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Expert: Maggie Franklin - 6/20/2008


Question
Hello, Im curious about UV nail dryers.  Im looking for one to just help dry nail polish, not to cure gel products.  For best results do you always need to use a UV top coat with it? Or will it work just the same without one?  Ive gone to a "corner shop" just a few times to have them painted.  They use a normal OPI base and top coat (unless they are filling the bottles with something else).  Then they put me under the UV lamp.  Within 5 mins they are dry!  Whats the trick? What works best?  Know of any good dryers to purchase? Ive looked at Creative's UV Pro Finish Lamp.  That seems to atleast give me the most information on the internet.  Id love to stay under 200. And I believe the OPI dryer can only be purchased with the OPI Gel Kit.

Answer
Polish dries by evaporation of solvents. The main factor in the efficiency of a drying lamp for non-uv specific formulas is the heat that the lightbulbs put off.

So theoretically you should get satisfactory results from an ordinary 60 watt incandescent lightbulb as well.

I would give that a try first and see if you experience similar results as you do with the UV lamp at the salon. No sense spending the money on something you don't really need.

If you find that the UV lamp works better, than I think the Pro Finish lamp would work well for just drying polish.

There are several UV lamps available that should work fine, and you should be able to find one for less than $100.

In my experience in the salon, I have found that the number one thing about a UV dryer that makes them effective, is that it forces clients to keep still for 5 minutes! This almost always allows a quality, fast-dry topcoat enough time to dry enough to avoid utter disaster upon leaving the salon. Add the heat from the lamps to that time and you have a winning combination!  

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Maggie Franklin

Expertise

Professional Nailcare: nail enhancement chemistry and technique, mancuring and pedicuring. I am not qualified to give medical advice or make medical diagnoses.

Experience

I am a professional nail technician with 17 years experience in the professional beauty industry. I am licensed in the states of California (license #M120766) and Colorado (license #8611.) I have been an active member of the online mailing list at Beautytech.com since 1999 where I network with 100s of nail industry professionals around the world. Over the last 15 years I have accumulated several advanced training certificates, including the coveted Creative Nail Designs Master Nail Technician status, and personal training by Tammy Taylor, Tom Bachik, and Tom Holcomb. I briefly joined the competition circuit in 2002, taking first place in the second annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition in the Enhancement 2 category. In 2009 I have decided to make time in my schedule to get back into competition by joining "Team Pink," the competition team captained by current world champion nail technician, Lynn Lammers. I boast several contributions to articles that have appeared in both Nails and Nailpro magazines, including a brief stint as a Nails Magazine Help Desk contributor and now I write a semi-weekly blog for Nails Magazine while continuing to attend tradeshows and continuing education events.

Organizations
Nail Tech mailist list at Beautytech.com

Publications
Nails Magazine. Nailpro Magazine. Blogging for Nails Magazine since September, 2008: http://blogs.nailsmag.com/maggie/

Education/Credentials
CA license #M120766. CO license #8611. CND Master Nail Technician. Tom Holcomb Academy. Personal training with Tom Bachik. Two day advanced training with Tammy Taylor. AEFM certified for use of electric file. HRTE (High Road to Education) in San Jose, CA 2009.

Awards and Honors
2nd Annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition, 1st place in Enhancement 2. Member of "Team Pink" competition team 2009. 3rd place, Novice tip-and-overlay relay at IBS Las Vegas, 2009.

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