SOGs: HOT BURNING sensation while curing with LED..Questions! >>

D

diram

Member
Jul 18, 2010
208
1
#1
Good News:
I found my perfect medium shade of nude polish! It is Gelish Mauvy-Mauve (mini bottle). It's slightly deeper than one of my HG nude rnp shades: OPI Dulce de Leche. I love it!


Bad News:
While curing with my Mally LED lamp, a few of my nail beds began BURNING! As in HOT! not just "warn". Felt like a match was lit on them. OUCH!

I was a bit shocked, as this hasn't happened before (I've done 2 other gel manis with Gelish color and Mally base and top coat with NO burning). I honestly can't remember how long it took for me to pull my fingers out, I was just so stunned when the burning feeling happened. A few sec, maybe?
I read that this can happen if you apply layers on too thickly. I thought I applied pretty thinly, but???

___________________________



Questions:
Now what?
1---Should I leave the polish on and hope all is well beneath it?
My nails do not feel sore now, but they did for several min after I finished the mani last night...


Or, should I remove the polish?
I thought this might just irritate them further, and thought I should just wait it out?

2---Since it was only on a few nails (maybe 3?), does that mean it was NOT the lamp at fault? but rather my application of the product on those nails? (my guess) Or could it be this particular Gelish color that was the problem? or?



3----
Does Gelish make a polish thinner???


Thanks for any help!
 
#3
My understanding is that this happens either because the polish has been applied too thickly OR, the nails underneath may be damaged and thin.

I don't think it is the lamp. If you were able to complete the cure I don't think I would remove the gel
 
#4
I've never heard of Gelish thinner but there are a few other brands that claim to work for all gel polishes. Can't remember the brands but if you check Google, you should find them
 
#5
diram said:
Good News:
Questions:
Now what?
1---Should I leave the polish on and hope all is well beneath it?
My nails do not feel sore now, but they did for several min after I finished the mani last night...


Or, should I remove the polish?
I thought this might just irritate them further, and thought I should just wait it out?

2---Since it was only on a few nails (maybe 3?), does that mean it was NOT the lamp at fault? but rather my application of the product on those nails? (my guess) Or could it be this particular Gelish color that was the problem? or?



3----
Does Gelish make a polish thinner???


Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...

When gel lacquer cures, it creates an exothermic reaction. With a UV lamp, which cures slowly, that reaction happens slowly and is rarely noticed. With an LED lamp however, the reaction happens quickly and noticeably - a heat spike. While some people are just more sensitive to this than others, it is usually painful when either your nails are thin (usually from over-filing) or the polish is too thick. But it can be caused by a mismatch between your lamp and your gel polish.

I'd leave the nails on for now, but you get any more symptoms, remove them. Based on what you've said before about difficult removals, I strongly suspect that you are applying your polish way too thick. Both the difficult removal and the heat spike correlate with that. If you find that you're just sensitive to it, then start curing with your hand on the outside edge of the lamp for 10-20 seconds, then insert all the way and cure for the full time.

No Gelish thinner yet, but Gelös is a gel polish thinner made by LeChat that they say can be used with all gel polishes. Gel II and NSI also make one.
 
#6
NancyG said:
When gel lacquer cures, it creates an exothermic reaction. With a UV lamp, which cures slowly, that reaction happens slowly and is rarely noticed. With an LED lamp however, the reaction happens quickly and noticeably - a heat spike. While some people are just more sensitive to this than others, it is usually painful when either your nails are thin (usually from over-filing) or the polish is too thick. But it can be caused by a mismatch between your lamp and your gel polish.

I'd leave the nails on for now, but you get any more symptoms, remove them. Based on what you've said before about difficult removals, I strongly suspect that you are applying your polish way too thick. Both the difficult removal and the heat spike correlate with that. If you find that you're just sensitive to it, then start curing with your hand on the outside edge of the lamp for 10-20 seconds, then insert all the way and cure for the full time.

