Another experiment in the beauty world regarding nails is going on. And that is using a black light to cure gel nails. Let’s understand whether a black light really works or is potentially harmful.
A blacklight is an ultraviolet-emitting bulb. UV lamps, UV-A light, and Wood’s lamp are all names for black lights. Although black lights emit light, ultraviolet light is invisible to human sight; therefore, the light appears to be “black” to your eyes. A lamp that exclusively emits ultraviolet light would seem to be completely black in a room. Several black lights emit violet light. It allows users to check if the light is switched on, which helps avoid UV overexposure, which can harm the skin.
What’s The Difference Between Black Light And UV Light?
Two words appear to be confusing when reading about UV light: UV light and black light. In a nutshell, there isn’t much of a distinction, but there is a misinterpretation of the terminology. UVA light exists in black light, whereas UV light is made up of UVA, UVB, and UVC. In other terms, black light is UV light covering the 400-320nm wavelength range. As a result, a black light is a kind of UV light.
Black lights emit UV radiation (UV light) in the UV-A band. UVA photons are the least dangerous UV radiation since they have the longest wavelength and the lowest energy. The UVB and UVC rays in sunlight inflict the most harm, and prolonged exposure may lead to burning and skin cancer.
Is It Possible To Cure Gel Nails Using A Blacklight?
Yes, it is possible to do so. A UV lamp is a blacklight; however, not all UV lamps are created equal. Although the UV portion of the light spectrum is rather broad, the chemical process that sets the nails necessitates a specific wavelength of UV light at a high intensity.
How Does Black Light Dry Gel Nails?
Instead of waiting for nails to dry between coats while sitting beside an oscillating mini-fan, a gel polish treatment employs ultraviolet (UV) light to dry your nails quickly. With gel nails, spending an afternoon torturing your nails with a file, buffer, and cuticle stick just to damage your new manicure by reaching for your keys is a distant memory. The gel medium also creates a tough finish when it is exposed to UV light. Rather than a week to ten days without chipping, a UV gel nail manicure may last up to three weeks.
The application of gel polish is a multi-step procedure. Four to five coatings of a particular nail solution are applied to each synthetic or natural nail. The nails are momentarily subjected to a UV-A or Blacklight within a tiny box after each coat is applied. The nails are quick to cure and dry, but the light does more than illuminate the nail region. The sensitive flesh on the back of the hand is also illuminated. Medical specialists are becoming increasingly concerned that increased UV exposure from manicure lights may raise the risk of skin cancer. However, black light has a longer wavelength; it is less dangerous than regular UV radiation.
Is Black Light Harmful?
One of the most severe concerns about gel nail manicures is the possibility of getting cancer from the UV-A lights used to set or cure the gel. Even though black light is less harmful than UV light, consistent exposure to even modest levels of UV light can induce skin cancer. A gel nail manicure takes roughly five minutes to cure when exposed to UV light. That’s still long enough for some UV gel nail clients to acquire age spots on their hands, a precursor to UV skin damage. So, in general, the lesser your exposure, the lower the danger. When applicable, always follow the stated instructions on your nail-curing lamps to be on the safer side.
Conclusion
To dry, professional gel polishes require the use of LED or UV lights. A single layer of gel nail polish takes 30 seconds to dry under an LED bulb and 1-2 minutes under a Blacklight or UV lamp. The gel polish lamps on the market now are engineered such that the light only remains on for as long as the nail paint needs to set, and not a minute longer. So go out and get a decent light, and get those nails you’ve always wanted!
More Articles On Gel Nails:
- Are My Nails Extremely Short For Gel Nails?
- How To Dry Soak Off Gel Polish Without UV Light?
- Can You Dry Or Cure Gel Nail Polish With A Hair Dryer?
- How To Dry Soak Off Gel Polish?
- What Is UV LED Soak Off Gel Polish?
- What Is Soak Off Base Coat And Top Coat?
- How To Use Soak Off UV Gel Polish?
- What Is An UV LED Nail Lamp & How to Use it Correctly?
- Can You Use Any UV Light For Gel Nails?
- Can You Use Gel Polish For Stamping?
- Can You Use Acrylic Paints On Gel Manicured Nails?
- How To Dry Gel Nail Polish With LED Light?
- Is UV Light Necessary For Gel Nails?
- Right Way of Curing Gel Nails
