LED lamp for nails. LED LED lamps: description, advantages and disadvantages Type of base and presence of a radiator

Lamps in which light-emitting diodes (or LED, from the English light-emitting diode) function as a light source are called LED. They are designed to replace all obsolete types of lamps currently used in lighting. Thanks to the use of safe components, LED lamps are in demand in all areas of lighting: household, industrial, street, emergency.

What does she look like

The classic LED lamp (sometimes called an LED lamp), like an incandescent lamp, has a pear-shaped shape. Most often, its base part is made of white metal-plastic, and the bulb is a matte plastic hemisphere. This type of LED lamps is available with E14 and E27 sockets, which are most in demand among the population. An LED light bulb can have any shape and be made to fit any standard base. For example:

GU5.3 – for directional ceiling lamps;
G4 – for chandeliers and decorative lamps;
G13 – for replacing linear fluorescent lamps.

More than 90% of LED lamps produced today are assembled on SMD LEDs, which are miniature in size and yet have high luminous efficiency. In addition to them, you can see on sale the so-called ones, which look very similar to a regular incandescent light bulb (LN). Even less common are light bulbs in which the light source is made in the form of a lamp filled with a layer of phosphor. Nevertheless, in the future it is planned that they will take over the initiative in the production of LED lamps.

What does an LED lamp consist of?

Conventionally, any LED lamp can be represented in the form of component parts: a block with LEDs, a radiator, a light-diffusing cap, a driver unit and a base. The light source is SMD LEDs - located on a PCB board, which is connected to the heatsink through thermal paste (thermal conductive glue). For most 220 V LED lamps, the housing serves as a radiator. It is made of aluminum coated with a thin layer of white plastic. Inside the case there is a driver board designed to convert 220 volt alternating voltage into direct voltage. The output voltage depends on the number and switching circuit of installed LEDs. The driver is connected to the base by wires or through a connector. In order for the light from the bulb to be evenly distributed in all directions, the LEDs are covered with a diffuser bulb, which also serves as protection from mechanical damage. Linear LED lamps of the T8 type are designed in a similar way. They just have a different shape and size of their components. Cheap LED lamps with E14 and E27 sockets may not have a driver unit. Instead, in the center of the board with LEDs, a primitive transformerless power supply is sealed, which does not have current and voltage stabilization. Many miniature LED lamps are assembled in a similar way, since there is not enough space inside their housing to mount the driver.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The constantly growing demand for LED lamps indicates their clear superiority over other artificial light sources. Indeed, if you look at their technical characteristics, it becomes clear that fluorescent and spiral lamps are inferior to LED lamps in almost all respects. And this despite the fact that LED technology continues to improve and has not yet reached its peak. LED lamps really have many advantages:

The relative luminous efficiency already reaches 30% (theoretical maximum for LEDs is 40%). For fluorescent light sources this figure is 15%, and for LN it does not exceed 3%.
Low energy consumption (7–9 times less than LN).
Service life from 10 thousand hours and above. The declared service life of the LN is 1 thousand hours.
Resistance to mechanical damage and vibration.
Instant on. Moreover, the number of switchings does not affect the operation of the LEDs.
The absence of harmful substances, which allows them to be safely used and disposed of.
Possibility of producing light bulbs of different power and with any shade of light (cold, neutral, warm). And in “smart” LED lamps, the color of light and its brightness can be set remotely using a smartphone.
During operation, the diffuser practically does not heat up, and the base temperature does not exceed 85 °C.

It is worth recognizing that LED lamps are not ideal, which means they have certain disadvantages:

Relatively high cost. Even taking into account the fact that over the past 2 years their prices have decreased by more than 2 times and are equal to the prices of CFLs, many people, out of habit, continue to buy “gluttonous” LNs. You can make sure that the purchase of an LED lamp is completely justified from an economic point of view by carrying out simple calculations, which are summarized in.
Harmful flicker, invisible to the naked eye and leading to general fatigue and headaches. This drawback is inherent in cheap LED lamps, the driver of which does not have current stabilization.
The need for a step-down converter, as a result of which the cost of the product increases and its reliability decreases.
LED lamps connected through a backlit switch may flicker or glow dimly when switched off. The problem is solved by replacing the switch or modifying the connection diagram.
High percentage of defects, especially among cheap LED lamps. This drawback is explained by the accelerated pace of production of LED products and the lack of proper technical control at all stages of manufacturing.

