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The first question is: What's the difference?
Here is a picture of a traditional UV lamp. It’s probably the most common that you’ll see especially if you’re just starting out or if you’re looking for a cheap type of lamp. This is the very original one. What a traditional UV lamp really is, is a CFL UV lamp CFL means compact fluorescent. And there is also CCFL which means cool cathode or cool compact. And the fluorescent bulbs in it are what makes it work. This fluorescent light bulb emits a portion of the spectrum of UV light. So with this, you can cure the gels. This lamp was usually used about ten years ago.
But now days, LED has completely taken over. It has a different type of light bulb inside. And LED stands for light emitting diode. You may find some of the LED bulbs have different colors, some are yellow some are transparent. That’s because they have different style of dome over the bulb to spread the light and also to protect the bulbs.
And what important is this is also UV lamp. So you can see the difference, CFL lamps and LED lamps are both UV lamps but with different bulbs. And they both cure gel polish.
So why are CFL lamps are replaced by LED lamps?
LED UV lamps are able to emit the full spectrum of light needed to cure both traditional gels and the newer LED formulas and so they can cure all the gels. So you don’t need to replace the bulbs to cure specific gels. And you can expect it to last five years or more and it almost never lose power.
You don’t need to replace the bulbs in LED lamps.
The bulbs in CFL lamps usually need to be changed after six months, because they lose their ability to cure. And LED lamps don’t have that problem.
3. LED lamps take less time to cure the gels.
How do we choose the right UV nail lamp:
In the past CFL lamps could take up to five minutes to cure traditional gels. But LED lamps with that focus very high penetrating type of light that’s going into the gel, they only need up to 1 minute to cure the gels. So LED lamps not only do faster but also better job.
But because LED lamps doesn’t glow as much as CFL lamps. It’s very focused. So you have to ensure that the number of LED bulbs to be more but also arranged properly, even on the sides.
what wattage led lamp do i need for gel nails?
About 36 watts.
the wattage of lamps is divided into 9 watts, 18 watts, 36 watts, 42 watts, the higher the wattage nail hardening speed is faster, but you need to check the relevant information before using.
The light of the nail lamp belongs to the long-wave ultraviolet light, generally does not produce serious damage to the skin, but it does make the skin tanned, aging.
Although it is harmless to take a short time to cure, you should always pay attention to the maintenance of your hands. It is best to apply sunscreen and then do your manicure
Reinforced gel polish, also known as hardener ,as the name implies, is a kind of UV gel that increases the firmness. But this is just a simple literal understanding, hardener's function and use can be more than you think.
Reinforced gel polish has the role of preventing nail polish from warping and cracking, protecting the top coat and color gel from scratches ; Reinforced gel polish is a nail polish that is needed when doing manicure, because some people's nails are too thin, applying Reinforced gel polish can increase the thickness and hardness of the nail
A lot of girls like to do a beautiful manicure, but some girls nails are naturally thin and very soft, their manicure is easy to fall off or break very easy, and that's when the Reinforced gel polish will come in handy, reinforced gel polish as the name implies is used to strengthen the nail, it can increase the thickness and hardness of the nail, to avoid the nail too soft and nail polish gel warping, so even if your nails are thin and soft, with the reinforced gel polish used you will not be afraid of the nails breaking.
It is important to note that you don't need to wash the reinforced gel polish after you apply it, so you can put the color gel on directly after it is dried.
Different formulas of reinforcing gel will have different effects, some reinforced gel polish will be a little thinner, some will be a little thicker.
For the less viscous reinforced gel polish, its functions are:
1. leveling the nail surface
2. lighten the pen marks
3. make the pattern more transparent and vibrant.
4. For marble ink effect, Due to its low consistency, the color gel will spread easily on the uncured reinforced gel polish. This way you get the marble ink effect.
For the higher viscosity of the reinforced gel polish,its functions are:
1. strengthen the nail
2. to stick some small decorations
3. to fill in the nail surface.
If your nails are thin, you can choose a thicker reinforcing gel so that your nails are strong enough.
The right steps are:
first apply a base coat, then apply the reinforced gel polish on top of the base coat, and finally apply the color gel.
After applying the color gel, you can apply another layer of reinforced gel polish, which should not be cured, so you can fix some small decorations on the undried reinforced gel polish.
After adding some small decorations, the nail surface will be uneven, so you can choose to use a thinner reinforced gel polish to make the whole surface smoother. A less thick reinforced gel polish will have a good flow, so it will also lighten the brush marks left on the nail surface during the application of the color gel.