No Gelish thinner yet, but Gelös is a gel polish thinner made by LeChat that they say can be used with all gel polishes. Gel II and NSI also make one.
Click to expand...
I have the Ink gel thinner which works great.
 
#7
Everything NancyG said is accurate.

I will add that when people say thin coats, they mean super thin. I always tell people that if you can not see your nail through the first coat then it was too thick. There are of course a few exceptions with very dark and highly pigmented shades, but for the most part the coats should be fairly translucent. You shouldn't achieve full color until at least the second, if not the third coat of polish.

NancyG said:
When gel lacquer cures, it creates an exothermic reaction. With a UV lamp, which cures slowly, that reaction happens slowly and is rarely noticed. With an LED lamp however, the reaction happens quickly and noticeably - a heat spike. While some people are just more sensitive to this than others, it is usually painful when either your nails are thin (usually from over-filing) or the polish is too thick. But it can be caused by a mismatch between your lamp and your gel polish.

I'd leave the nails on for now, but you get any more symptoms, remove them. Based on what you've said before about difficult removals, I strongly suspect that you are applying your polish way too thick. Both the difficult removal and the heat spike correlate with that. If you find that you're just sensitive to it, then start curing with your hand on the outside edge of the lamp for 10-20 seconds, then insert all the way and cure for the full time.

No Gelish thinner yet, but Gelös is a gel polish thinner made by LeChat that they say can be used with all gel polishes. Gel II and NSI also make one.
Click to expand...
 
#8
Thank you all very much for the advice!
I will keep the polish on for now, unless I start feeling any soreness. So far, so good.

Since I had such a hard removal the first go round, maybe some of my nails did get damaged. Maybe that is why, as some of you mentioned, I felt the burning sensation.

Thanks again!
 
#9
Nancy G (or anyone else who might know!):

Would using a UV lamp then prevent any type of "burning" sensation issues?

I found a Thermal Spa lamp (45 watt) on Amazon.
I believe that there is also a 35 watt one.

If using a UV lamp would prevent any burning issues, does it matter which of the 2 Thermal Spa lamps I buy? Is the lower watt the one I should go for? or the higher watt?


I still plan to practice getting the polish thinner, but I had to admit I'm a bit scared to feel that burn again. I may just wait until my nails grow completely out, before I try the LED lamp again.... I know that the UV lamp will mean longer curing times, BUT that is fine with me as long as it means I won't risk feeling that burn again. I really did think I got those layers on as thin as I could, but maybe the polish just needs thinning.... I read they can thicken if exposed to light and I do have my vanity mirror lights on while doing my nails, so maybe the polish did thicken? I'm going to buy some thinner to use before re-doing my nails next go round.




Thanks!
 
#10
diram said:
Nancy G (or anyone else who might know!):

Would using a UV lamp then prevent any type of "burning" sensation issues?

I found a Thermal Spa lamp (45 watt) on Amazon.
I believe that there is also a 35 watt one.

If using a UV lamp would prevent any burning issues, does it matter which of the 2 Thermal Spa lamps I buy? Is the lower watt the one I should go for? or the higher watt?


I still plan to practice getting the polish thinner, but I had to admit I'm a bit scared to feel that burn again. I may just wait until my nails grow completely out, before I try the LED lamp again.... I know that the UV lamp will mean longer curing times, BUT that is fine with me as long as it means I won't risk feeling that burn again. I really did think I got those layers on as thin as I could, but maybe the polish just needs thinning.... I read they can thicken if exposed to light and I do have my vanity mirror lights on while doing my nails, so maybe the polish did thicken? I'm going to buy some thinner to use before re-doing my nails next go round.