Why is it important to make the right choice?

When deciding to master manicure at home, a problem arises related to the purchase of tools. And if everything is more or less clear with brands that produce nail coatings, then it is quite difficult to understand which lamp is better for gel polish. After all, the right choice is the path to quality manicure.

Conventional coating dries due to the loss of certain chemical compounds. But you can try to dry shellac without a special device as much as you like, and still nothing will work. The fact is that this coating will be fixed only after changing the composition at the micro level. And a special device is capable of starting this process.

Varieties

The nail service market for polymerization offers the following types of lamps:

LED.
Ultraviolet.
Gas-light.

How are they different and which is the best lamp to buy for gel polish? In the first two types, LED and fluorescent lamps are installed as a light source, and in gas-light ones, electrodes with a cold cathode are installed, that is, without an incandescent filament.

Ultraviolet

The popularity of UV lamps among nail technicians is due to the fact that they appeared on the market earlier than others. The advantages of the device include a wide selection of case designs and a price range that will please buyers with any wallet. The disadvantage of a UV lamp is that the radiation negatively affects the organs of vision, and the device also slightly dries out the nail plate and hands. In addition, constant use will lead to burnout of the lamps, and this is an additional expense.

Also, before purchasing, you should pay attention to its power. For standard ones it is 9W, but there are others - from 18W to 54W. As this indicator increases, the quality of polymerization increases and the drying time of the gel decreases. Nail service experts say that the optimal choice would be a power of 36W. These devices have 4 light bulbs, and each layer of gel polish/shellac will dry perfectly in 2 minutes.

An important detail is the presence of a timer. In simple models, you can set a specific time in minutes. No less popular are devices with 2 modes - “2 minutes” and “∞”, that is, constant. In the latter case, the light will turn off only after pressing the button. In more expensive ones, it sets the per-second mode - the most economical option of all proposed.

Another factor influencing which lamp for gel polish is best to buy is the size. In larger models, it is possible to dry two hands at the same time, which significantly saves the duration of the procedure. But for home use it is better to purchase a small model.

LED lamps

Newcomers to the nail market. Their main advantage is the high polymerization rate. Of course, LED lamps are slightly more expensive than ultraviolet lamps, but the durability of light-emitting diodes compensates for this disadvantage. Even if one LED fails during the process, the power of the remaining ones will allow operation to continue. This is the second advantage. LEDs are many times superior to UV light bulbs - gel polishes dry in 10-30 seconds, which significantly saves the duration of a manicure.

If you don’t know which LED lamp for gel polish is best for home use, pay attention to devices with a power of 6W. They are compact, inexpensive, and the quality is not inferior to UV dryers. But before buying, take a closer look at the location of the LEDs. For uniform polymerization, they should be placed on the sides and top.

Some models are equipped with touch on/off, that is, they respond to the hand inside. During operation, LED lamps do not cause any unpleasant sensations and do not heat up. The safety of nails and hand skin is another advantage of the device. In addition, during polymerization the light flux does not pulsate and does not harm the organs of vision.

Not all gel polishes dry out;
emits ultraviolet, but has a narrower range than fluorescent ones.

Gas-light

While manicurists were arguing which lamps were better for drying gel polish: UV or LED, a new variety appeared in the world. CCFL is a combination device that combines the operating principles of fluorescents and LEDs. It differs from the previous ones in low energy consumption and durability. In addition, it does not dry out the skin, but perfectly polymerizes all types of varnishes and models gels. The disadvantage is the operating time, which varies from 30 seconds to three minutes.

Gel polish lamp: what power is better

As stated earlier, standard UVs use 9W replacement parts. This is where the most common mistake made by manufacturers occurs, which buyers are not aware of. A dryer with 2-4 replacement lamps actually consumes 18-36W in total. But the required UV radiation is much lower. Thus, a 9 Watt lamp produces only 20% ultraviolet radiation, that is, 1.7 W.

Now let's talk about cold cathode dryers. So far they are produced only in two versions: with 1 and 3 lamps. To increase service life, the power of each is reduced to 12 watts. But still, the intensity of their radiation exceeds standard UV models.

How long does the lamp last?

