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Gel polish has to cure completely to last long enough without cracking or chipping. To most people, gel curing is an exercise unfamiliar to them, and so they do not know what to expect or what to look out for when curing gel polish. With no specific devices or formulas to check your cured gel, how do you tell if your gel polish is cured?
Properly cured gel polish is bright and shiny and does not stick on the topcoat brush when applying the topcoat. It may feel tacky on touching, but this layer forms during curing and can be removed using isopropyl alcohol wipes without damaging the gel polish.
Under-curing gel polish is a common problem because most people overlook some of the essential factors that affect gel polish curing. Others end up over-curing the gel polish as they try to cure it completely. This article explains how to tell if your gel polish is cured and what to do so that it can cure properly.
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Why Is My Gel Polish Not Curing?
Under-cured gel polish is a nightmare to anyone doing their manicure. Not only is it sticky, but it also makes your nails look dull. The manicure will not last long as it will easily crack and chip off. The only remedy is to remove the polish and start the application process again, and that’s frustrating.
The two layers of gel polish have to cure properly to bond well with each other and with the base coat. You also have to ensure the topcoat layer cures well too. If the topcoat is under-cured, it will peel off and expose the gel polish.
You’ll know that your gel polish isn’t curing properly if you notice bubbling like small holes on the nail polish. It’s an indication that the gel polish did not adhere to the nail and may not cure properly.
Other indicators that your gel polish isn’t curing well are:
- The gel polish will have a dull appearance.
- The surface of the gel will feel soft and sticky on touching.
- The gel easily comes off if you try to wipe it off.
There are many possible reasons why your gel polish isn’t curing, and that too depends on a lot of factors like how the gel was applied, the gel brand, curing time, etc. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your gel polish is not curing.
- Inadequate nail preparation
Before starting the application process, you must make sure your nails are clean and free of oils. You should not wash your nails in the water right before gel application; instead, use alcohol wipes to clean the nails of any dirt, dust, and oils.
During nail preparation, use a file to remove rough parts and smoothen the edges. Push the cuticles back a little to create enough space for gel application on the nail without touching the cuticle. Proper nail preparation will ensure that the gel adheres to the nails, which will help cure the gel completely.
Inadequately prepared nails will have dust particles or an inconsistent surface, preventing the gel polish from adhering to the nails. When curing, the polish forms air-like bubbles and remains soft.
- Thick gel polish layers
Thick layers absorb very little UV light, which is responsible for curing the polish. That means, with little absorption, very little curing will take place. Thinner layers allow the UV light to penetrate through, thus curing the gel completely. If you apply thick layers, only the upper part of the gel polish will cure, leaving the lower part uncured.
During application, don’t use a brush with too much polish on it. Wipe the gel polish brush on the bottle’s neck to remove the excess polish, and then gently apply the rest on the nail. It’s better to apply many thin layers than one thick layer.
Bright colors may be hard to tell when applying a thick layer because you are looking at making the color as visible as possible. However, if you’re using a bright color gel polish, you can ensure that you apply a thin layer by wiping the brush off any excess polish as much as possible. You can always apply another layer to increase its bold outlook.
- Curing using the wrong lamp
Manufacturers indicate on the gel polish whether to use a UV light lamp or an LED lamp. If you are using a UV lamp for an LED-specified polish, you may not achieve any results, and maybe that’s why your polish is not curing. The ingredients used to make the polish determine what lamp to use and for how long.
It’s important to check the manufacturer’s recommendation for the gel polish you’re using so that you can be sure that you’re using the right one. These lamps are not expensive, so you can get a compatible one for the gel you’re using, especially if you’re doing your manicure at home.
In most salons, manicurists use the same lamp for most gel polishes as they all require a wavelength ranging between 340 and 380 nanometers of UV light. There is no universal lamp for all gels as there are many differences in the amount of light emitted and the placement of bulbs. This difference results in different results when curing nails. It’s possible for the gel polish to under cure or over cure depending on its specific requirements.
If you notice that your gel is not cured properly using the lamp in the salon, you can check to ensure that you’re using the light lamp for the polish you’re applying. Your best bet would be to make sure that you’re using a lamp with specifications within the required specifications for the gel polish.
- The lamp bulbs need changing.
If you’ve been using your lamp for a long time now without changing the bulbs, then that could be a reason why your gel polish is not curing. People think that as long as they are using the lamps at home, the bulbs need no changing.
However, lamp bulbs must be changed at the manufacturer’s recommended time for commercial or domestic use. UV lamp bulbs should be changed every 6-8 months, and LED lamp bulbs, after every two years. If you’re using the lamp for your salon serving 40 gel clients a week, you may need to change your bulb sooner because of the intense usage.
You’ll know that your bulbs need a change when you start noticing a thicker inhibition layer on your client’s gel nails. Perfectly working bulbs will cure the gel polish more effectively, leaving