You can use a sanding strip to smooth the surface of the nail and apply the top coat at the end and done!
Reinforced gel polish is just another way of saying hardener, and we have a detailed article on unna hardener.
Prime your nails before applying nail polish. In addition to remove grease or cream around and at the base of your nails, apply a protective layer to your nails. Shake the nail polish before applying nail polish to make the color in the bottle as uniform as possible.
How to match black nail polish?
What color nail polish would you choose?
What is the method of applying nail polish?
Usually people think that black goes well with almost all colors. True, that's mostly true for clothes and shoes, but black nail polish isn't everything.
The trick: When you're in gold and silver clothes, black nail polish is an excellent choice. In fact, it is a simple comparison method. Other places are very dazzling, and the pressure of the fingertips can make people look calmer.
For a simple outfit, choose gold flats, a white or dark brown top, and black skinny jeans. The colors of other accessories can be freely chosen. Black nail polish and any gold on the body can form a strong contrast, and can set off the gold especially shiny.
Lovely pink - pink and tender pink is always the representative color of kawaii and is most popular with beautiful girls. Bright pink, lively and elegant, neither glamorous nor mediocre, it can instantly enhance your sweetness when you apply it on your fingertips.
Pink purple - romantic lavender from Provence, if you want to be a mysterious fashion girl, don't miss this secret weapon, the light pink purple and transparent luster will highlight your flawless skin.
Metallic gray - low-key dark gray seems to be popular for several seasons, until now, dark gray has changed the previous concentration, adding a little metallic luster, low-key revealing luxurious charm, if applied on the fingertips, Rich and pure nail polish shades create subtle shadows and highlights, adding depth and mystery to fingertips.
Apply an appropriate amount of nail polish on the base coat.
The nail polish is first rubbed on the fingertips in the center of the nail polish to avoid touching and falling off
Open the pulp from the center of the nail polish and apply it from the base of the finger to the tip of the finger
Divide the nail surface into thirds and apply one side first
Then fill up the other side and apply a second coat of nail polish
If the nail polish is accidentally applied and overflows the nail area, use a cotton swab to dab it with light water and carefully wipe it off
Apply a coat of clear, quick-drying top coat.
Unna was born to be a color expert. We have a full color collection of 900 colors for you to choose from and match. unna's colors are inspired by many sources, such as "Ultramarine", which is derived from lapis lazuli. Carmine, for example, is extracted from cochineal. We also look for inspiration from the paintings of artists, such as our Prussian blue, etc.
The ingredients of ordinary Nail Polish generally consist of two categories, one is composed of solid ingredients, mainly pigments, glossy substances, etc.; the other consists of liquid solvent components, mainly acetone, ethyl acetate phthalate, formaldehyde.
What are the colors of Nail Polish?
What principles can be used to choose Nail Polish?
What styles of Nail Polish are available?
As a cosmetic, Nail Polish will form a film after being applied to the surface of the nails, which not only protects the nails, but also has the effect of beautifying the nails. Nail Polish can be divided into different color series according to its color, such as red series, green series, purple series, etc. Different color series can be subdivided into different color numbers, such as wine red, pink and so on. Due to the differences in the cosmetic effects of different colors of Nail Polish, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the color of Nail Polish. The common method is to perform visual inspection under unified standard light source conditions or in a standard light source box.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right Nail Polish. Can it complement your complexion? Is it enough to go with your favorite clothes? Does it look cheap? While it's usually easy enough to answer all of these questions ourselves, we can also look to a very stylish team for nail art inspiration: fashion suits.
Learn from this group of street-style models, bloggers and cool girls. Not only do they know the most popular clothing choices, but they also have a finger on the pulse of the prettiest and most unexpected nail colors. After all, they have an eye for beauty, so it makes perfect sense that this good taste would extend to their fingertips.
1. Blush Nails
Blush nails are created by combining beige Nail Polish and pink, a subtle and muted shade. So subtle that it can match almost everything in your wardrobe.
2. Lilac Nails
Lilac is probably the most underrated of all the Nail Polish shades on this list, but when applied gracefully without a ton of manicure, lilac nails look beautiful, especially in spring and summer. The trick is to choose a muted lilac, almost like a lilac version of blush. It also works on most outfits, from blue to grey and pink to yellow. Try it out - you might be surprised how much you like it!
3. Classic Red Nails
Classic red nails are a timeless color that exudes femininity, confidence and overall elegance, nothing more. So no matter what you wear, rest assured that red Nail Polish is always appropriate.