In UV devices they are changed every 3 months, but this is an approximate period. It is difficult to say exactly how long a light bulb will last, since it all depends on how often the dryer is used. When used for personal purposes, the device part will last up to one year.

With LEDs everything is much worse. The lamps cannot be replaced, so the dryer will have to be disposed of after use. But it's not all bad. The service life of LED dryers is 100,000 hours. This is a lot, since the device dries gel polish faster than UV. This means that even with frequent use, the LED lamp will last a very long time.

And if you have not yet decided which lamp is better for gel polish, then, speaking of changing parts, you can understand that there is not much difference.

Of course, UV is cheaper, but consider the cost of elements that need to be changed every 3 months. Buying an LED one will cost more, but it will not require additional investments.

Let's talk about brands

To understand which lamp is better to dry gel polish, we will divide all device manufacturers into three groups:

Professionals focused on supplying beauty salons. These are mainly American brands: Harmony, OPI, CND, Gelish. Their products are modern, prestigious, high quality and, of course, expensive.
Mid-class lamps that are suitable for work in the salon and for home use. These are mainly Russian-Chinese or domestic manufacturers: RuNail, Polaris, JessNail, Planet Nails. The advantages of the models are good quality and the possibility of warranty service.
There are a huge number of nameless brands whose products are sold on Chinese websites. These lamps have a primitive design, a minimal set of capabilities and a short service life. But they do an excellent job with the main function - drying the coating - and are very cheap.

Which UV lamp is best for gel polish: review of a budget model

JESSNAIL 36 VT is a domestically produced product for home use and beginner nail technicians. Thanks to the classic shape, it is possible to dry 5 fingers at the same time.

dries all types of UV-sensitive coatings;
the device has 4 lamps with a power of 9 Watt;
3 operating modes: 2 and 3 minutes + “endless”;
affordable price;
removable tray;
Includes instructions in Russian.

lack of a timer for a shorter period of time.

Best Professional UV Lamp

CND UV LAMP 36W is specially created for professional, intensively working craftsmen. The model provides all the necessary features for a high-quality and comfortable manicure: fan, countdown display, retractable tray, carrying handle, 4 timers.

Pros:

high-quality execution;
good protection of the organs of vision from radiation;
set of long-lasting lamps;
versatility (dries all types of gel polishes).

a huge number of fakes;
high cost.

The most powerful professional LED dryer

If you are the owner of a high-status beauty salon and don’t know which lamp to choose for gel polish, pay attention to the OPILED LIGHT model. Ultra-bright LEDs dry the coating almost instantly and enhance the effect of a high-quality mirror coating.

fast polymerization;
durable metal case;
high power: 32 LED lamps, 6W each;
1 year warranty;
Convenient to use for both manicure and pedicure.

very high cost;
Not all brands of gel polishes dry;
An adapter for a European socket is required.

Popular hybrid lamp for gel polish

LED+CCFL DIAMOND is one of the few combined models with good quality and an affordable price. The device is equipped with 12 LED lamps and one spiral lamp, which allows you to dry the coating in less than 30 seconds.

presence of a timer for 10, 30 and 60 seconds;
long lasting lamps;
versatility;
removable bottom for a comfortable pedicure.

the size of the lamp allows polymerization to be carried out according to the “4+4+2” principle;
the timer is located in the back of the case, which causes inconvenience when doing your own manicure;
country of origin: China.

For those looking for quality at an affordable price

When asked which lamp is best for gel polish at an affordable price, nail lovers and professionals will answer - RUNAIL 36 BTRU 911. This model of the classic “tunnel” shape has 4 lamps with a power of 9 W each.

retractable bottom;
3 timers: 1, 2 and 3 minutes;
high-quality polymerization;
ability to use at a professional level;
price.

in the reviews there are complaints about the operation of the timer;
warranty - 3 months;
weight - 1.5 kg.

PLANET NAILS BIG HEART

The best option for those who are looking for an inexpensive professional device, but do not know which LED lamp is best for gel polish. The manufacturer promises 40,000 hours of operation, but emphasizes that it is necessary to use materials compatible with the dryer.

affordable price + good quality;
weight - 500 g;
28 lamps with a power of 4.5 watts.

there is no timer.

