Gel Nail Lamps: UV vs LED?

Thank you, Liz! My eyes usually glaze over with the quasi-science spouted off on many health and beauty videos, but when you started talking LED vs. CFL and wavelengths in nm necessary for curing different gels, you had my attention. I am so pleased to finally find someone in the beauty industry who correctly explains the science in terms anyone can understand. As an engineer, this warms my heart. Specifically, you answered my question as to why so many manufacturers were claiming UV/LED when all I saw in their lamps were LEDs. You also cleared up my confusion on different types of gels and why some lamps work better than others with them. So again, THANK YOU! Keep up the good work, and keep nerding it up for people like me!

LOVE this video- very informative- you answered alot of great questions people always ask! Awesome Deep Dive - thank you LIZ 💜

I’m totally new to the nail world and I’m only researching to do my own nails at home, not to become a nail tech or anything but I’m just amazed at how extensively knowledgable you are on these topics. It’s incredible and SO informative!!!

* me trying to figure out what gel nail polish lamp to get on amazon without knowing shit about nails * 👁👄👁❓❔❓

This may be a video from 4 years ago, but here I am in January 2023 finding this video so very useful in ansering my question on UV lamps V UV Led lamps!! ! Halleluja!! After much searching I found your video, and you have managed to answer all of my questions.....thank you very much! 💞

I can't wait for you to touch on the subject of dust collectors. I have one that's a nightmare. I honestly think that I wear half the dust as does everything thing else in the 3-4 foot range. I've been trying to find the best one at an affordable price. Thank goodness I wear a mask.

I’m almost in tears, I’m so grateful for your videos. I live in a province with no regulations on certification for nail techs, but it’s the license that soft-blocks me from buying quality gel products. There are schools and programs where I live, but I’ve heard poor things about the information they give, and it’s not feasible for me to attend anyway. But I’m smart, I know how to do research, and I’m dedicated to making sure I can give myself and others beautiful nails while also being sanitary and safe about it. I’m so grateful for these videos because advice and information from professionals who’ve been there is priceless, and not something I would otherwise have access to outside of a certification setting.

Finally, a 'proper' explanation of the lamps!!! Thank you!!

Totally agree with you on investing in the best lamp you can afford.I have been down that road of getting the cheaper ones thinking it would cure any gel but I was in for some unpleasant surprises. Great video.Thank you!

OMG... Thank you Liz. You just explained why my thumb didn't cure right when I did my nails the last time. I have arthritis and my thumb does turn, so when I cured the outside nail wall didn't cure and I got waves in the gel there. Thank you so much, so now I can be extra careful with my thumbs to save time and headache. You rock!

This was so helpful! I had no idea that all lamps were UV! I understood this well with your amazing explanation skills 😂😂 Thank you so much.

Wow! I'm a male in early 60s and found your technical explanation about UV and LED very well put. I'm not into doing nails, BTW, but just stumbled onto this video while researching LED UV lights. I'm also an electrical engineer, so I understand about wavelength and such. I'm not sure if you mentioned it, but the wavelength differences are grouped into UVA, UVB and UVC, where my understanding is that there is no LED with UVC in existence, thus requiring the specific formula gel for LED lamps. I may not be into nails, but I have a young daughter who is starting to experiment with nails. I might see one of these lamps around the house in the near future.😄

Another great one, Liz! Again, I'm not a nail tech, but am so interested in the whys and hows of things. Your tutorial on the application of base coat has REALLY made a difference for me in the length of time my own polygel manis last! My prep has improved 100%, so that my natural nail is suffering much less damage in the process too. Thank you so much for all you do! I had recently heard that UV LED lamps were "basically the same thing", but your explanation is so much better! Thank you! (also, I LOVE that you love Simons cat. lol)

Thank you! I did nails for 20 years thru 80s and 90s. I wish we had the gel nails. So now I’m wanting to do my own and need to learn the basics. This helped so much!

Which lamp would you recommend for Polygels that are advertised on Amazon?

I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting out these educational videos! You and Susie have both really been a huge help to me as I’m learning to do my own nails, as well as my mom’s. You guys are so great!

Good grief! I really learned so much on lamps. Not only to cure but to dry. Thank you so much for this tutorial.

My first uv/led lamp was 24 watt which never cured properly. Now I just got a new uv/led 80 watt and it’s perfect. Cure and shine. I’m so happy. Thank you

This is the best rabbit hole I’ve ever been down when I begin to obsess over something 😳🤯👏🏼

Liz, thank you so much for this video, as well as taking the time to do this series of nail fundamentals. You are an amazing teacher, & these videos have clarified many of the issues that I've been having or just didn't know. Your passion for all things nail related really shows, & I greatly appreciate the informative & concise manner in which you share your knowledge! ♥️