to get a gel from whichever company.
@@christinaa8531 if you don’t mind me asking, I’m in the same boat as you lol. Have you found a good lamp? And would u recommend it?!
@@taliahblair91 I got the Sun 5 uv/led 48W by Sunuv. I don't think it'd be fit for a professional, but it cures anything I've tried so far, was affordable and has time buttons on the top! So, I'd recommend for home use! ☺️
@@christinaa8531 thank you so much, I’m deciding between that one and the beetles one!
This is actually a really good question :D
Yes! Two of my faves in one video is 🔥🔥🔥 Awesome job Sue and Jim!
Love seeing Jim on the channel, its really great to hear the science behind nails! Bring him on as often as he lets you!!
I think this makes sense for professional nail techs as you'd want to make sure, if you invest in a wide range of gel polishes, that they will be compatible with your lamp. On a personal level (I only do my own nails) I'm ready to take the risk to experiment with a new brand of gel polish and see if my LED lamp will cure it properly. In over 10 years I've been doing my nails, using various brands of builder gels, polygels, gel polishes, always with the same lamp and never had an issue. They stay put until it's time for an infill. If I had to buy a lamp for each brand I use I would have a cupboard full of them!😉
I never had a gel polish that never cured and I have one light. Then again I only have two or three gel polish brands but they’ve all worked. But it sounds like this only matters if your a nail technician. And the other thing is that the same company can make multiple lights and gel polishes but under various names. So lights and polishes could literally be the same thing only the price varies
They even do that with something like headphones. All the wiring from an expensive pair of headphones could be exactly the same as a cheaper one. But the expensive one will weigh more to give the illusion that it’s more luxurious. But the inside is the exact same as a cheap one. And this could very well be the case with gel polish lights and polish. Or anything really
I've had CND polishes that wouldn't cure properly in a CND lamp... It was nasty as all heck but I'm glad I found out about it on my own nails and not a clients. I went to a CND sponsored school and tbh the most important thing I learned was aside from their lotion and cuticle oil, CND products are trash.
@@SeabassFishbrains I hateeeee CND. I went to a school that only used CND too. Their cuticle oil is great tho.
And that’s the thing. You have to take a leap of faith. What you used didn’t work and what you used are all from the same company. At least you didn’t find out on a client so that’s a relief
I can use 2 or 3 different brands when doing nail art. I understand what he is saying but I'm only using one light. It's a chance I'm willing to take
I was very particular on using base and top coat of the same brand. Because I think the chemical component of each gel is different.
This is the first time lamps are an issue. 😅 I've been using Sun UV/LED lamp for 1 1/2 years now and it cures all my gel polishes. KS, Gelish, Orly, Cuccio, Modelones and even different brands of polygels.
@Nikhole Lucas please help which one to buy i am confuse during my research all i read is the lamp didnt work, didnt cure , some says the gel nail polish is fake etc.. i am afraid didnt want to waste time and money so please help in suggesting which one to buy ....help , thank you , the lamp you mention where do u buy it...is it on amazon ..
@@ninijohn8211you have to know what wavelengths (nanometers) that particular lamp emits, how much (volume) of light it puts out, and what the gel needs for it to cure. Unfortunately, sometimes it is an experiment if you don't stick to one reputable and information-transparent company/brand.
I love this series with you chatting with Jim. He's so good at explaining the Chemistry behind things. Appreciate these collabs so much to help us understand in plain language the science behind the questions. You're amazing Suzy! 💗
Great information. I have always wondered this. Thank you for finding it out.
Thank you
Moving from acrylic to polygel so came home to update my nail equipment, knowledge and ideas
You always get me binge watching ❤
Susie i realized that too most companies sell a generic light with their stuff and some don't even put the cure time on their polishes so i resorted to a 120watt light just to be on the safe side.
I've used about a dozen different brands of gel and had three different lamps over the years.
The only problem I ever had was about to years ago, modelones black wouldn't cure in my small gelish lamp. I've had that lamp 10-12 years at this point.
I suspect the polish was too thick and my lamp was too small (I think it's only 8 bulbs). Had I not thrown it out long ago, I'd bet that polish would cure in my newer lamp with 24 bulbs.
Dark colors take longer to cure, especially if they're thick. I now always give an extra 30-60 seconds of cure time to the 2nd coat when using a dark color like black.