Let's sum it up

For your first steps in working with gel coating, you can buy a cheap “test” lamp made in China. For at-home manicure, masters recommend purchasing an inexpensive universal model with a power of 36 Watts. However, in the process of improving your skills, you will have to replace it with a better and more functional device. Well, high-status beauty salons cannot do without prestigious and “sophisticated” lamps for polymerizing gel polish, which were described in this review.

Good luck with your choice and quality manicure!

Every nail technician uses a specially designed manicure lamp in his work. Nowadays, fluorescent (UV) and light-emitting diode (LED) nail lamps are a real helper for those who like to do manicures using shellac. But among the large selection of lamps, you can simply get confused. Therefore, it is important to know what equipment to choose, how certain models differ from each other, and what you should pay attention to when purchasing.

How to choose a lamp for manicure

UV and LED lamps are the most common types of lamps. Such lamps are used by manicure lovers both at home and in beauty salons. The device is quite easy to use and does not require any special skills from its owner during operation.

Some lamps may become warm during use, so caution should be used, but with a quality model this should not happen.

The price category of lamps is quite diverse. The cost of each lamp depends on its technical characteristics and functionality. But among all the variety of lamps for manicure, each master will be able to find his ideal price-quality ratio, based on the conditions in which the lamp will be used.

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a lamp for working with gels and gel polishes is its power and type. But the size of the lamp is the personal preferences of the master, and they do not affect performance in any way. The best option for work is a lamp that is designed to dry the fingers of the entire hand at the same time.

Types of manicure lamps for drying gel and gel polish on nails

Ultraviolet lamp (UV) — is the most common type of lamp for manicure. The device is equipped with fluorescent light bulbs that emit ultraviolet radiation. Such lamps have a fairly affordable price, but are not durable for use. About once every 3 months, fluorescent lamps need to be replaced with new ones, otherwise the gel polish will not dry well. Suitable for drying gel polish, but not all are suitable for working with gels, only more powerful models.
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL). The operating principle is similar to the operation of ultraviolet lamps. CCFL lamps operate using a gas that emits light. They polymerize any gel coating well. As a rule, CCFL lamps are equipped with only one bulb in the form of a spiral, and this is precisely their first and main drawback. This arrangement does not always allow the material to polymerize evenly. They do not have a filament, so they generate less heat, but save more electricity. Currently, CCFL lamps are most often produced in symbiosis with LED.
Light-emitting diode (LED - lamp)- The most common type of lamp today. The lamp works thanks to the LEDs built into it. The main features of such devices are low temperature during operation, high speed of material drying and durability. Suitable for drying any material for manicure: gel polish (shellac) and various types of gels. This lamp is absolutely safe for the skin of your hands. As a rule, such lamps do not require replacement of bulbs after a certain service life, and the average operating time of LEDs is 50,000 hours. If the lamp has been in use for quite a long time and one LED burns out, this is usually not a problem and does not require urgent replacement of the lamp; the power of the entire lamp is simply reduced slightly! LED lamps are much more expensive than UV lamps.
Hybrid lamp (LED + CCFL) or (LED+UV). This type of lamp combines two types of LED, UV or CCFL lamps, which can be used to work with different coatings, such as gel polishes and gels of different densities. Hybrid lamps are different from regular UV lamps because they can dry a surface in just 30 seconds. In addition, hybrid lamps are small in size and have an excellent appearance. As a rule, this is a very professional and expensive type of nail drying device.
Photo: Hybrid CCFL/LED lamp for manicure

Power

The main criterion that determines the price of a lamp. A nail dryer with a higher power significantly saves time spent on manicure.

There are several lamps of different power:

6 - 9 W. The most common and simple lamp that is very inexpensive. This model has only one UV lamp or 3 to 6 LEDs and is suitable for working exclusively at home, for learning the basics of manicure using gel polish coating. Gels or gel polishes with high pigmentation cannot be dried with such a lamp.

18 - 36 W. The model is also inexpensive, and, as a rule, has from 2 to 4 light bulbs or 10 to 24 LEDs. It is also better to use such a lamp only at home, but unlike a 6-9 W lamp, this one can be trusted with gel polishes with a higher density, but such lamps are also not very suitable for drying gel, so they are suitable for use in beauty salons no good.

