Who does not love a perfectly smooth-finished manicure? The time taken by the color to set on your nails can take very long, especially if you use acrylic nails or gel nail polishes. It cannot be very pleasant to sit and do nothing during this time. In most professional salons, this time is cut in half with a nail dryer machine.
Most of these machines use either UV lamps or LED lamps. How exactly does this machine work? Are there points to note for LED lamps vs UV lamps? Let us look into these.
How do Nail Dryers Work?
You must be acquainted with how a hair dryer works, right? Well, nail dryers also work in a similar mechanism. They use either hot or cold air to dry nails faster. A professional nail dryer machine uses an intake mechanism where the air is pumped out into a space where the customer places their hands and feet.
However, the more advanced machines use a UV or LED lighting system, allowing customers to get their nails dried quickly. The UV or LED lights are attached above the platform where the customer places the nails to dry. It is important to note that all kinds of nails cannot be dried using one machine.
Customers can also request a particular nail dryer based on individual preferences. Regarding the debate of LED lamps vs UV lamps, there are many points to note for both. We will discuss this once we have looked into nail dryer machines.
What are the Different Types of Nail Dryers?
There are many different kinds of nail dryers based on the type of nail and its application. Natural nails do not require the same dryer machine that an acrylic nail would need. Knowing which nails are suitable for LED and UV lamps is important before choosing a particular dryer.
1. Portable dryer
This is the most popular type of nail dryer. It is small and does not require a manicurist to operate. People who have natural nails instead of fake ones can always use a portable dryer to dry their nails. Natural nail drying is relatively simple since the paint can bind directly with the nail.
A portable dryer decreases the drying time by shooting a jet of cold air onto the nails. Before investing in a portable dryer, there are certain considerations. First, when you are deciding on an LED lamp vs UV lamp, ask yourself if your nails will be fine with a portable dryer. If your nails do not especially require a nail lamp, it is advised to only use portable nail dryers. If you are wondering how to protect your hands from UV lamps, your best bet is to use a portable dryer.
These are small and can be carried anywhere, and they operate on AA batteries. These are also the most affordable nail dryers in the market.
2. Warm-Air Nail Dryers
Acrylic nails can be dried using a warm-air nail dryer. These dryers also have a cool-air setting, but it is advised to first use the warm-air setting since acrylic nails will be set only when dried under warm air. These also do not come with UV lamps, so if you are thinking about LED lamps vs UV lamps, the good news is you do not require them for acrylic nails.
3. UV Dryers for Gel Nails
Gel nails are another nail application that looks more aesthetically pleasing than acrylic nails. These also do not come with the added risks of infection and fungal problems. However, gel nails can only be bonded under UV light since warm or cool air will not do the trick. When it comes to LED lamps vs UV lamps, many people prefer the former for several reasons.
UV Dryers
UV lamps are among the most expensive nail dryer machines since they allow the greatest customization. They have warm and cool air settings and UV light settings. This essentially means they can be used for all kinds of nails. These are mainly only available in professional hair salons.
Can UV Nail Lamps Burn Skin?
The main difference between LED lamps and UV lamps is that while the former uses LED light for curing or bonding gel nails, the latter uses ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is naturally radiated by the sun, and many people bring up the safety issue when they talk about LED lamps vs UV lamps.
The fact that a UV dryer uses ultraviolet light for a longer period means there is significant exposure of the hands to this light. Although the levels of UV light in professional settings in within recommended limits, it is possible that the heat generated by the lamp can damage the skin to an extent.
Are LED Nail Lamps Better than UV
LED nail lamps use LED light to bond or cure gel nails together. They can finish this process in a far shorter time than UV lamps. Moreover, they do not emit harmful radiation that can affect the skin or nails. They are also much more expensive than UV lamps. When people debate LED lamps vs UV lamps, the former usually gets a better rep due to not being harmful.
Prolonged exposure to LED light is not known to cause any harmful effects in humans. However, the same is not true for UV lights. Prolonged exposure can lead to heat rashes and/or skin cancer. While this is unlikely to happen, it is still a real possibility.
In addition, an LED lamp can cure or bond nails in a shorter time than a UV light, which translates to lesser exposure to the light. Since UV lamps take significantly longer, it is possible that with repeated manicure sessions, the customer may develop skin problems.
If you are looking for the best LED lamp for gel nails, you should go to a professional salon and check the model used there. This is a very expensive piece of equipment and is also not travel-friendly. Hence, it is advised to always bond your nails at a professional salon instead of doing it at home. However, normal cool drying with a portable nail dryer can be done at home.
Conclusion
The best way to decide which kind of nail dryer you need is by determining the kind of nails you want to have. For natural nails, there is no need to buy an expensive LED lamp or UV lamp. A small portable nail dryer can do the trick for you. However, if you want gel nails, you should go to the salon. Considering how expensive professional nail dryers are and also that they can potentially be dangerous if you do not know how to operate them, it is better to leave the job entirely to your manicurist.
When talking about LED lamps vs UV lamps, remember that both are safe options since they are used commercially in masse. However, if you have skin problems, it is better to go for an LED lamp since it is far less harmful than UV lamps. Also, contact a dermatologist if you notice anything strange happening to your arm.
