There is nothing stopping you from purchasing your own LED or UV nail lamp, some gel paints and the right tools, and doing your gel manicure from the comfort of your own home.
Not only are you able to do your nails on your schedule, and on your couch while watching TV, but you will save so much money in the long run. It will take a bit of practice to get right, but you will be able to give yourself a gel manicure at home with the right tools and accessories!
Which are the best nail lamps for gel nails? For gel polish to set and be rock hard and protective, you will need to cure it under a UV or LED lamp. The best lamp is effective; it should be strong enough to set the gel quickly, without causing damage. Lightweight lamps are useful for travel and portability.
Forget the bulky and expensive nail lamps that used to be on the market. Below is what you need to look for when buying a nail lamp for gel nails, and the best ones on the market!
Do I Need A UV or LED Lamp to Cure Gel Nails?
Gel nail polish is not like normal nail polish. The gel is designed to never evaporate, so it will never harden if left to air dry.
In order for the gel polish to dry, it has to be cured under an LED or UV light for a certain amount of time. This is the only way to harden the gel polish effectively.
What Wattage is Best for Gel Nail Lamps?
The wattage of the gel nail lamps will determine how fast the gel cures. Home use nail lamps need to be at least 36 watts. They can be higher than that to cure the gel and set it quicker.
Most salon nail lamps are high-wattage to set gel faster.
How To Choose A Gel Nail Lamp
There are a few considerations to make when choosing the best nail lamp for gel nails. There are many options on the market, so you need to ensure that you choose the best one possible, to give you perfectly cured nails.
Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind:
UV or LED?
One of the first choices you need to make is whether you would prefer a UV lamp or LED lamp. Either one will work to dry your gel nails, so go ahead and pick your preferred method.
Here is a breakdown of the two to help:
UV Lamp Pros:
- Heavier than an LED lamp
- Offers about 10,000 hours of use (bulbs need changing every 2 to 4 months)
- Cures clear gels effectively
- Takes longer to cure gel than LED lamps
- Cheaper compared to LED lamps
LED Lamp Pros:
- Lightweight
- Offers up to 50,000 hours of use (no bulbs to replace)
- Does not always cure clear gels effectively
- Cures gel quicker than UV lamps
- More expensive than UV lamps
Replaceable Bulbs
LED lamps do not need to have the bulbs replaced, but UV lamps do.
UV bulbs need to be replaced every 2 to 4 months, depending on how often you use the lamp. Try to make sure that if you choose a UV lamp, the bulbs can be found easily for when it is time to replace them. You won’t get much use out of your nail lamp if you can’t find replacement bulbs.
Portability
If you are using the nail lamp at home, it does help to choose one which is portable and easy to pack away. The older models of nail lamps were very bulky, but now there are some compact options that can be packed away and stored easily in the cupboard.
Having a portable nail lamp also means you can take it traveling with you – perfect for moving or an impromptu manicure session with a friend!
7 Best Nail Lamps For Gel Nails
Below are the best nail lamps available for gel nails:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gelish Harmony LED Gel Nail Curing Lamp | Professional grade, no beep, wide for all fingers |
| 2. | SUNUV Gel UV Nail Lamp | 4 timer settings, smart sensor, 48W |
| 3. | JEWHITENY UV LED Nail Lamp | 3 timer settings, smart sensor, 54W |
| 4. | Winjoy UV LED Gel Nail Lamp | 4 timer settings, smart sensor, 168W |
| 5. | JODSONE UV LED Nail Lamp | 4 timer settings, smart sensor, two hands, 120W |
| 6. | Janolia UV LED Nail Lamp | 4 timer settings, smart sensor, 86W |
| 7. | Kepma UV LED Mini Gel Nail Lamp | 3 timer settings, portable, 6W |
| Bonus | LKE Gel LED Nail Lamp | 3 timer settings, smart sensor, 48W |
While you could use them for some other nail applications, they are the best options to give you perfectly cured gel nails from the comfort of home!
1. Gelish Harmony LED Gel Nail Curing Lamp
It doesn’t get any better than Gelish’s Harmony LED Lamp.
If you want a perfectly finished manicure that lasts for weeks, you’re going to love this lamp.
While it works particularly well with Gelish Soak-Off Gel Polish, it will also set and cure regular gel polish just as quickly and effectively.
With space for all 5 fingers and 18 watts of power, it’ll cure your nails in only 45 seconds!
2. SUNUV Gel LED UV Nail Lamp
The Sunuv Gel LED Nail Lamp is a high powered lamp that offers quick-drying of gel nails. It is 48W, with 33 pieces of long-lasting LED beads, which last for up to 50,000 hours.
The LED beads are set evenly throughout the nail lamp, to allow for even and uniform curing of the gel nail polish. There is no need to replace the LED bulbs, as they are long-lasting as it is.
With 4 flexible timer settings, you can choose to cure for 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds on low-heat mode. There is an automatic sensor that switches the lamp on when your hands are placed in the lamp, and off when you remove them.
You can use the SUNUV Gel LED Nail Lamp to cure base coats, topcoats, color gels, hard gels, builder, acrylic, gem glue, and sculpture gel. The large space inside the lamp allows you to cure 5 fingers at a time, but you can also use it to cure gel on your toes as well.
A beautiful silicone pad on top, and made with durable quality material, utilizing a user-friendly design, this LED nail lamp is a great option to keep at home to do your own nails, and it can also be used in a salon for professionals!
3. JEWHITENY UV LED Nail Lamp
This LED nail lamp dries almost all nail gels, including hard gels, builder gels, sculpture gels, gem gels, and many other gels. It can be used at home or in the salon.