45 - 72 W. Lamps with such power are great for use not only at home, but also in beauty salons. They dry any material perfectly and are suitable for nail extensions. Naturally, such lamps are very expensive, so not everyone can afford them, but as the famous proverb says, “The miser pays twice.” Once you buy such a lamp, you will use it for a very long time, and the increased number of clients, thanks to high-quality manicure, will quickly pay for the cost of the lamp.

Size

The bodies of almost all manicure lamps are made of high-strength plastic of various colors; some models contain metal elements, but this does not affect the operation of the lamp itself. The sizes of lamps for manicure are very diverse. They may be:

very tiny, U-shaped, the size of two matchboxes, designed for drying several fingers - such devices have a low price and very low power, so they are suitable exclusively for home use or learning the basics of manicure. Only the most ordinary gel polishes with low pigmentation can dry.
U-shaped manicure lamp
Rectangular in shape, about the size of a small shoe box. Such devices are designed for drying one hand - this is the size of a standard lamp, both for home and professional use.
Rectangular manicure lamp
Most modern devices for home and professional use have the shape of a closed hemisphere. Such lamps look very aesthetically pleasing and take up relatively little space.
Lamp for manicure in the shape of a closed hemisphere
Lamps in the shape of an open hemisphere usually have medium power and are mainly used for home manicures, and are also very convenient when performing pedicures.
Lamp for manicure in the shape of an open hemisphere
Lamps for drying two hands. They are the size of a large shoe box. Such lamps are mainly used in professional salons. However, we consider their convenience to be rather questionable, since it is much easier to work with one client’s hand at a time. Therefore, we think that the “lamp for two hands” is a simple marketing ploy by manufacturers (since such lamps are more expensive than standard ones), designed for salon professionals who do not have time to logically think about the purchase.
Manicure lamp for two hands

Additional features

It is worth understanding exactly what functions and needs are needed to work with the lamp. For comfortable work, you can choose lamps with the following functions:

Timer. This basic and very convenient function allows you to set the drying time of gel polish (shellac, gel). With a timer, you don't need to be distracted from the manicure process and time the drying time; the lamp will do it for you. Different lamps have different numbers of time buttons, they can be: 10, 30, 60, 90, 120 sec.
Touch trigger mechanism. This function allows you not to be distracted by constantly turning the device on and off. In order for the lamp to work, all you have to do is put your hand into the lamp. If you remove your hand from the lamp, it will turn off.
Countdown display. A convenient function that displays the remaining time of the timer.
Built-in fan. It blows the nails during drying, which significantly reduces the risk of burning during polymerization of the material. In addition, the fan performs the cooling function of the heating elements, which will help increase their service life.
Removable bottom. Improves the quality of cleaning the lamp from materials that have fallen on it. And also, this is a very convenient function when performing a pedicure.

Manufacturer

The manufacturer plays a big role when choosing a lamp for manicure. The highest quality devices for drying gel and shellac are made by a European or American manufacturer. Chinese lamps are a budget option for amateur craftsmen; they are not of good quality, and therefore cannot boast of durability. Some of the most popular manufacturers that produce high-quality lamps are the following brands:

RuNail
Planet Nails
Velena
Pierre Rene
Elle by Beurer
Dona Jerdona
Global fashion

The type of lamp must be selected based on the scale and conditions in which it will be used. For example:

To teach amateur manicure to girls with gel polish, budget UV or LED lamps from 9 to 18 W are suitable.

For rare home use, both UV and LED lamps from 24 W to 36 W are suitable. Allows you to dry the main brands of gels and gel polishes and learn the basics of extensions.

For more frequent and high-quality use at home, LED, as well as hybrid LED/UV lamps from 36 W to 48 W are suitable. A manicure using such lamps will be of higher quality and more durable, which will allow you to apply the coating not only to yourself, but also to others.

To work with a large client base at home or in a salon, it is best to use LED lamps or LED/UV hybrid lamps with a power of 48 W or more. They have greater power, high drying speed and durability, and given the large flow of customers, this is very important.

Advice: If you are still a beginner, but want to do professional shellac coating in the future and do not know which lamp to choose, choose an LED or a hybrid LED/UV lamp with a power of 24 W or higher. Such lamps will allow you not only to master the basics or extensions, but also to fully use it in the future for home manicure. The price for them is slightly higher than for primitive lamps with a power of 6-9 W.

Terms of use

All manicure lamps are quite easy to use. Even a beginner will not have much trouble understanding the rules of its operation.

