Both for certified masters and house craftsmen who make gel manicure only for themselves, sometimes they just give up. Everything seems to be fine: expensive equipment and high-quality materials were bought, the technology was thoroughly studied. But the question arises as to why gel polish does not dry in the lamp. All efforts, all the neat work goes down the drain, because the coating either swells up immediately or in a few hours with bubbles.
Maybe you should just give up your favorite business? Our answer is no! You need to look for the causes of the problem and eliminate them.
Terms of use
Modern craftsmen usually use hybrid lamps, which have both ultraviolet and LED bulbs. A few years ago, mainly UF lamps were used, the drying time in which was on average 2 minutes. LED technology can significantly reduce the polymerization time, while getting a good result.
Modern equipment and materials for nail service, as a rule, involve a short drying time, which ranges from 30 to 60 seconds.
But there are also emergency situations when the question arises as to why gel polish does not dry in the lamp. There may be several reasons.
Dispersion layer
This information will be useful only to beginners. If you are using gel coatings for the first time, after drying you may encounter the following problem: the surface of the varnished nails is sticky, seemingly even soft. It seems like the varnish has not dried out at all ...
In the direction of emotion! As the reviews of eminent masters say, most likely, this is not about poor drying, but about residual stickiness. On the dispersion layer, speaking the language of the pros. This is normal, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Just cover the nail with a layer of top and dry in a lamp.
By the way, most tops also have a dispersion layer. You just need to remove it with a lint-free cloth soaked in a special liquid.
Too thick
Masters know, but it may not be familiar to beginners that it is better to apply 2-3 thin layers than one thick one.
If you covered your nails with an impressive layer of varnish, it may not dry well. There are no reasons for the disorder: remove the coating and get ready for scrupulous work. Apply thin layers, dry each. Most likely, the problem will be solved by itself.
Shelf life
When buying any material for nail art, pay attention to the expiration date. It happens that the period has expired, but the varnish has not lost its characteristics. But as a rule, over time, indicators change. If the expiration date is expired or even comes to an end, varnish may require more time for polymerization.
Storage conditions
As you know, not only lamps, but also the sun, have UF radiation. But why doesn't gel polish dry without a lamp?
If there are few rays, the material will remain unchanged. If there are too many, gel polish can also be dried in a well-lit place without a lamp. But if the rays are present in a small amount, but shine on the bottle, the varnish is likely to simply go bad.
Vial instructions
Let's take a look at a simple example. Reviews about gel polishes of American production My Nail are diametrically opposed. Some do not spare enthusiastic epithets, praising good wear and excellent pigmentation, thanks to which even one coat is enough. And to some, this material seems simply disgusting, because it swells with bubbles and quickly moves away from the nail plate. What is the reason for this difference?
The answer can be found on the label: My Nail varnish requires drying in the LED lamp for at least 2 minutes. This is not a disadvantage, just a highly pigmented coating requires more time. The usual 30 seconds are not enough for him.
This is just one example. There are plenty of similar materials in a variety of price segments, from the budget Bluesky to the premium Luxio.
Trust the manufacturer. Read the instructions and follow it. Then the question of why gel polish in the lamp dries for a long time will not bother you. You will simply know that it is this material that requires longer drying.
Acrylic Powder
This material has a wide range of applications. Mix the powder with the base - and get a great material to strengthen the nails. Gently fluff the powder over the fingernail covered with an unsuccessful top - and you get a velvet surface. Sprinkle with monogram powder to make them velor and play on the contrast of textures. Highlight some parts of the design by adding powder to the sticky layer of the top to get a frosty effect ... In the hands of a true enthusiast, powder can perform a huge number of practical and design tasks.
But do not forget about the technological features. Why doesn't gel polish dry in the lamp if acrylic powder was used in the design ? The answer is simple: this material always doubles the drying time. If you use it, increase the drying time to 2 minutes.
The same rule applies to other acrylic dusting. For example, granulated sugar.
Design Materials
Foil, "glass", kamifubuki, sliders and many other materials for design require adherence to technology. But some craftsmen try to apply them on a wet layer of colored varnish.
Material for design creates a natural barrier to the passage of rays. Therefore, the polymerization cannot take place quickly.
It is better to apply the design to a layer of base or top (dried or raw, depending on the specifics), and not directly to colored varnish.
The problem is in the lamp.
But it also happens that all the subtleties are observed, the materials are of high quality, but the question of why gel polish does not dry in the lamp remains open.
Perhaps you should pay attention to the lamp itself? There can be two reasons why the gel material does not polymerize well.
First, pay attention to power. No serious manufacturer produces lamps with a power of less than 24 watts. But there are plenty of instances with a power of 12, 9 and even 6 watts on Asian sites. They also have a right to exist, moreover, they can be the best choice for masters of "on their own." However, do not expect the same results from them as from professional and semi-professional lamps. Always increase the time when using a low power lamp.
Secondly, even the best lamp has an expiration date. Any equipment is subject to wear. If a professional craftsman works on a stream, the lamp may become unusable within a few months after purchase. Change the bulbs in time, monitor the health of the power supply. If the equipment is "tired", the gel materials may not dry out during the time that was previously enough.