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The Best Led Nail Dryers: 4 Reviews of Top Lamps for Your Polish

Updated on November 19, 2018
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What Are The Best LED Dryer Lights For Your Nail Polish?

If you’re hooked on gel manicures like I am, you’ll know how important a good nail dryer is.

Made with either LED or UV fluorescent bulbs, these machines quickly cure gel nail polish to a hard and durable surface. LED nail lamps are rapidly becoming popular due to their many advantages.

In this article I’ll explain why LED nail lamps work so well, and review five of the best options.

What About Shellac And LED?

While nearly all gel nail polish brands will cure using LED light, at this time CND Shellac recommends using UV dryers only. Some people have claimed to have success curing Shellac nails in LED lamps, but the only way you are guaranteed the full Shellac performance is by using the system with what it is designed for - UV light. There are rumors that CND is gearing up to release an LED light compatible with their products, but until that happens, it’s advisable to stick with the instructions offered by your product’s manufacturer.

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Why LEDs?

LED nail dryers have many advantages over UV models. For starters, they work substantially faster - taking between 10-90 seconds to cure each coat of polish, as opposed to 1-3 minutes in a UV lamp. They are more efficient, using very small amounts of power and lasting seemingly forever. They do not heat up like UV lamps do, but stay cool so your hands don’t overheat. And, perhaps best of all, the UV rays emitted from an LED nail lamp are negligible - a tiny fraction of what is emitted from a UV dryer. Plus, LED bulbs are eco-friendly - releasing no toxic chemicals to the environment upon disposal.

Be aware that LED nail lights are usually quite a bit more expensive than their UV counterparts; as well, when the bulb does eventually go, you will have to replace the entire nail lamp, rather than just buying a new lightbulb. Still, they are a worthwhile investment, considering their safety, speed, and shelf life. Let’s take a look at some of the best LED light nail polish dryers available.

1. Best Value Nail Polish Dryer: Sensationail LED Lamp Review

If you’re looking for a good, inexpensive LED nail dryer of decent quality, Sensationail’s LED light offers great value for your dollar. Although it is a no-frills machine, it gets the job done. This lamp offers one timer for 60 seconds, and a handy ‘chirp’ at the 30 second mark; for any other timing, you’ll have to pay attention to your watch.

A nice feature of the 3060 is its reflective bottom; this isn’t something you’ll always find on an inexpensive dryer, and it really adds to the lamp’s ability to cure your nails properly. The lamp will cure four fingers at a a time; you’ll need to do thumbs separately. If you plan to use this LED light for drying toenails, keep in mind that it may not fit a wider foot. Overall, for such a low price, this is a reliable LED light nail dryer - but keep in mind it does have limitations in its timing, and in its size.

2. Cutest Review: Signstek Mini Heart

If you want a really cute little LED nail lamp, this is for you. The Signstek Mini Heart really is pink and shaped like a heart - check it out! And though it draws only three watts of power, it still does the trick. It’s highly portable and offers a reflective bottom. The drawback to this lamp is its simplicity; there is no preset timer option, so you’ll have to monitor your own timings; and it’s definitely made for curing fingers and thumb separately.

This lamp isn’t going to last anywhere near as long as the bigger, higher quality models; but if you need a cute, portable, inexpensive LED light nail dryer, this might fit your needs just fine. And did I mention how cute it is?

3. Best Mid-Range Nail Polish Dryer: MelodySusie Violetili LED

The MelodySusie Violetili is a great LED dryer for your nails - and draws only 12 watts of power. It features three preset timers - for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds and comes in your choice of black or white.

This LED nail lamp does have a reflective bottom so you’ll get the maximum light exposure; however, be aware that with lamps like this all the bulbs are on the top, meaning you’ll want to be careful with your thumbs. For best results, cure the thumbs separately, as this way you’re guaranteed they will get the right light contact and cure properly. The MelodaySusie Violetili does have a short power cord, so keep in mind you may need to round up an extension cord depending on your workspace. Overall this LED nail lamp is a cute dryer that will do the job well, and last you many years.

Melody Susie Violetili Demo

4. Best Professional-Quality Nail Polish Dryer: Gelish Salon Essentials

For the ultimate gel nail polish experience, look to the original that started it all: the Gelish Salon Essentials LED Light Dryer.

This is the light used by high-end salons, and while it is definitely on the more expensive end of the scale, it is absolutely the best quality you will find - and still pays for itself after four or five manicures. This LED nail lamp has so many top pluses; it will fit both hands or feet at once, so you can save time; the lights are balanced to ensure maximum curing; and it has a sliding door that covers your hands, keeping the bright light out of your eyes. At 32 watts, this dryer is fast, and offers preset timers of 5, 20, and 30 seconds to prove it. Up to 50,000 hours of use is promised - and that’s based on full-time use in a salon.

While this LED lamp is definitely an investment, it is one of the best nail polish dryers available and will save you time, money, and hassle - and I highly recommend it.

Unboxing Of The Gelish Salon Essentials18g Lamp

A Long Wearing Poll

What is the appeal of LED lamps to you?

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Nail Dryers: Get the Right One For You

I hope this has been helpful in navigating the wilds of LED nail lamps - and determining which dryer might best suit your needs. Remember to follow the instructions of your polish manufacturer; no light can properly cure improperly applied polish.

I know you’ll be very happy with an LED nail dryer, and it will serve you well for many years. So what do you think about LED technology? Would you buy an LED lamp over UV? I’d love to know, please share in the comments!

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