But otherwise, I've not had any other issues with any lamp curing any brand of dip, gel polish or polygel.
As a nail tech and student of chemical engineering I love this video I learn a lot ❤❤!!. I'd notice that some more pigmented gel polish didn't fully cured in mine Sun Mini Led 6W lamp but they did in the Duga Led Lamp 48W,they where fine, so it is definitely something like what Jim said that could be happening. Sadly here in Argentina we do not have many brands that have or recommend the kind of lamp to use, and sometimes even they don't mention the time of curing or even the ingredients, so we have to do a lot of experimentation with what we got avaliable
Thank you for that/ Unless we all become scientists I guess there may be some doubt. But thank you for saying this because unless we all take the course we don’t understand 100% but what he is saying is accurate. But I don’t want to become a scientist so I’m going to trust the scientists advice on this one
This is super interesting, cause I've used some lamps that almost dry the gel and it loses the shine.
Even after using a gel top coat as well? LED lamps cure faster and can overheat some gel polishes, so maybe you need a UV lamp for yours?
@@MsJazzyRay I have a new one and it's completely fine, but the old one was too powerful
I would love to see a video on your new kittties!!!!!
This great information Suzie. Thanks for doing this video chat.
Next, you will tell us we need to buy the brands' e-files too. 😂
That makes so much sense. I have two lamps, one i got for Christmas from my parents, and it's a USB lamp, and one from Makartt which is a wall plug lamp. I've definitely found the USB lamp needs longer to cure (at least 2 mins), and it can't penetrate deep color (like black) so I need thinner layers. That being said, I haven't had a problem mixing formulas with lamps with the Makartt lamp. I feel like this is much more a nail tech issue :P But this is very valuable info!
I cant say that you wont have issues or that you will- i just hope you dont experience any allergies
I would have assumed most manufacturers "especially third-party" would use led's that emit wavelengths that could cure most popular gels.
Thought so, too. My lamp is 365-405nm and cures literally everything.
I’m getting so excited to own so many lamps. I so have special shelving space available for them!
That's gonna cost you a fortune.
Hope this is a joke lol
@@msmarieadennis yes, ☺️ me totally being a complete smart ass 😂 I couldn’t help it 🤪
@@tara_nguyen right 🤣 not 😆
@@jeawoo9930 😂😂😂 got me there for a second
That was a great question! I’ve had many asking me the same question, but I’m a CND certified nail technician, so I only use their products and their LED lamp. I love watching your videos and I’ve been a follower for years now. I just don’t comment that much. But I just love you Susie and your whole happy energy ❤️ You’re the Queen of nails 👸🏻💅
Where is your salon? 😃 been looking for a CND shellac certified salon...
@@AK-kl7pg I wish I could help you but I’m from Denmark so I think that’s a bit too far away to get your nails done 💅
A wee bit! 😁 Be well.
He’s a “scientist” but he’s also a salesman. Of course he wants us to buy his lamp and polishes. Just get a good lamp with a good wattage and just follow the directions on timing. Anyway, not all gel polish manufacturers make a lamp.
Hmm I don't completely buy that. At around 8:30 he does say that other gel lamp systems will cure his gel polishes. His polishes are just formulated "perfectly" for his lamp, which is probably completely true, but unnecessarily "perfect" for the average consumer (people at home like me!). But I can see this being more important for a nail tech/salon who uses a huge variety of brands. Over 8 or 9 brands, it might be worth it to have a couple of lamps that cure at different wavelengths/power. But I also don't know that for sure, if anyone wants to add to the discussion.
You can’t purchase from them unless you’re a licensed nail tech anyway!
Makes sense and some won't work with others because some gel only curs with led, some only with uv, some only with both. However I've found that if you get a uv led mixed lamp your covered. I have found this from all the different brands I have mixed. Never had problems.
Can you talk more about service breakdown? Specifically staining? I used to get a gel manicure from one salon in particular and I noticed that almost immediately after getting a gel manicure, the polish would start looking stained, mostly around the edges but it would stain all over the nail as the days went on. It's like they were soaking up dyes from my clothes? (I often wear black pants). Is this because the gel was not cured properly? I went to this salon for about 3 years and didn't have this problem until about a year ago and my nails stained every time I got my nails done from then on. I do get my hair dyed dark at the roots for grey cover up but I don't think that 8 weeks after getting my hair dyed would cause my gel manicure to stain? I guess I just want to know if it was my fault or if there was potentially something wrong with the gel manicure and I shouldn't be experiencing staining like that.
