Have you ever painted your nails to perfection only to have a nail chip or smudge? Frustrating, isn’t it? That’s where UV nail lamps can help. UV lights seal and harden gel polish for a manicure that is chip-resistant, vibrant, and long-lasting. Although you may only be used to seeing them in salons, you can now get UV nail lamps for use at home! We are here to shed some light on the best UV nail lamps available right now. Best Choice User friendly designEasy to use with a digital LCD display and built-in timer, the LKE UV lamp is perfect for users who want salon quality results at home.Best ChoiceFind on Amazon Pros:We love that the LKE UV lamp uses a smart sensor. Simply slide your hand under the light and it turns on with a default timer. It’s perfect for those of us who forget to prep everything before we start painting our nails (we’ve all been there). Additionally, it uses safe soft lights, so you don’t need to worry about tanning or burning your skin while using it. Safe, user-friendly, and a sleek design? Yes, please! Cons:The timer presets only range from 30-99 seconds. Depending on the polish, you’ll probably need more time than that. Thankfully, you can set the timer manually, so it’s an easy fix. Alternatively, take your hand out and slide it back under the lamp to restart the timer. Best Portable Portable and lightIf you’re like us and want a nail lamp you can use on the go, DIOZO UV nail lamp is for you. It’s lighter and about half the size of a typical nail lamp, but still provides the same hardening power.Best PortableFind on Amazon Pros:We love that this product shuts off automatically after use. It uses a heat sensor to detect when it’s getting too warm and shuts itself off. Good things do come in small packages! Despite its miniature size, it still easily fits the entire hand or foot. This ensures even curing so that each nail is perfect. Cons:When you use the DIOZO nail lamp, make sure you set aside about fifteen minutes. The design uses soft lights to ensure your skin isn’t burned or harmed. Its carefulness means it will take a little longer to dry and cure a particularly thick gel polish (only about three minutes per hand). Don’t rush it and you’ll be on your way to nail perfection! Best Affordable Fast to dry your nailIf you’re like most adults, you probably don’t have a ton of time to spend in salons or painting your nails. The MiroPure nail lamp is portable, affordable, and gets the job done whenever!Best AffordableFind on Amazon Pros:If you’re looking for a nail lamp that can easily slide into your laptop case or backpack, the MiroPure nail lamp is for you. The feet fold inward to allow for a nearly flat lamp. It works quickly to set your nails — about thirty minutes from start to finish –) and the price makes it super affordable. This nail lamp is intuitive, fun to use, and can even be a perfect gift for the busy beauty guru in your life. Simply plug it in and begin your nail transformation! Cons:Depending on where you use this fantastic little device, you many need to adjust the legs to get a sturdy position. They don’t snap into place, so you’ll have to adjust them according to the surface you use. Carpets can be tricky, so it’s easiest to use on a hard surface. Let’s be honest, though; if you’re painting your nails on a carpet, you’re asking for a mess! Best for Professional Use Ideal choice for salon and homeMultiple heat settings on the SUNUV nail lamp ensure your nails are always Instagram-ready.Best for Professional UseFind on Amazon Pros:This nail lamp uses tiny LED light bulbs that are dispersed evenly over the curved design, rather than only one or two bulbs. The curved, consistent light ensures every side of the nail is hardened and cured. Its effects are long-lasting and only take about half as long to dry as traditional nail lamps. It’s perfect for professionals who want to serve as many customers as possible, while still providing quality work. It’s less expensive than the traditional lamps and works twice as well! Cons:Because this is a salon-quality product, you’ll need to use salon-grade polishes. A good gel polish interacts with the UV light differently from a cheap one. That’s why a salon manicure gets you a hard outer coat that lasts weeks. You can easily find high-quality polish at your local drug store or online. Best for Home Use Professional design and no harmWhether you’re a professional looking to perfect your own nails or a nail artist amateur looking to improve your skills, the BruRKim UV lamp is the perfect addition to your home.Best for Home UseFind on Amazon Pros:We love the design of the BruRKim nail lamp! Its sleek white color is complemented beautifully by soft pink accents. In addition to the fabulous design, the lid pops off so you can use it without worrying about bumping a nail on the way in. The removable lid also allows you to touch up your toes while wearing open-toed high heels. Attending a summer wedding but forgot to paint your toenails? No problem! Slap on a quick polish, snap the lid into place, and in thirty seconds you’ll be toe-tally perfect! Cons:We want to take this nail lamp with us everywhere. We wish it could be used with batteries, so it was easier to transport, but it makes sense that it doesn’t. It has zero heating time, a large LED display, and multiple heat settings, all of which require power. Until