The first and most important thing to do is to connect the device to an outlet.
Next, if the lamp is equipped with a timer, select the required time and press the power button; if there is a sensor, then the lamp will turn on itself when you immerse your hand in it.
The hand should be completely immersed in the lamp so that all nails are dried evenly. Perform the procedure with both hands alternately as you apply the coating to the nails.
Upon completion of work, unplug the device from the outlet and clean off any gel, gel polish, etc. that has fallen on it.

Adviсe: Be careful with the lamp, do not let it fall, this is fraught with consequences, ranging from the fact that the lamp breaks and stops working to the fact that substances harmful to human health begin to be released from the heating elements inside the lamp (typical for UV and CCFL lamps).

When using ultraviolet lamps, it is not recommended to look at the light inside the lamp; it is not safe for the retina.

Some UV lamp housings can reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius during use, so be careful not to get burned.

Are lamps harmful to health?

When used correctly and carefully, all modern lamps for drying nails are absolutely safe for human health. It does not matter what model of lamp is used - ultraviolet, hybrid or LED lamp. The design of each of them is designed in such a way as not to harm a person in any way.

As you can see, there is currently a huge selection of lamps for drying nails. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages and therefore, when choosing a lamp for manicure, you should take into account the individual characteristics and working conditions that are necessary to create a high-quality, durable manicure.

With the help of an LED lamp for drying nails, the manicure procedure, which involves applying gel polish or shellac to the nails, is reduced significantly. The material, under the influence of the radiation emitted by LED bulbs, dries completely within ten to fifty seconds, whereas when drying in a classic UV lamp, this stage of the procedure takes from two to three minutes.

So, if you have the skill, you can complete a manicure with gel polish in half an hour, whereas when using an ultraviolet lamp, the procedure can take an hour.

LED lamps for drying nails are small devices in which hardening (polymerization) of gel polish, shellac, applied to nails, as well as the base layer and top coat occurs. The device is not suitable for acrylic, since the main component due to which the polymerization of this material occurs is acid, while gel polish hardens under the influence of ultraviolet rays of a certain wavelength.

Only a high-quality lamp can produce such a wave, so experts advise not to chase cheap products, but to purchase models from recognized brands, be sure to read reviews about them on websites. Low-quality devices are not able to provide a sufficient length of light beam for polymerization of the coating applied to the nail to occur, although they are capable of heating and slightly drying the shellac. Therefore, varnish fixed using such devices does not last long.

Like classic ultraviolet devices, shellac LED lamps are dried using ultraviolet radiation. But, while classic models operate using fluorescent lamps, new generation devices have LEDs installed. Among the advantages of LED devices is not only the ability to quickly dry the material applied to the nails, but also the fact that the rays do not cause burning of the nail.

But you need to work with such a lamp carefully, for example, if the primer, which is applied to the nail for better adhesion of the gel to the nail, accidentally ends up on the skin during drying, causes very painful sensations, and is difficult to remove (according to reviews, it does not go away for two days ).

The advantage of an LED lamp is its durability (if we talk about a high-quality device). While the average lifespan of a fluorescent device is 3 thousand hours, an LED lamp can last 50 thousand hours, which is six years of continuous operation. Unlike UV lamps, LEDs do not lose radiation power over time, so there is no fear that the gel polish will not fully set and the shellac will be under-dried.

We cannot ignore the fact that LED devices in operating mode consume significantly less energy than fluorescent lamps, which allows you to save a considerable amount. For the same reason, the housing of LED devices does not heat up during operation. Another advantage of the LED device is that LEDs, unlike fluorescent lamps, do not contain mercury, therefore they are safe for the environment and do not require special disposal.

Disadvantages of the device

But LED devices also have disadvantages. Due to the fact that the wavelength of light that LED lamps emit differs from that of fluorescent devices, most LEDs can only work with those types of varnishes that were developed specifically for this device.

The fact is that classic devices emit light over a wider range than LED lamps. Accordingly, when drying nails in a UV lamp, any gel polish applied to nails finds “its wave,” while LED polishes have less capabilities. Therefore, before purchasing shellac, base or top coat, you need to make sure that it can be dried under LED bulbs. Otherwise, the varnish may not dry.

