UV/LED Nail Lamps for Curing Gel

A nail lamp does one job: it hardens gel. Everything else about choosing one is how fast, how big and how portable, and whether it will still be doing the job in two years. The lamps here all cure UV/LED soak-off gel polish, builder gel and polygel, from a desk lamp for home use to a high-output lamp that runs all day in a salon.

The range, by power

• Legend Plus - the SUNX5 Plus, 80W and 36 LEDs, for quick everyday curing. It is the lamp in our Gel Essentials Kit.
• Legend MAX - the SUNX5 MAX, 150W and 45 LEDs, with a digital display and preset timers, for a desk that cures all day.
• SUNX6 MAX - 180W and 45 LEDs, with a spacious interior for busy salons.
• L8B - 298W and 72 LEDs, roomy enough for manicure and pedicure use.
• SUNX24 MAX - 380W and 84 LEDs, the most powerful lamp in the range, for heavy salon use.

Pink light, cordless and desk styles

Some clients find a standard cure uncomfortable on the skin. The Soft Delight pink lamp and the white SUNX24 MAX with pink light both use a pink LED light. For work away from a socket, the S10 (66W, 33 LEDs) and the SS10 (168W, 42 LEDs, 7,800mAh, timer presets) are cordless, which suits mobile technicians. The Moonshape lamp comes in three colours for a premium desk.

Lamp plus drill

If your desk is small, a combined unit saves space: 2-in-1 rechargeable lamp and drill, the 3-in-1 lamp, fan and drill and the 4-in-1 workstation. More about drills is in nail drill machines.

How to choose

Power and bead count matter, but so do size and where you work. A bigger chamber fits a whole hand or a foot; a cordless lamp lets you work anywhere. Match the lamp to the gel and keep to the cure times on the bottle. Our guide to buying nail equipment online lists what to check before you pay. Need gels to go with it? See gel polish or a starter kit.