Wow! How frustrating! Hope she can answer your question!
I don't know about this from a gel standpoint but plenty of jeans can stain lots of things. I've seen people with stained hands from their dark blue jeans. Those dyes are really strong!
I've always wanted to know the answer to this question.
Susie! I love your videos. Would you consider doing a haul focusing on affordable nail accessories/tools/products?
Good idea
Beetles gel polish is amasing its cheap and non toxic i can get it in the UK not sure ifyou can get it in America or other countries
@@tashabrinkworth3995 in the US you can get it on amazon!
@@krissa5532 thats great I recommend them but I always sit mine in warm water for 5 minutes before I use them as they are super thick otherwise when they are warm they apply better but then again its cold in the UK
@@NailCareerEducation also it would be interesting to get yours views on what you should spend your money on (as in higher price means a better product) Vs. what you can save your money on (because the difference isn't that big). I.e files, brushes, top coats, etc...
This is so interesting to me. I had a nail polish brand that I got as a kit and used their lamp and for the life of me I couldn’t get it to cure (I followed the directions and tried on several occasions). After it didn’t cure I exchanged it thinking the lamp was defective but the new lamp still didn’t cure it. When I switched to a different brand of lamp it cured just fine…… the science behind all of this is really fascinating to me 😊
Excellent example! Science is so important! Thank you for sharing your experience
I use mostly Madam Glam gels and poly gel, but I don't have their lamp yet(mostly because when I have the money, they're sold out of the one I want, or they only have the little one). I've got a large lamp I purchased from Wish, which worked well for awhile, but I noticed I was getting surges, so I put it away and pulled out my small Gelish lamp. I get good results 99% of the time. That other 1%, I've noticed that, with certain colors mostly, the gel won't cure properly, dosen't cure all the way or at all...and now it makes sense. The small lamp works great with the random gel polishes I occasionally purchase from Born Pretty or ModelsOne, as well as the Sally's brand, Finger Paints. I just have to adjust the timing on the cure rate for each of those brands. Thank you for this informative video! I will be trying harder to get the Madam Glam lamp asap, as I have more of those gels, and use the poly gel to build my nail length/strengthen.
well damn. I didn't know that. Now I am wondering if I am using the wrong light. But all my gell polishes respond well to it so I never thought I did something wrong. 😅😅 Btw not a professional. I just prefere gell polish over nail polish.
Yes gel polish is awesome. If you’re concerned just phone the gel polish company and ask them if the light you were using is sufficient
@@NailCareerEducation Thank you. will do 😊
@@charlenefaye you can also probably look it up online 😅
Yes I’m sure the company will disclose everything you ask them🙄
Oh gracious! I stumbled across your video quite by accident. You started with I love shopping for new nail polish, and I thought, "Huh, I didn't know that Valerie Bertinelli likes to do her own nails!" Lol It took me a minute to realize you weren't her, but you sure do resemble her. ( Both of you are beautiful. )
Thank you for sharing all this wonderful information. I'm a brand new uv gel nail junkie!
I only have the handheld curing wand. Would I do better with the one I stick several nails at once?
What would be the best way to apply this advice for a home user? I have one or two gel polishes from about 10 different companies. It's not practical to own 10 different lights in this situation. How can I make sure I'm using the best lamp possible for each polish without having 10 or more lights at home that work for one or two polishes each?
In this situation you just cant. The best possible scenario is to have the matching lamp for each polish. Just because it’s the best possible scenario doesn’t mean it’s the most practical. And in your case it is not. So the best would be to actually buy the lamp that matches the gel polish line and hopefully they have the colours that you want
You should find out the wattage of your lamps, and look at each gel polish you own and see what they need. You can likely use the same lamp for a few different polished and therefore only need 1 or 2 different lamps.
