If you are looking for a good UV nail lamp either for your salon or for personal use, you have come to the right place!

UV nail lamps are a dime a dozen these days, and you can quickly get confused, distracted, and mystified by all the available choices.

But how do you get the perfect one?

In this article, we will provide you with the things that you need to know when it comes to getting the best UV nail lamp for you.

Buying Tips for UV Nail Lamps

Once you have decided to purchase a UV nail lamp, you will find that there are lots of options available in the market. Here are some of the criteria that will help you determine the best ones based on your specific needs and requirements.

Cost

The price that you would need to pay for UV nail lamps will vary. Some will cost around 10 dollars or even less, while others can cost a hundred dollars or more.

You may opt to get more expensive units for professional use, not just for the clout but also for the fact that they would probably be more effective and long lasting.

On the other hand, you can opt for cheaper ones if you will only be using it personally or sparingly over a year. Don’t expect great results or long-lasting performance, though. You typically get what you pay for, but you may luck out and find a good one at a relatively low budget.

Nevertheless, only purchase what you could afford and make sure that it would be worth the investment.

Size and Design

UV nail lamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This will determine a lot of factors, such as how much space it would take on your desk, if you would be able to dry polishes on feet, and even how many hands or fingers can fit into the machine.

Portability is a good thing if you want to bring your UV nail lamp along as you travel. However, smaller lamps will decrease your efficiency especially if only one hand fits at a time.

For frequent usage or salon usage, we recommend full-sized units that can dry polishes on both hands or both feet at the same time. For personal use, that can be left to your own preference.

Reputation

While there are some good “no-name” brands, reputable brands are reputable because of their quality and level of support that has been already put to the test by previous customers.

Don’t rely solely on marketing, though. Look for honest reviews from sites such as Amazon to look for the most reputable and highly-rated products. Look for both good points and bad points to help you make a more informed decision.

Wattage

Wattage will determine the power that your nail lamp needs, which is often directly proportional to how fast they can dry nails.

Of course, this also means that higher wattage UV nail lamps will also consume more energy. While a 5-watt difference may seem negligible, this might also be a factor when every cent in your electricity bill counts.

Generally, a 36-watt UV nail lamp is a decent balance between efficiency in performance and practicality cost-wise. However, there are those that go anywhere between 48 to 120 watts of power for even faster drying speeds.

Bulbs

The more bulbs that your UV nail lamp has, the better the coverage that it will provide. This means that the curing process will be more even and consistent across all nails.

Of course, the more bulbs that you have, the more that you will have to eventually replace. Take into consideration the cost of individual bulbs over the entire unit when this happens.

UV bulbs typically last around 1,000 hours. If used in a professional setting, this can be anywhere from 4 to 6 months.

Bulbs may also have different wavelengths. Some units are considered as dual wave units which are much more versatile than simple LED or UV lamps.

If you prefer a one-size-fits-all UV nail lamp, then this feature is one specification that you should look out for.

Timer

Different UV nail lamp models will have different ways of handling timer settings. This can range from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Being able to set precise times without having to reset timers all the time can be a very good feature. This allows you to set exact times with lower risks of over or under-curing. This will also help prevent over-exposure to UV light which may cause harmful health effects due to overexposure.

Safety Features

Safety features for UV nail lamps include automatic shut-offs, overheating protection features, and the like. Units with features like these will definitely cost more, but they are very well worth it.

Safety features can help prevent damaging the unit as well as cause accidents such as fires from overheating equipment.

We say that, the more safety features a UV nail lamp has, the better for your peace of mind.

Ease of Maintenance

The more removable parts your UV nail lamp has, the better. This means that you can easily maintain your unit, making it capable of lasting and performing efficiently for years to come.

A good UV nail lamp can be disassembled for cleaning purposes. It would also be good for bulbs to be replaced easily and with minimal tools. Of course, bulbs should also be readily available from the manufacturer or other third-party supplier.

Conclusion

Selecting a UV nail lamp should not be difficult, but there sure are a number of factors that you have to consider.

Price, performance, and safety features are just some of the things that you have to look for. Of course, you also have to make sure that your unit is compatible for the gel polishes that you will be using.

A good UV nail lamp is capable of serving you for many years while also helping you get those longer lasting and great-looking polishes at a fraction of the time.