What is better than having your nails manicured? It’s not the design, nor the color of the polish, but the kind of polish that you would rather have coated on your fingernails. With a gel nail polish, anyone has a better polish option one that would stay clear and cling onto your nails not only for weeks but even up to three weeks. Not only does gel polish lasts longer than ordinary lacquer, but it also has no strong scent like regular polish. It can even make your fingernails stronger with each use as many gel polish manufacturers have added healthy ingredients in every bottle of gel polish.
The Best Gel Polish Reviews
One concern with gel nail polish, however, is that gel polished nails need to be placed for a few minutes under a UV lamps or LED lamps to cure (dry) the gel polish as it contains pre-mixed semi-solid monomers and oligomers that will thoroughly bond when exposed under a UV or LED lamp. The gel also contains a photoinitiator, an ingredient that absorbs light and transforms it into the energy required to initiate the polymerization process.
During this process, the monomers and oligomers in the mixture combine to form long, interlocking chains, a process called as cross-linking. These long, bonded chains contribute to the hardening of the gel hard and make it resistant to breakage, chipping, and smudging. Most of these photoinitiators that react in light wavelengths of 340 to 380 nanometers (nm.) Even while regular nail polish requires about 20-30 minutes of air drying time, it can still be smudged, cracked, or dented even hours after application. Properly cured gel nail polish will stay bonded and cling to the nails even after two weeks, however. Drying or curing gel polished nails using an L.E.D. light may take about 5–10 seconds with a 36 watt LED lamp.
Use UV & LED Lights That Harm Your Hand Skin?
Many have raised their concern regarding the use of these lamps to have gel polished nails and drove many health enthusiasts to investigate the process and the use of the lamps to cure the gel polish. An updated report of The Skin Cancer Foundation impresses that, “even the most intense of these devices presents only a moderate UV risk – a far lower risk than that presented by UV tanning devices." Just to stay on the safe side, you would need to follow the recommendations to get the best results from a gel manicure without the guilt of experts, including the use of the right polish with the appropriate curing lamp for the appropriate amount of time.
Applying sunscreen with a higher SPF and one that applies to both UVB and UVA about 20 minutes before exposing the hands to these lamps, as well as wearing fingerless gloves, to avoid unnecessary UV exposure.
If you are still worried about the possible effect of UV exposure with gel polish, you don’t need to fret anymore as recent developments in gel manicures over the past years include gel-type formulas that do not need exposure to UV or LED lamps to dry. The process first requires the application of a base coat then a top coat that bonds with the base coat to harden the polish and make it last longer than a regular nail polish. These gel-type formulas are also DIY, budget, and time-friendly, thus proving to be yet the better alternative than the gel nail polish. In essence, with the gel-type polish, you get all the qualities of a gel polish minus UV light exposure.
The Nail Polish Does Not Use the Lamp Better Use the Lamp?
The question now stands, which is better the gel polish that requires either a UV lamp of a LED lamp to cure or the no light gel polish? As already mentioned, both the gel and the gel-type polish offers a lasting finish that holds luster and shade longer than regular polish. If you are a salon owner, offering a gel-type polish service would mean a cheaper and quicker service to your clients without sacrificing the quality of the polished nails as both types would give up to two-weeks of stunning-looking polished fingernails.
As there are many regular dnd nail polish available on the market, so are their gel and gel-type formulas that you can find in the market as well. To make it easier for you decide which to use, we have listed here our recommendations for best no light gel polish.
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
Probably one of the most favored among the different brands of gel-type polish is Sally Hansen’s Miracle gel nail polish. It’s the only true two-step gel manicure and requires no exposure to UV or LED lights to cure. The process only requires buffing your clean nails and coating them with one of the more than 45 shades available from Sally Hansen.
Like real gel polish, it will cling to your nails for about two weeks before you may need to have them removed. Removal is also easy and does not even need soaking to peel off. It can come off with both acetone and non-acetone polish remover.
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Set 6-Piece Random Collection
Want a better deal of the same brand? Here’s one you should be looking at. Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel random collection of 6 bottles of the same quality brand for you to mix and match. You will need a top coat to go with this package, however. With this package, you have more color options to choose from. It is also easy to remove with a regular nail polish remover.
If you need a great gift idea, you could probably have this as an option. It will come as a surprise, however, as you would not know what colors are in the collection until you open it. You have to hurry as there are only 5 left in stock as we write this review. At $28 plus free shipping, it is a good buy.
Seche Vive Gel Effect Top Coat
This nail polish is specially formulated to give you a high-shine finish without the help of a UV or LED light. It is also a quick-drying, long-lasting top coat that can easily be removed with either an acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover. Seche Vive is a clear liquid gel that can be used for both natural and artificial nail applications.
If you are looking for that long-lasting shine that won’t budge for weeks. You pay only $0.27 plus shipping when you buy from Amazon.
Santee 6 Gel Effect No UV/LED light needed plus free earrings
If you are still undecided which brand to choose, here is another option you may consider. Santee Gel effect will give you the same shine other gel nail polish offers without the need to expose your fingers to a UV or a LED light. No top coat needed. Just apply two coats of the Santee Gel effect and get the same gel effect you always wanted. No chipping, breaking, or smudging for up to 14 days.
Removing the polish is also easy. It comes off with regular nail polish remover quickly and easily. With Santee Gel effect, you won’t need several trips to the salon after every few days. Your fingernails will be looking stunning for up to two weeks. The six colors that come with the package are White, Blackberry, Gold, Silver, Metallic Pink, and Cinamon. Each purchase comes with a free gift.
SXC Cosmetics 36 Color Gel Effect Nail Lacquer
Here are more selections you can mix and match with the SXC Cosmetics. Each purchase comes with trending 36 pieces of 14ml/0.5oz gel-like effect lacquer in full-size nail glass bottles and a professional quality brush. Cracking, chipping, and peeling nail polish can be a problem if you are still using natural nail polish. Frequent visit to the nail spa not only be taxing, but it can also damage your nails with frequent cleaning and much nail management products touching the surfaces of your fingernails and nail beds.
With more than one option of SXC Cosmetics, you have more options to choose from and get the gel effect that will give your nails that longer lasting shine that won’t break or crack easily. Using this gel-like formula will also not require a LED or UV lamp nail dryer. The package is combined with 6 GEL Coat.
Gel nail polish is a great alternative to regular nail lacquers. Get the stunning look that could last even up to two weeks, but could easily be taken off with a regular polish remover at less the time required than gel polish cured under a UV/LED light. Enjoy chip-free and stunning shades that shine for weeks with these non-UV options.
You can pick one on this list. If you have already tried a non-UV Kiara Sky gel polish or still deciding which to have, might as well connect with other readers and nail enthusiasts through the comments’ section below and see what others have to share.