Having your nails done, in this modern day, are not for luxury anymore. As connected almost everybody is, the pressure to maintain good appearances is ever-present, from the hair down to the nails. Nowadays, a nail salon can have a good business day as a hair parlor.
However, most cannot afford to have a manicure or pedicure regularly. Unlike in having your hair done, dealing with nails doesn’t need professional help if you have the time. You can buy your kit yourself and invest in different colors of gel nail polishes.
The only concern is the ‘drying’ stage. Gel nail polishes can be so decorative and eye-pleasing but they take time to dry out at room temperature which can lead you to delay your next set of activities as well. This will also be problematic on occasions and events where you are on the clock.
To solve this, you need to invest in something like a hair-dryer for nails. You might want to take a look at nail lamps that are powered by LED and UV lights.
Contents
5 Best UV Nail Lamp UK
1# Mylee UV Gel Nail Curing Lamp
Mylee Nail Lamp has a 120-second automatic fixed timer that will assure you of full dryness without the unwanted extended exposure.
It has also a reflective layer attached to the lamp’s inner wall for an effective cure. It is also designed with a sliding tray for ease of cleaning.
Pros
- Compatible with most gel brands
- 120-second automatic timer
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Sliding try for ease of maintenance
Cons
- Less adjustability for time
- Lack of display for timer
#2 MarkUK UV Lamp Nail Art Gel Curing Tube Light Dryer
MarkUK UV Nail Lamp has reflective inner walls for effective curing and has a timer set to 180 seconds at a time. It also has a manual switch for personal time selection. Its unfamiliar brand might cause worry but its overall features make it a reliable product.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- 180-second timer with another switch for manual usage
Cons
- Unfamiliar brand
- Lack of display for timer
- Fewer features for maintenance
#3 NailStar Professional UV Nail Dryer Nail Lamp
This lamp has 4 9-Watt UV light bulbs that are equipped with 120-second and 180-second timers. It is time-flexible to whatever coating you applied on your nail.
The parts are generally removable for easy replacement and installation if necessary. UV lights have a shorter lifespan than LEDs, so the design is conducive to that particular situation.
Pros
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- 120-second and 180-second timer
- Removable parts for easy maintenance and replacement
Cons
- Lack of manual switching
- Lack of display for timer
#4 SUNUV UV Nail Lamp for Gel Polish
SUNUV has 2 features in which it can use either UV lights or LED lights. As the acclaimed first UV LED nail lamp ever designed and produced, the lighting fixture is dual, therefore there’s no need to change bulbs.
It has a unique feature wherein it emits white lights for less harmful radiation for 99 seconds. It has also other timer settings from 10 seconds, 30 seconds, and up to 60 seconds.
Pros
- First Hybrid UV and LED usage
- Multiple time-settings
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Unique 99-second low heat mode
- Large LCD screen display for timer
Cons
- Not suitable for regular nail polish
- Pose possible difficulties in parts replacement
#5 NYK1 Professional UV Gel Nail Lamp
With its curved design, NYK1 ensures more coverage for all nails. Aside from being light and compact, it is easy to store and it is also equipped with a 120-second timer. The smooth surface of the cover gives a neat appearance that needs lesser maintenance.
Pros
- 120-second automatic timer
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Easy to clean due to smooth casing surface
Cons
- Lack of display for timer
5 Best LED Nail Lamp UK
#1 Elite99 Nail Dryer Machine
Elite99 is rated 12 Watts with 4 timers presets from 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, and up until 30 minutes. It has also a multi-dimensional reflective interior design that contributes up to three times faster than the traditional UV lamps in evenly curing of the nails.
Pros
- Low heat emission
- Multiple timer selections
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Improved interior reflection for better curing coverage
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Lack of display for timer
- Can only fit one hand at a time
- Fewer features for maintenance
#2 BELLANAILS Professional LED Nail
Bellanails has also 4 preset timers from 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds and up until to 300 seconds with automatic shut-off feature. It has also a multi-dimensional reflective mirror that helps in perfect curing. Although it may fit one hand at a time, its affordable price makes it worth a buy.
Pros
- Low heat emission
- Multiple timer selections
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Improved interior reflection for better curing coverage
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Lack of display for timer
- Can only fit one hand at a time
- No indication for usage applicable for a pedicure
- Fewer features for maintenance
#3 NailStar Professional LED Nail Lamp Dryer
Similar to the previous LED nail lamps, Nailstar has 4 preset timers: 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, and 300 seconds. It is designed as user-friendly and compact for portability. Its lightweight and compactness are ideal for bringing the product at any place and at any time.
Pros
- Low heat emission
- Multiple timer selections
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Lack of display for timer
- Can only fit one hand at a time
- No clear indication of the device’s wattage
- Fewer features for maintenance
#4 Terresa Faster Nail Dryer
Terresa Faster Nail Dryer is rated 72 Watts with 3 timer settings from 30 seconds, 60 seconds and up until 120 seconds. It has a ‘time memory’ feature which sets your time off next usage automatically. It is also big enough to fit all fingers all at once.
The interior has 180-degree multi-angle light beads that increase the coverage of curing. It is also dual-sourced, meaning it can utilize either UV or LED as a light source.