True, recently devices have appeared (for example, SIMEI Hybrid) that combine the characteristics of LED and fluorescent devices that can cope with any type of gel polish. They dry the material applied to the nails four times faster and are designed for 80 thousand hours of operation.

LED devices are much lower in price than fluorescent lamps: an LED lamp costs ten times more than its traditional counterpart. Experts recommend buying only high-quality models from well-known brands, since cheap ones do a poor job, and the time spent on polymerizing the coating takes the same amount of time as when drying with UV lamps, and it happens that shellac does not harden at all.

Lamp parameters

Lamps designed for drying nails have different dimensions. Among them there are both bulky devices that allow you to dry two hands at once, as well as more compact models. Some of them are intended only for manicure, but there are also models that allow you to do a pedicure. Mini-devices are suitable for home use; when purchasing, special attention should be paid to the light bulbs, reflectors and other devices that make manicure easier in the device.

The device itself is usually a closed case that has an opening for hands (a mini-device for home use may have a slightly different shape). When purchasing, you need to pay attention to ensure that ultraviolet rays do not come into your eyes during drying.

When choosing an LED lamp for manicure, it is better to give preference to a device that has a time counter and an auto-off function. This allows you not to keep track of time, makes it possible to hold your hands under the influence of ultraviolet radiation for the time clearly indicated in the instructions, without fear of under-drying or over-drying.

When choosing an LED device for drying nails, you need to pay attention to the power. For example, some sellers lure buyers with cheap goods by selling 2W devices. If you do not pay attention to these parameters, your money will be thrown away.

LED lamps are usually divided into two types - regular and super-bright. Conventional lamps include lamps with a power of up to 12 Watts (for work at home, according to reviews, a mini-device from 6 to 9 W is quite suitable). Ultra-bright devices include devices with higher power; 18 and 45 W are especially popular.

One thing to keep in mind: the stronger the lamp, the faster the shellac will dry. Therefore, for working in salons, it is better to purchase a more powerful device: it reduces the drying time of nails, and therefore saves time and money.

Also, when choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the reflectors that are inside the device. Their main purpose is to effectively distribute light across the side panels of the device. How well they cope with the task, the faster the gel polish applied to the nails will harden. Before purchasing, you need to make sure that you have high-quality mirror reflectors.

Compact devices

Mini devices are suitable for home manicure. For example, there are models from a Chinese manufacturer called “bridge”, they are very cheap, but they have received good reviews. They are made in the shape of a telephone receiver, along the edges of which there are special devices that do not allow the device to slide. The products are designed for low power (from 6 to 9W); the design includes several LED bulbs.

Despite the low power, many are satisfied with this device. Lightweight, compact, powered, like many LED lamps, affects only certain types of gels. Although there are cases where it did not work even on varnishes intended for LED lamps, there are few such reviews on the Internet.

The “bridge” is designed for only thirty seconds of operation, after which the lamp goes out. This is not always convenient, since gel polish may need about 45 seconds to fully polymerize, but according to reviews, it is usually enough: thin layers of varnish from some manufacturers can dry in ten seconds. If there is not enough time, the device can be turned on again. Since there is no timer provided, if the material needs to be dried for less than thirty seconds, you must time the time yourself.

Shellac applied to fingers in such a device can be dried in two ways. The first is more convenient and involves drying four fingers first, then the thumb separately. If you use the second method, you can dry all the fingers of your hand at once, but it is a little more complicated: you will have to collect your fingers in a “bunch”, and you will have to hold the lamp itself with your other hand.

During polymerization, according to reviews, a slight warmth is felt on the nail plate. Women are also advised to protect the skin of their hands from exposure to ultraviolet radiation: although the device is more gentle than UV lamps for manicure, in some cases the skin becomes too dry after the procedure. For this purpose, you can buy special gloves with trimmed nail tips. If they cannot be found, women advise cutting off an old cotton glove.

Caring for your device

In order for LED manicure lamps to last as long as possible, they must be properly cared for. After each use, you need to check whether one or more light bulbs in the device have burned out. Although this does not affect the quality of the manicure as much as when using a UV lamp, the drying speed is slower, especially if the power of the device is low and there are few LED bulbs.

You cannot keep the device turned on all the time. This may cause the mechanism to overheat and lead to device failure. If there are any drops of gel polish left on the device body, they must be removed. You need to carefully pry off the frozen mass with a sharp object. It is not advisable to use solvents or other chemicals for this, as they can negatively affect the device body and even corrode it.