Utilizing an 18-piece double LED technology, the lamp has 54W super-powered LED beads, which provide fast drying, but remain energy efficient.
The nail lamp has an auto-sensor to switch on and off, so you do not need to worry about switches and buttons. The smart touch function switches the lamp on once you place your hand inside. There are different timer settings, allowing you to choose between 30, 60, and 90 seconds of curing.
An LED display on the top of the lamp shows you the timing setting. The actual beads on the inside LED dual light source imitate sunlight, and give a powerful source of light. The nail lamp is wide enough to cure 5 fingers or 5 toes at one time, giving you enough time to paint your other hand or foot before placing them in the lamp!
4. Winjoy UV LED Gel Nail Lamp
The Winjoy 42 LED Nail Lamp, is a dual-light source nail lamp that can be used by professionals or by yourself at home. It has 168W of power and is compatible with almost all types and brands of nail polishes.
Choose between timing settings of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, and 120 seconds, allowing you to customize the machine to your needs.
The machine is a full touch screen, which gives it a very professional look, no matter whether it is being used at home or in a salon – it also makes for a wonderful gift!
With 42 pieces of LED beads, there is no dead zone in the lamp where nails will not be dried, it evenly cures and sets all gel polish on your nail. The removable tray allows for the setting of polish on your toes as well, and it makes the machine wonderfully easy to clean.
An infrared smart sensor switches on the nail lamp automatically when your hand is placed inside the machine and switches the lights off when your hand is removed. There is no need to worry about switches and buttons!
This smart-looking machine is definitely a wonderful choice!
5. JODSONE UV LED Nail Lamp
Most of the other nail lamps available are only able to accommodate one hand at a time, but the Jodsone is large enough to fit two hands at once!
Not only are you able to fit two hands for convenient drying, but the lamp dries nails faster than most other machines, with 120W of power.
The light beads set in the machine have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, and have a dual optical wavelength of 365nm and 405nm, so it can dry both UV gel and LED gel. There are 54 pieces of light beads in the nail lamp, covering every nail for even drying.
There are 4 different timer modes and an automatic on and off function that saves you having to switch the machine on and off yourself.
If you think the power of the normal setting is too high, you can choose the 99-second mode, which sets the machine on low-heat, and then place both your hands under the light for a slow-curing of your gel nail polish.
Being able to cure both hands in the nail lamp at once really is such a great advantage!
6. Janolia UV LED Nail Lamp
The Janolia UV Nail Lamp offers a long lifetime of gel curing and gives a complete illuminated area so that all your nails cure at the same time, and evenly. It offers more than 50,000 hours of use, so you will always have it by your side to get your nails done!
There are 18 lamp beads on the top of the machine, and 21 beads on the side, so you never have to worry about the side of your nails never curing and being sticky on the side.
You are able to use the machine to cure almost all types of nail gels, from LED gels to UV gels, builder gels, gem glue, hard gels, and sculpture gels. There are no brand requirements.
An automatic sensor switches the lamp on when your hand is placed inside, and off when your hands are removed. There is also over-temperature protection the keeps the machine safe from overheating.
A removable base panel allows for easy storage and easy cleaning, and the 4 different timing options help you personalize your use of the machine to suit your nails and the gel you are using!
7. Kepma UV LED Mini Gel Nail Lamp
If you want a nail lamp that you can take with you on the go, it doesn’t get better than the UV LED Mini Portable Gel Nail Lamp!
This mini lamp can cure almost all types of nail gels, with the light beads made using advanced technology. They have a dual optical wavelength of 365nm and 405nm, which allows it to work both with UV gel nail polish and LED nail polish.
Weighing less than a pound, the little lamp can fit into your pocket, wallet, or handbag and be kept with you at all times, you never know when you might need to pull it out for a quick gel touch up.
The portable machine offers flexible drying options and has 3 preset timing controls. Choose between 60 seconds, 180 seconds, and “always on.” With over 50,000 hours of use, and no need to replace bulbs, this little machine really gets the job done while being so portable.
Bonus Product: LKE Gel LED Nail Lamp
Featuring 21 LED lights, this LED gel nail lamp will get your gel cured and set in no time, saving you having to travel to a salon for a pretty manicure!
The nail lamp is powered at 48W, with a 21-piece LED bead set. The lamp has an automatic sensor, so when you place your hand inside the lamp, it automatically lights up.
When curing your nails, you can choose to set the timer to 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or 99 seconds. The LCD screen shows the countdown of the timer so you can keep better track.
With a user-friendly design, you will definitely make use of this nail lamp at home. It is easy to clean and maintain, and you will never have to replace the bulbs. The curved design of the nail lamp also protects your eyes from too much exposure to the light.
You are able to use the machine to dry most gels, including UV topcoats, UV builder gels, LED nail gel, and more! You will definitely make use of this nifty machine at home!
Related Questions
Is a UV or LED Lamp Better?
LEDs are much more popular now than UV lamps are.
The non-ultraviolet white light generated by the LED bulbs is safer for the eyes, and won’t cause damage to your hands over extended use.
They offer a quicker setting and drying time, and you never have to replace the bulbs. You can set gel nails in under 60 seconds using an LED lamp. They also weigh less than UV lamps.
Can I Use a Regular LED Flashlight to Cure My Gel Nails?
No, you will not be able to use a regular LED flashlight to cure your nails. These emit a blue LED light at 450-460nm, while LED nail lamps emit a white light – which is safer for your skin and eyes, and which sets nails.
Up Next: Polygel Nails Keep Popping Off? – Here’s What To Do