Pros
- Hybrid UV and LED usage
- Multiple timer selections
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Can accommodate two hands at a time
- Large LCD screen display for timer
Cons
- Fewer features for maintenance
- Can influence sticky residue on gel polish after curing
#5 LKE LED / UV Curing Lamp
LKE LED nail lamp has 12 LED white light beads that shorten drying time. It comes with 3 timer modes: 30 seconds, 60 seconds and 90 seconds. It also has a shut-off feature for safety purposes.
An infrared-sensing device can trigger the device to automatically start operating. It also has a USB connector that enables easy connection to other power sources other than the wall socket.
Pros
- Hybrid UV and LED usage
- Multiple timer selections
- Suitable for both manicure and pedicure
- Compatible with most gel brands
- Can accommodate two hands at a time
- Large LCD screen display for timer
- USB plug connector for flexible utilization of many power source
Cons
- Fewer features for maintenance
- No clear indication of the device’s wattage
See also: Best Electric Nail File
Are Nail Dryers Worth it?
These nail dryers are very much used nowadays. If hot air is needed to dry the hair, then for drying nails the heat from a light source is needed.
UV lights or ultraviolet lights are light sources that emit light at the ultraviolet level. In layman’s term, this light is far more penetrating than visible light.
The ‘penetration’ means that the energy from the light source is being absorbed throughout the exposed area through radiation.
Radiation is a type of energy transmission in which no medium is needed like the conductors or no movement of the elements in between like the wind current or touch. It is being exaggerated in pop culture like an energy beam.
The energy from the light source radiates towards the exposed area, in this case, the nails. The energy radiated will be utilized as heat to dry the gel-coated nails just like how the sun dries everything it shines upon.
LED lights can do the same thing. The only difference is that LED lights used less electrical energy to perform and much more long-lasting compared to UV lights because of the properties of LED. The blue LED light is being used as a nail dryer since it emits closer wavelengths to that of a UV light and much effective for drying nails.
Qualities to Look for When Selecting The Correct Light
If you have some sort of skin disability, then the said lights might not be good for you. To select the appropriate lights for you, you need to consider the following:
Wattage
Wattage means how much power is needed by the machine to operate. The higher the wattage, the more power it demands and also the more money is spent on electricity.
Nail dryers with high wattages can dry your nails faster. Those with low wattages take a longer time to dry nails. However, nail dryers with higher wattage can be harmful if exposed much longer than needed, so you better select those with automatic timer switches.
Higher wattage means also higher demand energy and translates to the electrical bill. If a certain situation calls for much demand for faster drying, then a higher wattage device can be financially appropriate.
Size
There are nail dryers that fit only one hand, there are also that fits both. If you are always on the go, you might want to select the handiest of them. If you are looking for home use or even for business usage, then you can very well invest in nail dryers that can fit both hands.
Brand
Since it is a non-moving device, the electronic circuits do all the work. Brands give you that certain assurance that the circuitry and even the whole package are made with care and with consideration to the normal circumstances it can experience. In other words, the brand represents how well-design the electronic product is.
The more reliable the brand, the more you are assured of its safe usage. Additionally, the more recognizable the brand, the higher the chances it has spare parts.
Most designs are compact, which means that in an event of potential damage, the inside circuitry can hold on its own but it will be convenient to have parts available in case replacement is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between LED lamps and UV lamps from a consumer’s perspective?
These nail dryers have similar features in terms of operation and accommodation. They all cater to most brands of gel polishes and have timer functions that ensure safe usage without worrying about overexposure to the light source.
In terms of benefits, the LED nail lamp has more to offer than the UV nail lamp. It provides the same results with a lesser risk for skin damage through radiation. It also consumes less electricity and the material can last longer as well.
However, since the technology is ever-evolving, the UV nail lamps are now available at a much affordable price. So, it is enough for casual users only. In a tight budget situation with a projected occasional usage, LED nail lamps might be more costly.
For better investment, it is recommended to use a dual-source device. It provides the best of both ‘worlds’ in one compact unit. In this time where the world’s industries treatment of nature is a major concern, it is only fitting to choose the right path and invest in devices that have a less negative environmental impact. The LED technology keeps on involving and it may one day be more affordable and become more flexible.
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How do the LED and UV lights dry the nails without affecting the fingers?
The LED and UV nail lamps dry the nails through the emission of light. No matter how you angle your hands, the fingers will always be affected since the nails are completely attached to them. However, the focus of the light are the nails, so the bulk of the energy radiated will affect on the coating of the nails more than the skin on the fingers.
These nail dryers must be equipped with automatic timers. Long-term exposure can cause damage to the exposed skin. The radiation can cause cancer in extreme cases. However, rest assured that these equipment are low-powered and the hands can easily be removed upon emergency, therefore, they pose fewer threats.
Does it cost me money to invest in an electrical appliance for the sake of one purpose?
The nail dryer has only one purpose. It is an investment and if bought impulsively without plans of regular use, they can be a waste. Nevertheless, they can be used for other heating purposes.
As for nail dryers, consider how much you are doing your nails and how frequent. If you are changing colors multiple times a week and are always busy but cannot afford to go for nail salons, then you can choose a portable nail lamp with a normally rated wattage.
Is it easily replaceable if broken?
Like any electronic products, they have warranties. Since they have no moving parts, they are less likely to experience malfunctions. Bulbs are also replaceable using the right tools and proper assembly.
Conclusion
Nail lamps are designed to aid your beautification needs. As you become more concerned with your beauty aided by the convenience of modern devices, it is really important to avoid the health risks that may cause an unpleasant financial situation.