@@NailCareerEducation thing is though, these gel polish companies sell their lamps at ridiculous prices. Most I've seen are well over £100. That's far out of my budget. Not all nail techs are so well off they can "afford" to buy all the lamps for all gel brands. To the last question, not all companies are going to release that information to you, about different lamps. Their response will simply be, buy ours. If you try to ask what light frequency range they use, do YOU think they'll tell you? I'd be surprised if they did. Maybe if you asked under the freedom of information request, maybe, or they could say, sorry, data protection act. Either way, they won't tell you, because they want you to pay this ridiculous amount, because a lot of companies are money grabbing. I will use an example. Gel bottle Inc. They previously only had gel polishes and gel. No lamp. The information they gave you was to use a lamp with a minimum wattage of 36. So that's what I did. I bought a 48 watt sun uv/led lamp. Then came their own lamp, priced at over 100 quid, and, "only use our lamp with our gels" . . . . But yet I've continued using (now an 80 watt canvalite lamp) to cure. Still with no problems. So I don't agree that companies should charge so much money, when a lamp from Amazon works just as well.
I have a light I got from amazon and it works just fine too. Is it “technically curing polish?” I don’t give two fucks it works. Nothing weird happens and the polish is solid. That’s a good point too. Companies may be more open to telling you exactly what their products are. Most aren’t because why would they do that? And some companies will ask top dollar for a product when you break it down it’s no different then a cheaper version. Like with headphones for example. The inner workings for an expensive pair could be the exact same as a cheaper version
Also I use products from different brands all the time and I think most people do. I use third part game console memory cards and controllers. I mix semi permanent hair dye from different brands. I use bleach and developers that aren’t from the same brands. I use different hair care products together. (And most make a point in saying use only their products)
They all work absolutely fine and I don’t see why you can’t do that with UV lights and gel polishes. I would think most people don’t use everything from the same brand or feel like they have to
@@bennu547 i am just starting out and i am confuse when i do my research on amazon most people are complaning that the lamp didnt cure or didnt work so i wanted so bad but hearing this i didnt waste time and money i just want buy that works and done with it..please help which machine did you use what brand ,,,please help thank you so much
omg I miss watching your content! 🤩I learned how to properly do nailcare at home to save money and to master something else.
While I understand that he's a chemist I'd really like a wear comparison for an 'on brand' lamp vs an 'off brand' lamp because I feel like the type of service break down you would receive for just regular gel polish isn't going to be drastic enough to have people go out and buy 10 different lamps. Yes, there is something to be said about optimization, but if we're looking at it from an experimental point of view there's no control being posted in this discussion so it's making me want to call shenanigans. I could see how builder gel could break down more easily as it's main purpose is structure, but for the average user any old lamp (provided it has the proper wattage, because that really affects curing) I would assume would be fine.
Agreed ! It would be great to see an actual comparison of the results of using the specific brand vs an off brand lamp in order to bolster the argument that using a brand specific lamp is necessary. I think being mindful of your lamp wattage and cure times is more important than what brand you’re using.
And a lot of the time the fancy products are literally the same thing as inexpensive ones. They do that with headsets and Bluetooth speakers too. They look fancy and they’re heavier to make them seem more fancy. But looking on the inside they could be either complete crap or the exact same as an inexpensive one. Some are worth their high price tag but not always. I don’t see how this is impossible to apply to gel polish and UV lamps. They’re still products people are expected to buy and companies are gonna tell you their products only work if you just use their stuff. Or they sell you snake oil and they jack up the price of a product that you can get for cheaper that works the same
I love seeing Jim on other channels! I saw him on Nail Hub where I've gotten lots of info on gel and it's all been extremely helpful and informative. I'm just DIY personally, so I'm limited in what brands I can buy. I could only dream of getting Light Elegance. Their stuff looks so pretty lol
While I'm understanding what's being said, I have never been to a salon that doesn't used the same lamp with all their gel brands/products and have inky had 1 salon in all those year where my polish bubbled from not curing properly and it wasn't a great salon and I suspect it may have been old polish by the texture when I watched the tech apply it. So if salons use the same lamps for all brands, I understand it's not a guarantee, but there has to be a common denominator I should look for in the most universal lamp I can reasonably buy.
Wow 😯 new information, I never even thought that it mattered. Thank you this helps so much. I have a Gelish LED light.
