UV lights are simple once we begin to know how the lamp works together with the gel. UV light comes during a few different flavors. These flavors are referred to as wavelengths. Most gels cure well in wavelengths of 340 to 380 nanometers (nm). Within a given wavelength of UV light, there's a variance of UV candlepower . The intensity is dependant upon the wattage of the bulb (i.e., from 4 watts to 9 watts there'll be a rise in intensity even as there’s a difference between a 25-watt bulb and a 75-watt bulb) and therefore the number of bulbs within the lamp. The more bulbs a lamp has, the more UV intensity the lamp will emit. The fourth and final aspect of a lamp’s ability to cure a gel is how far the bulbs are from the fingernails. The farther the bulbs are faraway from the gel, the slower the gel will cure. If the bulbs are too distant , the gel might not even cure in the least .

All these factors have a big effect on the curing of UV gels because manufacturers use chemicals called photoinitiators in their gels. The photoinitiators react when exposed to varied wavelengths of UV light. Some photoinitiators react upon exposure to 340 nm of sunshine while others won't react. Some photoinitiators react when exposed to 365 nm of UV light. Some photoinitiators are more reactive than others at a particular wavelength.

When the photoinitiator is exposed to the right UV light wavelength and intensity, it gives off a particle called a radical . The radical will initiate a polymerization reaction with the resins within the gel system. This polymerization reaction gives off heat (the burning sensation). this is often called an chemical reaction (“exo” means to offer off, and “thermic” means heat). Some companies have said the burning sensation is friction between the molecules. this is often not true. The chemical reaction are often controlled by slowing down the reaction. the simplest method to hamper the reaction is to stay the fingernails farther from the lamp to start the curing cycle; usually just ahead of the lamp is sufficient.

As the curing cycle progresses, the fingernails are placed inside the lamp. I tell the nail technician to maneuver the fingers progressively closer to the lamp every 15 seconds. Acrylics cure with a radical reaction as well; the reaction is initiated when the peroxide within the powder is exposed to the reactive monomer within the liquid. The peroxide starts the polymerization reaction within the liquid to make the polymerized plastic. Both systems create plastics, but they use different materials and polymerization technology to try to to it.

When nail technicians use UV light to cure gel products, it's important to recollect that the nail manufacturer knows what UV candlepower is required to cure the gel. So, if a gel manufacturer says that its gel requires two 4-watt bulbs to cure the gel, this may be sufficient. However, if a manufacturer has determined that its gel cures best during a 9-watt lamp that contains four bulbs, don't plan to cure the gel during a 4-watt lamp. The gel will become a solid plastic, but the resulting plastic won't be as hard or as durable because it would be if cured within the 9-watt lamp. This information is vital because the nail technician should know that each one UV lamps aren't equal and can not perform an equivalent . it's also important to understand that not all UV bulbs are an equivalent and it's advisable to shop for the simplest bulb for your gel.