Before and after the procedure, be sure to treat the device with a disinfectant. This must be done by soaking a sponge in the solution: you cannot spray it, as the product can get on the contacts and ruin them. If the polymerization time exceeds that specified in the instructions twice, the device must be taken to a service center. This indicates that the LED lamp is faulty.

If the device begins to crackle while it is on and an odor appears, it must be immediately turned off, unplugged and taken for repair. Also, do not drop the device on the floor - the LED lamp does not have shockproof characteristics and may break.

Electricity has been used for indoor lighting for a very long time. For a long time, only incandescent light bulbs were used in apartments, offices, shops, houses, etc. These small devices are still valued mainly for their fairly powerful stream of light, which also has a natural tint that is pleasant to the eye. However, incandescent light bulbs have several significant disadvantages. First of all, these are high indicators in terms of energy consumption and a short service life. Therefore, recently other types of lighting fixtures - economical and durable - have become increasingly popular. The latter also include LED lamps, which were invented not so long ago.

A little history

The LED was first manufactured by famous engineer Nick Holonyak in 1962. The device he designed emitted visible red light. Soon after the appearance of this interesting invention, the American company Monsanto put its production on stream. The first device of this type came off the assembly line in 1968. The light bulbs produced by Monsanto were intended for use mainly in digital watches and calculators. For the next few decades, LEDs were used only in industrial and consumer electronics.

220V LED lamps, emitting bright white light and designed to illuminate rooms for various purposes, began to be produced only in 1997. The creator of the first such device was the American Fred Schubert. Nowadays, such devices are already used in many industrial and residential premises.

Main design elements

Modern LED lamps are assembled using the following components:

Base. As in this element, in this case it is intended for screwing the device into the lamp socket.

Drivers in a plastic case with ventilation holes. This unit is designed to convert alternating current into direct current. In addition, its design includes special capacitors necessary for cooling the lamp. Another element is a zener diode, which is used to equalize voltage drops in the network.

Radiator. This unit is made of aluminum and has a very large number of ribs. It is also needed to cool the LED.

Board made of aluminum. A special thermal paste is applied to the side facing the radiator. About 90% of the heat emitted by the LED is transferred to the board.

Diffuser. give narrowly focused light. This element in their design is intended to diffuse it in order to uniformly illuminate the room.

The LED itself.

As you can see, compared to conventional incandescent lamps, the devices we are considering have a more complex design.

What is LED

Of course, this is the main element in the lamp. Actually, an LED is called a special one that converts electrical energy into light. The main design elements of this device are:

Substrate that conducts current.

An LED crystal placed on it.

A housing that encloses both elements. On one side there are contacts, and on the other there is a lens. Silicone is poured between the latter and the LED crystal.

Aluminum base on which all elements are fixed.

Operating principle

The LED operates thanks to a special process of electron recombination between two contacts with different degrees of conductivity. At the places where the latter emerge, the crystal is doped with an acceptor impurity containing a small number of electrons on one side, and an increased amount on the other. Recombination occurs immediately after the lamp is switched on. As a result, excess energy arises, which is converted into light flux.

Main Features

Owners of houses, offices, shops and apartments, when choosing LED lamps, first of all pay attention to three main parameters:

The degree of heat of the flow. Lamps of this type can produce light of different shades. Devices emitting cold flow are used mainly in public institutions. For apartments and houses, lamps with “warm” light are often chosen. The most popular types, therefore, are the 2700, 3000 and 3300 K models.

Base type. The standard option is considered Models with such a base are suitable for all household lamps. There are also minion LEDs on sale, marked E14.

Device power. As you know, the most popular are 60-100 W incandescent lamps. These indicators correspond to 7-13 W LEDs.

What device should I buy for my apartment?

Thus, the answer to the question of how to choose an LED light bulb for your home is not difficult. The best option for a residential area would be a device with an E27 base and a warm heat flux of 2700 K.

As for power, in this case the choice largely depends on what specific purposes the device is intended to be used for. So, for a living room or office, a thirteen-watt E27 LED lamp (analogous to a 100-watt incandescent device) is best suited. For the bedroom it is better to choose a 7-10 W model. The same lamps are suitable for the kitchen and small hallway.