For more information about Nail Polish, please contact UNNA brand, which is committed to improving Nail Polish and making it better, more reliable and consistent. The brand UNNA origins from four words: unlimited, nail, new, artist which shows the mission of the brand - Unlimited new colors are made for nail beauty artists.
Friends who love manicure must know very well about nail polish, such as a variety of color choices, a variety of styles to choose from. However, how many friends know that they need to apply base coat before applying nail polish? Is the base coat the kind of clear nail polish?
What is the base coat in nail polish?
What does the base coat in nail polish do?
What are the steps to use nail polish?
The base coat is the first layer of nail polish applied during manicure. It is divided into three categories. One is to isolate colored nail polish and real nails to prevent pigmentation. One is to increase nail hardness to prevent breakage or delamination. Another is to prevent the nails from turning yellow.
Some friends think that the base coat is the transparent gel, but it is not. The base coat is used to protect the nails. It can not only protect the nails, but also show a lustrous luster. But clear nail polish cannot be used as a base coat, because it does not have the effect of preventing pigment penetration as a base coat.
What does the base coat in nail polish do?
Everyone can understand that the isolation cream used before makeup is used for isolation and protection. Without a primer before a manicure, your nails will quickly become brittle and yellow. Similarly, the base coat is different from the nail polish. The base coat can protect the nails, but it has no moisturizing effect on the nails.
Even if you just want a light coat of nail polish, you should apply a base coat first. The primer can protect the real nails from damage, prevent the nails from being stained by the nail polish, and at the same time improve the durability of the nail polish, you must remember to apply it before the manicure.
Shake the nail polish well. Shake the nail polish bottle gently before applying nail polish to make the color more even.
Apply primer. The role of the primer is to make the color last longer and prevent the nails from turning yellow or breaking.
Dip in nail polish. Dab a small amount of nail polish with the tip of the brush and sweep across the mouth of the bottle to remove excess.
Color the nails. First apply a stroke to the center of the nail, then apply the left and right sides, be careful to apply lightly, and then apply the second layer.
Repaint fingertips. After two coats of color, focus on the ends of the nails to make the color last longer.
Apply top coat. Finally, coat the nails with a clear top coat to give the nails a lustrous look.
UNNA developed a breakthrough system with 900 colors specially designed for all the nail artists to simplify color selection, with impressive and powerful visual effects. Besides, UNNA’s compound formula consisting of the medical photosensitive resin and cosmetic color paste makes its gel more outstanding.
Different nail colors are suitable for different fingers, and for many people with fat fingers, it is often difficult to choose.
Here is our summary of the best nail colors for fat fingers
The first step is that you should pick a color that suits you and then choose the right style. A right color can affect your mood for the next few weeks. We believe that we shouldn't blindly follow trendy colors, what suits you is the best.
In this article, I will share the best nail colors for fat fingers. They will make your fingers look slimmer and complement your temperament.
Nude is the best color for fat fingers because it is closer to the color of your skin and visually gives you a sense of extensions, making your fingers look slimmer.
If your skin tone is pale, then a light, sheer pink would be your first choice; you can also choose a light cream or beige; this will also blend well on pale skin. If you have wheatish skin, then a pink shade with neutral tones will work well. Try choosing a lighter but opaque pink because if you have olive skin, choosing a sheer pink may be too thin to do you any good.
The darker your skin tone, the less likely you are to choose a sheer color; again, this will compliment your skin tone better than a sheer polish. Any color from light beige to dark chocolate is great for medium to deep skin tones.
French manicure is another style that is great for fat fingers because it creates a smooth transition between your fingers and nails and doesn't look too abrupt. The tip of the French manicure can also give you a more natural look.
As a classic nail style, they give you a feeling that will be clean and elegant. This is why it will always be in the trend ranks. Mixing a nude base with white tips, as it is just an enhanced version of a natural nail.
These five tips will help stop your gel nails from lifting and help them last longer in better condition. What is great about these tips is that they are simple things that can be done, it doesn’t take any extra time, but they can improve the experience you have with your gel nails.
Picking a gel nail off will not only ruin your manicure, but it causes a lot of damage to your nail bed. Your nail bed has many layers of skin cells, and picking your gel nail off takes the top protective layers off.
This will cause your natural nails to be a lot weaker and cause an uneven surface; an unhealthy surface will lead to your future manicure chip more.
So, even though we all get the urge to pick at our gel manicures, it is essential to resist the temptation; otherwise, it will damage our future manicures.
As we stated earlier, applying a top coat is very important as it seals the gel polish. Most people forget that you can apply thin layers of a topcoat after having your nails done, which ensures that the seal is strong and keeps your nails in the best condition possible for as long as possible.
