17 BEST Cure Lamps For GEL POLISH and Builder Gels [2023]
Here are the best nail cure lamps and lights for gel polish.
There are many nail lamps that are available on the market to cure regular gel polishes, thicker builder gels for nails and to glue rhinestones onto your nails and tips.
Nail lamps are a must have nail art tool for DIY manicures using products that need to be set under a lamp.
For those who want to try their hand at gel nails, thankfully there are lamps out there that are good at curing gel in under 60 seconds. You will also be happy to know that lights for curing gel nails at home are totally budget friendly too.
The nail curing lamps that we will be sharing in this article will have the right amount of cure power required to set your gel nails and your topcoats evenly during the curing process.
There are certain things to look for when you are deciding on a gel curing lamp. The best UV LED cure lamps will give you between 5000 - 10,000 hours of use. Some lamps will last for over 50,000 hours of use.
For a person who is giving themselves a DIY gel manicure every 6 weeks or so you should expect your nail lamp bulbs to last for at least 4 months.
Let's go through this list of the best UV lamps together to help you decide what one is best for you.
We will discuss the best regular cure light for nails as well as mini flash curing lights for when you need a quick cure. You will have a professional nail art manicure in no time with these helpful tips.
What is the difference between a UV curing light and LED curing light?
The difference is that the LED lamp produces wavelengths that are more narrow and targeted so a lamp that uses LED lights will cure gel more quickly than a UV lamp that only uses UV lights.
Nail lamps today will usually have a combination of LED technology AND UV lights so you will see UV/LED or UV LED on the lamp or listings.
LED will give you a quicker drying time than a UV lamp with only UV lights, which are usually older models.
UV/LED lamps are for gel nails, not for regular nail polish.
Here's a breakdown of this list:
Best regular cure lamps for nails starts at #1 - #11
Best small and mini flash cure lamps starts at #12 - #15
UV/LED Cure Lights & Lamps For Gel Polish
1. JEWITENY UV LED NAIL LAMP
This pink nail lamp will cure almost any gel like regular UV gel glue, sculpture gel and also gel polishes that come in a pot. This light will automatically light up as soon as you place your hand under the sensor, no need to push any buttons.
The LED nail lamp that's inside has a professionally designed dual light source so this is going to cure your gel nails evenly.
The wide design will allow you to put your whole hand inside so that you can cure all five nails at once.
2. SUNUV PROFESSIONAL GEL DRYING LAMP
The SUNUV drying lamp uses an infrared light source to quickly cure gel nails and builder gel in double the time with the double power button.
The smart sensor will automatically come on for 120 seconds and of course when you slide your hand out, you can stop curing at any time.
A standard feature, this nail curing lamp comes with cure times for the UV gel nail polish of 10, 30, 60 and 99 seconds so you can easily cure each layer exactly how cured you need it.
3. TOMICCA GEL LAMP SET
Looking for a high-quality nail lamp that will cure your UV LED gel nail polish quickly and easily and comes with a gel polish set? Look no further than this affordable lamp by Tomicca.
This UV lamp is designed to provide maximum efficiency and coverage, so you can get salon-quality nails in the comfort of your own home. So it's great for an at home nail artist.
4. BEETLES GEL NAIL LAMP
We have collaborated with Beetles and absolutely love their high quality and affordable nail art products, especially their cat eye nail polishes.
This gel nail polish dryer also has a large drying space so that you can cure all fingers, including the thumb at the same time which is a huge time saver.
And it also comes with a large set of gel nail polishes that you can play with. This set makes a fabulous gift for a beginner nail artist.
48W Nail Lamp
5. SMALLSHS HANDS FREE LIGHT
When you are curing gelly tips and need to do a flash cure, then a hands free curing light is a must have.
This nail lamp can be adjusted to almost any angle so you can cure your nails in any position which makes it super helpful when you are doing your own nails at home.
Also because it has its own stand, you can easily place it anywhere on your manicure table which is helpful when you are filming nail art videos.
You can also use it with builder gels when you are embedding waterslide nail decals.
6. SUNUV UV LED GEL CURING LAMP
If you use gel polish or builder gel on natural nails, you are going to find that this cure lamp works great and is affordable. It's one of the top sellers on Amazon with fantastic reviews.
For those using very thick gel for adhering nail crystals and nail art stickers you should find that this lamp fully cures everything really well. 48w Nail Lamp
7. LKE 21 UV GEL NAIL LAMP
This is a budget friendly nail lamp with 21pcs led lights. No need to push any buttons, just put your hand in the curing lamp and the LED lights will automatically light for you.
You can however press certain times at 30s 60s 99s. 40w Nail Lamp
8. EASKEP 39 LED NAIL LAMP
This nail lamp has high quality 39 LED beads that are distributed optimally inside. This nail lamp can cure gels twice faster than other 48W nail lamps on the market.
A feature that you might like is the spherical design. It helps prevent light leakage and maximizes drying speed so it's very efficient.
86w Nail Lamp
9. RAYOCON LED LAMP
A budget friendly nail lamp that will make your nails look like you've been to a professional. The 45 lamp beads will give you a full cover to ensure that your gel polishes and builder gels will cure evenly and quickly.
There's also an auto sensor mode which makes sure you don't touch any buttons while using the lamp since it detects when hands enter the lamp. 120w Nail Lamp
10. GELISH PROFESSIONAL GEL CURING LIGHT
Introducing the Gelish Comfort Curing light for gels and builder gels. The Comfort Cure builds the LED curing power over a 60-second period. So this is going to help with heat spikes. A heat spike is when you cure your gel and it starts to get really hot fast.