I have a UV light and an LED and i just read the instructions on the Polish insert.. never had an issue.
i am not disagreeing but I was told that there are different watts of nail lights and the companies test their gel with their lights so if u use say light elegance light and u use say magic gel products if its not curing properly cure it longer if ur lamp is not strong enough...I have 50w uv/led light from elegant glass nails and I use magic gel and light elegance and gelish and never had an issue but i give it an extra cure if i feel its not curing or wat ever...but i dont have clients anymore.....thanks tho for the advice. stay safe..✌🏻
Then the companies should be honest and upfront about what micrometers their polish requires and what their lamp puts out.
Dear Suzie, I really would like to know more about the ecological side of all these plastic/chemical nail products. I guess the whole ocean is polluted with plastic. What about these nails if they come under soil? Will they stay there forever? Thanks for your reply in advance.
I use every different polish from
Channel to Swamp Nails and everything has cured just fine. I also am not charging 80.00 to anyone. Oh well, to each his own. Just because someone says
It doesn’t mean I put any stock in it..;)
I can answer this before watching this. Buy one light, then if it breaks buy a new one. I have no money for buying everyone’s lamps. I’ve never had a problem. There all made in the same place.
Thank You Suzie. This is very informative. I truly appreciate You.
Just got my nail file set in the mail. Love the packaging and I got a free gift. Now I have the lovely Nuke It apron. I’m in love. Ty Suzie
Your very welcome ❤️
I wish he mentioned that you can sometimes find out the suggested power rating/type of lamp needed for some gels. Also would like to know if a polish is rated for a lower power requirement can it be cured the same or perhaps faster with a stronger lamp?
Okay what if you just use a very POWERFUL lamp (UV/LED 48w and up)? Is it overkill? Will it cover the bases? Or does it still come down to different lights carry current and light differently?
That’s what I want to know. I feel you don’t want to be underpowered but is overpowered just as bad?
I've heard to use minimum of 48 watts as well. I heard that after buying my 24 watt lamp. I've only been using Modelones polish at this point and my SUNUV lamp is working just fine.
The video I didn’t know we needed! I have been to nail shops that made their own light stations for curing. Omg
I've been to salons that had me sit under little purple lights when they painted my nails with regular polish 🤨 and then the polish still smudged and had to be redone. Guess they didn't know about quick dry top coats. Don't get your nails done at Walmart, folks!
@@MsJazzyRay wtf how can you have a nail salon but not be licensed 😂 or just know the basics
Thank you much Susie and Jim!!
Don't know so only can say he's right!
I didn't even realize this could be a question! I got my beetles lamp and I've never had any issues with various brands of gel polish or builder gel. There is simply no way I'm buying a bunch of different lamps. I mean I completely respect professionals opinions but still it hasn't been an issue in my experience.
But the warning is: its not an issue YET. Lets hope it doesnt come to that
@molsongrrrl what do u mean beetles lamp , where do u bought it please help .
Yeah!!!! Thank you for always your education and your videos. Your truly the BEST Suzie! 💅🙋♀️👍😀😍
I have a lamp from makart that I got with a kit but I really need a good quality one.. It doesn't cure gel polish very hard, it seems rubbery and peels off!
Im not an expert but i suspect lamp is not properly curing polish
I have a low watt lamp from Makartt and have found that the opaque Makartt polishes need 2-3 minutes!
@@NailCareerEducation you ARE an expert, you're just not an expert in gel 😉
Those small lamps do cure gel polish but it will take a lot longer for darker colors and white. Get a 36 and over Watt.
Who knew gel lamps could be such a hot 🔥 topic? One challenge for DIY-ers: we cannot buy Light Elegance products, so it is a lot harder to find high quality products available to home nail artists. Would be nice if there were some reliable brands available to DIY-ers, too. 😊
Great video. I wondered why so many kits come with lamps. I was thinking where am I going to store all these lamps. Why can't I have a few various sizes and call it good? This video answered my question. Thanks!
Can you do a video on how to do cute cloud design that’s been going around. The clouds look kinds see through in some places
You just have to thin the polish out a bit with alcohol (use 91%). That will give you that see through effect.