Topping up on a topcoat means that you don’t need the strongest topcoat; a thin quick-dry topcoat will work just as well, as it is essential to remember that you are only using it to keep the seals tight, not to form the seals.
Preventing your nails from getting chipped is so much better than having to fix them. You can do so many simple things in your everyday life to prevent your nails from getting chipped, for example, wearing gloves when washing up or cleaning, not opening boxes using your nails, or the worst one, biting your nails.
These are such simple changes in your day that could cause your nails to be in better condition; they may seem like a bit of hassle, but once you get used to it and see how much it improves your manicure, they’ll instantly become part of your routine.
The recommended amount of time you should have gel nails on is two to three weeks, and although it can be tempting to leave them for longer if they don’t look outgrown or chipped, you should try to get them done within the recommended time.
If not, you do cause potential damage to your nail beds; again, it can weaken them. Another issue with leaving them too long is that any moisture that can get under the nail once the gel starts lifting can cause bacteria to grow, leading to infections.
This may not be a common thing to happen, but it is possible and something that we’d all like to avoid, so make sure you don’t leave it too long.
If you find it hard to get your nails redone regularly, giving your nails a break is also beneficial. Having back-to-back manicures will cause your nails to get dehydrated, so giving your nails a break every other manicure or so will help strengthen your nails.
Not only that, but it will make your future manicure better quality, so your nails will defiantly thank you and reward you for the much-needed break.
Today, we want to bring the truth to the nail industry and to all of the Manicure Lovers.
To be precise, what we are going to talk about today is "HEMA Free gel polish"
HEMA is one of those words that if you have heard Hema before, It’s kind of those crazy words that’s taken the industry by storm and people will have a huge reaction to it. And a lot of us don’t even know why we have a huge reaction.
Now let’s talk about what Hema is and why Hema could potentially cause problems
Hema, it’s chemical name is 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate
So is Hema a necessary component in gels?
Actually Hema is added because it gives us really good adhesion of the natural nail.
Natural nails are made of keratin and keratin protein likes that are carboxylic acids and Hema is sort of a long-chain carboxylic acid with a hydroxyl group on one end.
The OH group on the Hema allows it to be more miscible with water so if you have water on you fingernails, so it doesn’t reject the Hema. Hema is also really good as its seen it only has one functional reactive site for the UV cured systems or acrylic systems. So because it only has one of those carbon-carbon double bonds on one end that’s the methacrylate, because it only has one of those it only can enter into one portion of a die functional reaction. So it becomes a chain terminator. If chains could get too long they can become too rigid or they can become too brittle or just not good adhesion.
So, Hema isn’t inherently a bad thing because it creates great adhesion to the natural nail plate, it could bonds with that. But one of the downsides of Hema is that it can get out of control if it’s not bound within the formula properly, or if you get it on your skin, and when you are applying things that contain monomeric Hema you want to make sure that you avoid skin contact. And that’s why as you may have see on pretty much every label for nail care products says “avoid skin contact”
But there are ways that we can make formulas even safer than having Hema added.
And so if you see Hema on the ingredient list that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but question might come up what’s the concentration of Hema in a systerm. If the product has 40 percent concentration of Hema in a gel polish system, that increases the chance of becoming allergic to the Hema. There is other molecules that we can use that also have good reactions and good adhesion in a natural nail.Take Hema’s sibling HPMA Hydroxypropyl methacrylate has one additional carbon atom in the backbone and that Hydroxypropyl methacrylate is less allergenic. So some products wind up taking something that has 50% Hema to 25%Hema and 25%HPMA. And there’s other monomers can be added in there as well.
The answer is “oligomers”. So how it compares to a monomer?
Oligomer is typically molecule has been built based on the backbone of one of the resins so it’s basically Hema but attached to the Oligomer chain. And oligomer is ten times the size of Hema monomer. As a result, It’s less likely to enter you bloodstream if it comes in contact with your skin, which makes it safer.
So why companies choose to put so much monomer instead of choosing to put more oligomers in their product?
The answer is very simple. Because Hema is very cheap, so with more Hema, the price will be cheaper. Because it reduces the raw material cost. Oligomers on the other hand are mega expensive. Compared to Hema the oligomers are about 10 times the cost.
As for unna, our brand was born with the goal of being 100% HEMA-free, and we tested the most common gel polishes on the market that claim to be HEMA-free. The result is that almost none of them can do so.
We are willing to accept the test from the market and we are confident that we will become the new standard in the nail industry. We are looking for partners and agents all over the world. If you want to start your own business, please contact us and we will help you get started.