If you are a nail technician with an at home studio, you might like this lamp a lot because this cure light will help with keeping your sensitive clients comfortable. 36w Nail Lamp
11. GELPAL PORTABLE LAMP
Another professional grade UV lamp that will work quickly on gel polishes, gel base coats, top coats and all builder gels. The 80W LED light has an auto infrared sensor.
This is ideal because it will automatically light when hands get put inside with the infra red motion sensor, and then the auto sensor will shut down when the hands are removed.
If you are looking for a perfect gift for someone who is just starting out doing their nails, this is definitely one for the list. It has high power and has a user-friendly design.
This gel cure lamp has 4 timer touch settings: 15s, 30s, 45s, 60s. 80w Nail Lamp
This professional gel nail light has a removable external battery and special charger. When in use, you can fully charge the battery separately in advance. This nail dryer for gels will give you 6-8 hours of use.
12. MAKARTT PROFESSIONAL LAMP
This rechargeable wireless lamp dries and cures your nails very quickly. When fully charged it will give you about 3 hours of working time so it's a good option for nail techs on the go.
The detachable metal base is easy to keep clean and sterilize between clients for for your own personal use.
When you slide your hand or foot in, the nail lamp will turn on automatically and when your hand is removed, the lamp will turn off.
Best Mini Flash Cure Gel Lights
A mini cure light is a portable, handheld flash curing light that is used to set and cure gel polish. Mini cure lights are often used by nail techs to do spot cures or to flash cure gel nails between coats.
They are also handy for curing gel polish in hard-to-reach places, such as under the free edge or around the cuticle area. Mini cure lights are also great for doing DIY gel nails at home.
If you are doing an at home manicure, it can be tricky to get the gel to flash cure with the larger lamps on your own. So a mini lamp is perfect for this because you can hold the nail tip down while curing.
They allow you to apply gel polish and tips without having to go to a salon. Plus, they're perfect for touching up your nails between salon visits. So, if you're looking for a mini cure light that will help you achieve professional-looking results at home, then look no further!
13. BEETLES MINI LIGHT
Here's a best selling mini nail lamp from Beetles gel hat helps you set your gel nails with a quick flash. It's mini size makes it easy to carry with you and apply gel tips. You can use it to secure a nail in seconds before going in for a full cure.
This mini cure light is perfect for DIY nails and gel manicures and helps you achieve salon-quality nails without leaving the house.
You can also use this lamp to cure the gelly tips and then finish off the manicure with regular nail polish.
Watch the tutorial video in their listing to see exactly how this mini cure light works using tips.
14. KIARA SKY LAMP
Here's another quick and easy way to cure single nails. This mini UV nail lamp is perfect for when you need a quick fix on a single nail.
Whether you're applying nail tips, gems, or rhinestones, the mini flash cure light will help you get the job done quickly and easily.
Plus, it's great for curing nail art when using builder gel to embed decorations.
15. MAKARTT MINI CURE LIGHT
This powerful little light is perfect for curing a couple fingers at a time. Like when you're applying rhinestones and need to flash cure them before going onto the next step of your manicure.
And since this mini UV nail lamp is compact, you can take it with you wherever you go and it will even plug into a USB port. Perfect to slide into your carrying case.
16. SAVILAND HANDS FREE LAMP
The Saviland curing nail lamp has seven U V LED dual light source lamp beads. This is going to cure the gel efficiently.
You can use all types of gels with this light including UV glue for rhinestones, builder gels including hard gel, gel polish in a pot, and regular gel polish.
We have used Saviland products before including their fine liner brushes that you can purchase on Amazon to go with the lamp.
17. LE MINI MACARON GEL LAMP SET
Le Maxi Rouge Moi is a nail lamp for gel polishes with sixteen LEDs that will cure your nail polish and add a beautiful glossy finish you won't want to take your eyes off of.
With the automatic sensor, it's now easier than ever to easily paint and maintain your nail design in no time. This clever nail lamp is travel-friendly given its compact and lightweight design, so you can bring shine and artistry wherever you go.
5 TIPS WHEN PICKING OUT A CURE LAMP FOR GEL NAILS
Gel nails are popular for good reason: they're shiny and long-lasting, and it's easy to get professional results at home with the right gel nail kit and curing lamp.
If you're just getting into gel nails or looking to replace your old gel nail lamp, here are five tips that can help you choose the gel nail lamp that is just right for you.
1. Consider the wattage of the cure lamp. If you're just starting out with gel nails, it's important to consider what wattage your gel nail lamp needs to be so it will sufficiently cure gel nail polish. All of the nail lamps in this list will cure within 60 seconds.
2. Gel nail polish is typically cured using a gel nail lamp that emits ultraviolet light in the range of 360 to 370 nanometers. Builder gel might require a stronger lamp depending on the brand.
3. A good gel UV nail lamp needs to sit at least 4 inches above your hands while you cure your nails. If your gel nail lamp does not allow for enough clearance, your design could be ruined if you touch the top of the inside of the lamp.
4. Choose a gel UV nail lamp that will cure gel nail polish and wraps too if you use those. There are gel nail lamps that will cure both gel nails and nail wraps that last up to 21 days or more.
5. The best gel nail lamp should emit a UV light that is between 36 watts and 50 watts, with 40 watts being ideal for curing gel nails at home.
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