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Many of us take our time at the nail salon really seriously due to the fact that for many of us it is the only time of the month when we can allow ourselves to relax and be treated and pampered like goddesses. Busy schedules have led us all to not have time to relax.
If you find yourself in this situation, it is easy to lose track of time while talking to your favorite nail technician. While you are describing how your week has been going so far, the gel polish your technician is applying is at risk of over-curing.
If your gel polish is over-cured, it will be very hard to remove it, because it will solidify and bond with the natural nails. You would need to file all the layers up to the base coat and only then soak the nails in the acetone. If you try to remove the gel polish forcefully, it will damage the natural nails.
To prevent the gel polish from over-curing, there are a few pieces of advice that you should follow to ensure you will get the best possible manicure without damaging the nails. Stick with me while I explain for how long you should cure your nails and how to know if your nails are under or over-cured.
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Standard Time Gel Polish Needs to Cure
The standard procedure for the gel polish application would require around 30 seconds under a LED lamp, or 60 seconds if you are using a standard UV lamp. Let me just clarify that both types of lamps emit UV wavelengths, but there is a difference in their configuration.
UV lamps take longer to cure a gel polish because they emit a broad spectrum of wavelengths. On the other hand, LED lamps emit more targeted waves, meaning that the UVA waves will only affect the nail surface where the gel polish is applied.
Depending on the condition the lamp is in, as well as the quality of manufacture, these times may be different up to 5 seconds more or less than the average I’ve mentioned. Also, the curing time can depend on the brand and the products you are using.
The main difference between these two types of lamps is that UV lamps need their bulbs to be replaced every three months, while LED lamps can last more than 10.000 hours. This basically means that you will never have to replace the bulbs inside LED lamps.
If the bulbs for the UV lamps are near the end of their life cycle, the lamp may not be working properly, so make sure to check that regularly as well. Maintaining your equipment is as crucial as it is using the right products in the right way.
Signs of Under-cured Gel Polish
There are few signs that indicate that your gel polish is not cured properly, which is causing your manicure to fall apart. If this happens to you, make sure to first check if the UV or LED lamp you are using is in a good condition.
UV lamps may need bulb change, as aforementioned. LED lamps may malfunction due to other technical reasons or physical damage, so make sure to eliminate these reasons before blaming the lamps on a bad manicure.
If the layer of gel polish you have applied is too thick, the UV lights will not be able to penetrate through it, and it will not harden as it is supposed to. To solve this issue, make sure to apply thin layers of gel polish.
A top coat can also show you if the polish is under-cured – if you can easily remove it with a cotton pad dipped in acetone after it has been cured, it is a clear sign that the nails are under-cured.
One easy trick to see if you need to cure your nails a little bit longer is to check whether the gel polish is still sticky. If it leaves color on a brush, it has not cured properly and it needs to sit under a lamp for a little longer.
There is one remark I have to make here regarding the stickiness of the gel polish or the top coat. When it first appeared on the market, the gel polish was formulated in a way that was leaving a sticky surface for the next layer to adhere to.
In order to finish the manicure, all women had to do was remove the sticky layer by using an alcohol wipe. Although this formula has been discontinued a long time ago, you may still encounter some residue of these products on the market.
To differentiate whether the stickiness is from under-curing or the product, there is a simple trick. If the gel polish stays on the wipe, or it shifts on the nail, it is under-cured. If the tacky feeling disappears after you wipe it off, and it does not damage the layer in any sense, then it is because of the formula of the product.
How to Cure Gel Polish Properly?
If you want the gel polish to cure properly, make sure to prep your nails correctly and apply the base coat in a thin layer. If the base coat is not cured, the gel polish would not adhere and thus it will not cure as well. If you apply too much of a product, it will not cure and it will cause you further troubles.
Usually, 30-60 seconds is enough for gel polish to cure, but this is only if you apply gel polish layer by layer, gradually building density and color. If you are not satisfied with the color of the gel polish, and it seems rather opaque, instead of applying a lot of color in one coat, apply two to three coats of polish.
Make sure to cure each one of them before applying a new layer. After you finish, apply a top coat and cure it for around 45 seconds. Because the top coat is clear, it is easier for the UV waves to go through it, and thus it requires less time to cure under a UV lamp.
The top coat may look dull after you cure it. If that happens, it is because it is under-cured, or the lamp is not working properly. I’ve already mentioned how to troubleshoot under-curing.
What If I Over-cure the Gel Polish?
Not only can you under-cure your gel polish, but you can also over-cure it. Let me explain what happens during the process of curing.
If you cure the gel polish for the time that is recommended, it will plasticize, meaning it will harden but