It’s happened before… A customer comes in for her appointment and asks for a gel or Shellac manicure. You give her a beautiful manicure, she thanks you, gives you a tip and leaves to go about her day.
Business as usual. Then, less than a week later, that same customer calls to tell you that her manicure has chipped, and clearly voices her frustration and disappointment. In an effort to resolve the issue, you invite her back to your salon to fix her manicure. In the meantime, you wonder what happened…
What did you do differently? Is it the nail polish brand or your equipment? Maybe it’s time to replace your CND UV lamp bulbs or purchase a new CND UV nail lamp?
Gel and Shellac manicures are incredibly popular today as they are less likely to chip or damage, leaving manicures lasting longer.
However, a Gel or Shellac manicure involves a lot more than having the right polish in stock at your salon. A beautiful manicure also requires quality CND UV lamp bulbs to properly cure gel and Shellac polish.
So which CND UV nail lamp is best for your salon? Why are CND UV lamp bulbs better than LED bulbs? In this article, we will review the top CND UV lamp bulbs as well as provide some CND UV lamp instructions.
Why Are CND UV Lamp Bulbs Better Than LED Lamp Bulbs?
Gel or Shellac polish will not cure properly unless it is exposed to UV light or LED light. This is because Gel and Shellac polish contains photo-initiators, which need to be exposed to light to cure or harden and dry thoroughly.
If a quality nail lamp isn’t used, then the polish will chip off, peel or easily damage. In order to avoid angry customers, then consider purchasing a high-quality and high-powered CND UV lamp.
So, why are CND UV lamp bulbs better than LED bulbs? Here are the main reasons why:
- Curing polish under a UV lamp takes two minutes whereas an LED lamp can take longer
- UV lamps work on all types of gel polishes, whereas LED lamps typically only cure gel polishes formulated for LED. For example, an LED lamp likely will not work with gel or Shellac polishes designed for UV light.
- UV lamps are often cheaper than LED lamps
The biggest key difference here is that UV and LED formulated gel and Shellac polish will work with both LED and CND UV lamp bulbs, but not all UV formulated gel and Shellac polishes work with an LED lamp.
What to Consider Before Purchasing a UV Lamp
There are clearly some vast differences between using a UV lamp and an LED lamp, such as curing time, cost, and usability with different nail polish formulas and brands. Although your customers’ needs and budgets may differ.
The primary reason why manicurists and salons purchase a UV lamp over an LED lamp is because they don’t have to wipe out their existing gel and Shellac nail polish inventory.
Why CND UV Lamps Are the Best
CND is a global leader in manufacturing and selling professional salon products and equipment. Therefore, we had to include CND UV lamps and CND UV lamp bulbs on our list of high-quality nail lamps for salon professionals.
The CND Shellac 36W UV Lamp is a durable, reliable, safe and easy-to-use UV lamp. This CND UV lamp comes with four 9-watt CND UV lamp bulbs, which have a lifespan of up to 100 hours. The CND UV lamp accommodates drying five nails on one hand at a time and will also work for pedicures.
Because CND is a top brand and manufacturer of salon products and equipment, CND UV lamp bulbs are often more expensive than other brands. However, they are also quality products that have proven to not only be highly effective, but also reduce repeat salon visits.
- CND UV lamps are relatively easy and inexpensive to maintain (replacement UV lamp bulbs are relatively inexpensive)
- Proven to reduce repeat salon visits
- High-quality models will not overheat
- Cures polish in less time
- Designed for both manicures and pedicures
- Cures both UV and LED formulated gel and Shellac nail polish brands
CND UV Lamps Features and Benefits and CND UV Lamp Instructions
In addition to being a high-quality model and brand, CND UV lamps also come with a wide range of features, including multiple timer controls, an interior fan for faster curing, and a high wattage output.
The CND UV lamp unit is the only product guaranteed to cure Shellac in the recommended amount of time when compared to other brands and models.
So what other features and benefits does the CND Shellac UV lamp come with to make it one of the best UV lamps available?
CND UV Lamp Controls: When you first turn on your CND UV lamp, you will see three LED lights. This tells you that your CND UV lamp has power. Press the power button to turn on and use the CND UV lamp. Once the CND UV lamp is active, you can select options from the Timer Control.
The option are A, B, C and D. Timer Control option A is 10 seconds and option C is 120 seconds. The CND UV lamp clearly tells you which option is selected and the amount of time the lamp is programmed to. Timer Control options A and C are best for sufficient curing time for Gel and Shellac treatments.
Above the Timer Control “A” button is the “Start” button. Once you have selected the desired timer option, press the “Start” button to enable the interior fans and the UV light. If more or less time is needed, you can easily select the “+” or “-” buttons on the right-hand side. These buttons will add or reduce time by five-second increments.