Susie, I love you - your content and how approachable, sweet and loving and inviting you've always been, but this gentleman is a salesman. The only thing I'll give him is that he's right in his statement that it's a "yes AND no" - This has been much debated on MANY forums, tech boards, fair, "science" circles, even chemists. So with a chance of Doug Schoon and Mr Jim here above coming for the little guy, once again, I'll just say - I wont respond to anyone who opposes my opinion on this, because lets just call it opinion ;)
To be clear, the strength of wattage of a lamp is NOT what cures a gel, neither is its wires or its input - output doesn't change just because it's compatible with BOTH 110v and 240v input, but rather it is the combination of the proper wavelength and correct intensity or "illuminance" of the UV emitted, which is true varies depending on the type of bulbs/LED's. While related, these aren’t the same thing.
Most gels on the market cure at 365nm (traditional gels) or 405nm (many recent gel polishes). Curable products are designed to cure at their very specific wavelength of light, the vast majority of newer lamps covers these gels absolutely sufficiently to a state of safe curing, and it is clear that there is considerable overlap in terms of what lamps cure which products, and again made clear why many of nowadays LED lamps are made by the same company and are rebranded.
Then you have the occasional "trying to reinvent the spoon" brand like Picture Polish with their "curable lacquers" (let's also be clear on that, it's a gel not a lacquer) that are 395nm UV light wavelength cured and indeed acquire a wavelength out of the "standard" to cure, to try and push the buyer to invest in a "new and innovative $100 lamp", but as someone working in the field knows that this has been a standard in the UV Resin sculpting and modelling community for quite some years and a lamp to cure that wavelength can be bought at amazon for around $7-$10.
There has been lots of clamouring for a universal CFL/CCFL/LED lamp all over from techs for years, and if he and others were so concerned about others wellbeing **cough** and is so good at "science" they could've been the front runner 10+ years ago to set a new industry standard, offering manufacturer transparency or some sort of indicator on lamps and gels to be sure they match, but instead it came down to watering own pockets.
Nothing against you or your overall content Susie, love you always, but no thanks to this video as a first, I'm sorry.
Lots of love
Oh man - lamps are so confusing! I go back and forth on it. Cause I have mix polishes and lamps all the time with what seems like success- but allergies are on the rise they say from lamp misuse - I’m confused
This was an interesting and very educated video....loved that I learned a lot 😍
Thank you so much for this video, Susie🥰
Good techical info to know. Thanks Susie❤️
very informative!
Yes I agree!
Some gel polish brands don’t have their own UV/LED lamp.
Great video and informative 💞
This was very informative. I only have a few lamps at the moment, but it’s interesting since one of the brands I am using gave out cards/pamphlets a while back that showed a number of lamps that were suitable in curing their product. I guess they tested it a lot on a bunch of different lamps? Otherwise I’ve been using my CND lamp for almost everything (mostly because I have more of that product than any other). I have a few brands that also don’t offer a lamp specific to their line and now I am curious about their performance. I’m going to be doing some hyper researching for the next couple weeks now. Thanks for this video!
@Aether please help which lamp to buy and gel polish please. . i am just starting out doing my research i read on comments from customer on Amazon how unhappy people are the lamp did work or didnt cure the gel polish is fake ,,,etc. so i am confuse which one to buy and i dont want to waste my time and money you seems have experance please help suggesting me Thank you in advance ,,helppppp
Which company gave out the list of compatible gels? That would be SO nice if all brands did that. 😂
Actually the wavelenght of UV light is the only thing that matters. Manufacturers create their formulas to work with specific wavelength, so that they can sell their specific lights and say they do this out of care. SO you get a light with broader spectrum UV and it will work with a wider variety of product. This isn't a question for a chemist interested in promoting his product. You should've consulted with a physicist.
Theoretically no as long as the wattage isn’t too weird. Frankly, you can’t change wavelengths, so as long as the lamp is actually the wattage that the lamp says it is and the light bulb is actually the us light it’s claiming to be.
Sounds like the same discussion in hairdressing over if you need to use the dedicated developer. Maybe as a home user you can get away with it for the most part. If you're a professional though you better believe that liability issurance isn't covering anything if you're not following the manufacturer's instructions
I always watch you with pleasure!
omg this is what I needed it! I love Gelish polish, but then I notice that it was not curing well when I changed my lamp ( i gave away my Gelish lamp to my mom), so I need to get again a Gelish lamp :)
Thank you both Susie & Jim! Let’s just say for a second lamps didn’t matter (I’m in camp ...nail lamps DO matter).
Mindset matters...