we devise a better portable energy source, we’ll gladly settle for using this at home. What Really Matters Ease of Use The last thing you want to do is struggle with cords, buttons, and cumbersome designs while you’re trying to dry your nails. It’s important that each UV nail lamp is easy to use even while your nails are wet. Visible display screens, accessible buttons, timers, and even handles are all aspects you should consider before purchasing a UV nail lamp. A good sensor that detects when you place or remove your hand from under the lights is always a feature we look for. Additionally, an automatic shut-off doesn’t hurt either. Whatever your preference for design or power, a nail lamp is no good if you can’t use it without ruining your manicure. Results The entire point of a UV nail lamp is to dry and cure your nails! If it doesn’t do that within the promised time, it isn’t a good nail lamp. There are plenty of UV nail lamps that promise perfectly hardened polish in twenty seconds or less; however, those promises are rarely fulfilled. Look for a product that comes with a full return policy so if you buy a UV nail lamp that takes ten minutes to dry your nails, you can at least get a refund for your money. You won’t be able to get a refund for your time, so alternatively, choose one from our list and save yourself time, money, and headache! Safety When selecting a UV nail lamp, choose one with safe light settings. Ideally, you want to look for something that curves and shields your eyes from the light (the light can irritate those with sensitive eyes). It should also use a combination of soft lights and heat to avoid skin damage. If it gives off the same amount of light as a tanning bed, it’s not a good choice! If you are like us and worry about remembering to turn off your coffee pot or hair straightener, many UV nail lamps comes with automatic shut-offs. Automatic shut-offs provide peace of mind even when you’re not using it. Some also come with sensors to avoid getting too hot or hurting your skin if you leave your hand in longer than you intended. It’s ok, we’ve all lost track of time while binge-watching Netflix! What’s in Right Now? When it comes to UV nail lamps, emphasis is placed on design and safety. Nail lamp brands are figuring out how to balance form with function. The hottest trend is an Apple-esque design that includes sleek white lines and stylish complementary colors. Rose gold, neon LED screens, and colored curing lights are reigning supreme. These styles appeal to younger crowds and companies are leaning into this market. If you have kids or have been around them, you know they want to do everything adults do. For a lot of kids, beauty routines like manicures and pedicures are a part of that. UV nail lamp manufacturers have recognized this desire. They have appropriately placed an emphasis on safety, even for the smallest hands. Soft light under a curved shield is ideal and is thankfully becoming the standard. Many UV nail lamps also use lights that do not heat up, which is even better for those delicate little hands! Prices Expensive $30 – $50 buys you a curved, high-end UV nail lamp that includes multiple settings and a stylish finish. Mid-Range $20 – $30 gets you a curved model with some settings and an LED display. Cheap $10 – $20 is the typical price for a basic, but functional nail lamp that may not have as many customizable settings or a curved inner light. FAQs Are UV nail lamps safe to use? Absolutely! The amount of UV rays emitted from using a UV nail lamp has been shown in numerous studies to be safe for your skin. Like with anything, excessive use is not recommended. But we are sure that if you pick the right UV nail lamp, your results will last so long that you won’t need to place your hands under UV light for too long. If you have any concerns or have particularly sensitive skin, it’s never a bad idea to talk with your doctor prior to use. Do I have to use a particular kind of nail polish for UV nail lamps? Yes! UV nail lamps only harden and cure gel polishes. Gel polish has completely different ingredients from your typical polish. Gel polishes only harden under UV light. Traditional nail polish can dry normally (i.e., air dry) but they are much more prone to chipping, even with a topcoat. The chemical reaction between gel polish and the UV light ensures a long-lasting polish. Gel polishes are widely accessible in drugstores, online, or large retailers and many are comparable in price to regular polishes! Why does my UV lamp come with so many different timer settings?? Good question! The timer you use will depend on how you paint your nails. If you cure between coats (the way many manufacturers suggest), you can use the shortest setting. This would look something like: Base coat UV lamp for 30 seconds First coat of color UV lamp for 30 seconds Second coat of color UV lamp for 30 seconds Topcoat UV lamp for 30 seconds Some polishes are abnormally thick (especially slightly older ones) so that will also affect the time you should spend curing each coat. If your lamp works great the first time, but not the second, it may very well be because of the polish you’re using. Related posts:Powered by SearchIQ The Best Dog Nail Polish In 2024 Read more The Best Hermit Crab Shells Read more The Best Dog Collar Lights Read more Best Dog Nail Trimmers Read more