The “Reset” Button: You will also notice that the CND UV lamp comes with a “Reset” button along with the other controls. This button will show you how many hours are left in the current CND UV lamp bulbs.
If you notice that your CND UV lamp bulbs have run out, or are close to running out, then changing your CND UV lamp bulbs is easy. Simply remove the top cover of the CND UV lamp to replace the bulbs. Watch the video above for complete CND UV lamp instructions.
Once you have successfully changed the CND UV lamp bulbs, press and hold the “Reset” button so the lamp resets back to 100 hours. If you press the “Reset” button before replacing the bulbs, then this will still reset your lamp back to 100 hours, and your lamp will think that you have changed the bulbs.
Therefore, it is recommended to ONLY hit the “Reset” button to 1) check for the remaining hours left in the bulbs, or 2) after you have successfully replaced the CND UV lamp bulbs.
Social Proof
We have scoured the Internet for customer reviews, customer feedback, and testimonials on the CND Shellac UV lamp. All in all, the results are positive, and salon professionals love the CND Shellac UV lamp, and rely on it to help give their customers a quality, beautiful gel or Shellac manicure.
Here are some of the reviews we have found from professionals who have purchased and used the CND Shellac UV lamp:
Other UV Nail Lamp Options
1. CND Shellac Brisa UV Lamp
Another CND UV lamp model that is worth considering is the *CND Shellac Brisa UV lamp*. Although this CND UV lamp is more expensive than the model we reviewed, it is still a quality UV lamp that properly cures Shellac nail polishes on both the hands and feet.
The built-in pro-light technology is powerful enough to properly cure polish and effectively building a layer of protection and resistance to chipping, peeling, and damage, protecting customers’ nails. This product is one of the most expensive options available for $149.99.
PROS:
- Compatible with all gel polish brands
- Designed with pro-light technology
- Protects customers’ nails
- Designed for both manicures and pedicures
- Equipped with CND UV lamp bulbs
CONS:
- Smaller than other CND UV lamp models
- Can take longer to dry and cure than as advertised
- Can wear out quickly for commercial use
2. MelodySusie Pro60W Nail Lamp
MelodySusie is another manufacturer and supplier of UV nail lamps and UV lamp bulbs for salon professionals. The MelodySusie Pro60W Nail Lamp actually comes equipped with both LED and UV lamp settings, making it compatible with various gel nail polish brands.
Its LED and UV lamp bulbs allow for quick-drying action, leaving customers with beautiful nails. This quality, quick-drying, and flexible UV lamp is one of the cheapest options we will look at for only $99.
PROS:
- Compatible with all gel polish brands
- Designed with an automatic sensor and four present time control options
- Cures nails but does not overheat
- Designed for both manicures and pedicures
- Equipped with both LED and UV bulbs
CONS:
- The power cord is too short and has proven to be faulty in some models
- Equipping the system with both LED and UV bulbs can require purchasing multiple packages of bulbs
- Curing can take longer than advertised
3. MelodySusie® 36W UV Nail Dryer
The MelodySusie 36W UV Nail lamp is another top-rated UV lamp product. This model comes with similar features as the Pro60W nail lamp, but with less wattage. With only 36 watts, this nail lamp is only designed for UV lamp bulbs, and the curing process can take longer since it isn’t as powerful as the 60-watt model.
All in all, this UV nail lamp still provides customers with a beautiful, quality, and properly cured gel or Shellac manicure. A salon quality product, but without the hefty price tag.
PROS:
- Exclusively UV lamp bulbs are used, lasting up to 100 hours
- Slider tray available
- Comes with an extra UV lamp bulb with purchase
- 12-mth warranty
CONS:
- Less powerful at only 36 watts
- Curing process can take longer
- Control buttons on model can be difficult to press
- Lower quality product
Choosing the Right CND UV Lamp Bulbs for Your Salon
All in all, choosing the best CND UV lamp bulbs for your salon is an important decision. You want to ensure that you purchase a quality product that quickly dries and cures gel nail polish, that doesn’t overheat, and that protect customers’ nails and hands.
Although there are several different UV and LED nail lamps available for salon professionals, we have researched and reviewed customer feedback, and CND UV nail lamps and CND UV lamp bulbs are the highest quality products for salons.
We hope that you have found this review and the CND UV lamp instructions helpful in making a decision regarding the best nail lamps and lamp bulbs as well as how to properly operate your CND UV lamp.
Do you currently use a CND UV nail lamp? If so, please share your experiences! Leave your thoughts and comments below.
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