Our health and clientele is worth that extra security of fully cured nails and a decrease in ever-so-common allergies. My services are priced to afford me and my clientele that investment every 2-3 years. But that’s just my mindset.
i have a uv/led lamp & i just buy gel polish that’s for uv/led lights and i don’t have a prob
My Amazon light has lasted years never had an issue curing many different brands of gel polish. Never had an issues. All due respect, I feel like it's a money grab.
I genuinely do agree that you should get the corresponding lamps. I'm not a nail tech, I just do my own gel nails at home, but I can literally feel the difference (heat-wise) curing different brands of polish under the same light. Now I only use CND, gellux and opi and have 3 lamps 🤷🏻♀️
I don't know any professionals who have multiple lamps except for those who do reviews. The purpose of an UV/LED lamp is that UV and LED are slightly different wavelengths (LED is actually part of the UV light spectrum). Therefore, a UV/LED lamp should cure all gels. If you have a UV only lamp, it will not cure some gels. Same with an LED only lamp. It also depends on the strength of the light - wattage. The more little bulbs in the lamp, the higher the wattage, the faster and better the cure. Thanks Susie!!
Ok, there are a lot of discussion's goïng on here. ;-) you can test out if a brand or colour cures in a lamp. Put on a dot, (as thick or thin as you want. What you think the thickness you are using on nails.) put the dot of any brand on what ever you want. It can be a peace of baking paper.. what ever you have. When you think it should be cured, take it out, take a scissor and cut the dot in half. You can see if it cures or not.. I've had cnd that cured well in my cheap lamp but it does not cure in my new (expensive) lamp. Lot's of love from Belgium
I've been binge watching your videos, my boyfriend said you're like the Bob Ross of nails 💅❤️
Does this also apply to builder gels, gem gels and hybrid gels? or only to polishes?
Looking for this answer also
Sun is one of the biggest and provides for lamps i know light elegance ugly duckling enail and so many others then you could at least pick up kiara skys and your pretyy much covered for basic stuff. When in doubt over education yourself if you over Watt and strength your lamp you will always be able to cure. Rember that licenced and working tech btw
Yes and I love these companies two. If you have any questions reach out to the company and ask them if they have tested their polish with their lamps.
Today is my birthday :-)!!!
I'd like to see the actual science on this. Have studies been done that show using different lamps with different gels cause allergies?? This is an honest question I don't like just taking someone's word since you never know their reasons for what they say. Don't care if he's a chemist.
As a beginner doing mine at home I was like what is wrong with my lamp? My nails aren't hard when they come out!
Very informative video.
I use a red carpet led lamp on beetles polish and polygels. Never had a problem
To be fair going to a nail tec for gel polish is expensive it's nice to know what you're paying for 😊
I myself think its just a money maker for these different brands. Sure they found a manufacturer that has a lamp that cures their polish so they say lets add our logo and use that as the one and call it our lamp. So yes that lamp they can say works with their gels. I don't think you are gonna get Jim to say "oh sure use any lamp with our light elegance product" not gonna happen. Light elegance wants the profit of their lamp. Just my 2 cents :)
can we use regular nail polish over the gel polish.. or just seal everything (regular base, polish) with gel top coat? please, please I would like to know
there are a few regular nail polishes I have that I love the color of but I mess them up everytime before they dry... so can I top it with gel top coat? Thank you susan, love your videos
I’ve heard you have to let the polish dry completely before you put gel on top. Like give it a few hours to make sure it’s dried all the way through.
Suzie has a video in her playlist
If you search How to gel over polish no wrinkles Suzie's video should come up
Yes you can there are a few tricks to accomplishing this correctly I do have a video on it
One thing I've done in the past is give myself a clear or natural gel manicure. Then paint normal polish over top. No need for a gel top coat. Think about how long regular polish lasts on acrylics, same for gels.
But yeah if you're going to do the gel top coat, you've got to make sure it's 100% dry or it will wrinkle.
Great Questions about lamps!! Jim your the Man!! Thank you Suzie!
Thank you for yet another educational video. You and Jimmy are the best! As I understood Jimmy, the LE P+ gel polish has been tested ind the CND lamp (Shellac button) and it works/cures correctly! Correct?
Actually I don’t know - you would have to email LE and ask them that question
Very informative ty