Thanks!
Click to expand...
No matter what you use, there is an exothermic reaction during the polymerization of the gel polish. UV lamps cure slower so the spike is felt less. You can also slow the reaction with an LED lamp by keeping your hand just outside the lamp for 10-20 before inserting it for the full time. The most important thing is to match your lamp to your gel polish. If your gel says a 36 watt lamp, that's what you use. There is no easily accessible way of determining whether the cure is complete, so it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

I don't mean to chastise, but I strongly believe that you are going too fast and across too many brands. I think you may do yourself some damage this way. A mismatch between gel and lamp is a leading cause of heat spikes. Try to pick a brand and stick with all its components and once you have that down, branch out. Also, change only one variable at a time to figure out what works for you.
 
#11
NancyG,


I appreciate the help! No worries! :smile:


Q:
I have the Mally LED lamp, but I do NOT like her polish colors. Therefore, I guess I will NO longer use her lamp, as per your comment then. Correct? That is $200 down the tube, but am willing to buy a diff lamp IF I can use many brands of gel polish with it. Otherwise, I couldn't afford to buy various lamps.


Q:
A:
Are you saying that I have to only use a Gelish lamp for Gelish polish?
And an OPI lamp for OPI gel polish?
And an ACG lamp for ACG polish? wow, too expensive!

B:
Or are you saying that I must/should/can buy ANY brand of "36watt" UV lamp, IF the polish brand/s I like say I must use a "36 watt UV lamp"? ie, if (hypothetically) Gelish and OPI and ACG and IBD all say to use a "36w UV lamp", then ANY brand of 36w UV lamp will suffice. Is this correct?

I'm hoping B is the correct answer.


Sorry if I sound confused -- it's because I am.
I simply want to buy ONE more lamp, yet I want to be able to use more than just ONE brand of polish. I don't see how I can "pick a brand I like best" IF I'm unable to test various brands with the lamp/s I have. I certainly cannot buy a lamp for each "test" brand. All I know so far is that I do NOT like Mally's color selection of polish.


I'd like an alternative lamp, and hopefully one that will give me the widest range of brands to test out with it.


Wanting to have my cake and eat it to, it seems.... :/
 
#12
diram said:
NancyG,


I appreciate the help! No worries! :smile:


Q:
I have the Mally LED lamp, but I do NOT like her polish colors. Therefore, I guess I will NO longer use her lamp, as per your comment then. Correct? That is $200 down the tube, but am willing to buy a diff lamp IF I can use many brands of gel polish with it. Otherwise, I couldn't afford to buy various lamps.

I think if you don't like a line, then get rid of it. If they won't take it back (which they should given your horrible removal experience), you can probably sell the lamp for a decent price. It may be just my bias, but I've never liked the Mally line
Q:
A:
Are you saying that I have to only use a Gelish lamp for Gelish polish?
And an OPI lamp for OPI gel polish?
And an ACG lamp for ACG polish? wow, too expensive!

Actually, sort of yes. Manufacturers generally insist that you use their lamp with their gel polish. In the beginning, it was absolutely required and still is for CND Shellac. As the market has grown, it appears that some standardization has begun to emerge, but most gel polish makers are taking a very cautious approach to it. But given the nasty consequences of improperly cured gel and the liability associated with it, cautious is probably the best approach. And most professionals still stick to this.
B:
Or are you saying that I must/should/can buy ANY brand of "36watt" UV lamp, IF the polish brand/s I like say I must use a "36 watt UV lamp"? ie, if (hypothetically) Gelish and OPI and ACG and IBD all say to use a "36w UV lamp", then ANY brand of 36w UV lamp will suffice. Is this correct?

I'm hoping B is the correct answer.
If only it were that simple! If you use Gelish, for example, you can use any 36 watt UV lamp or the Gelish LED lamps. OPI says you must use the OPI Gelcolor lamp or Axxium UV lamp. Now, off the record, Gelish has said that The OPI light will cure Gelish and vice-versa. And Gelish and ACG are made by the same company and Jessica lamps are made by HNH. TruGel/IBD Just Gel/Supernails ProGel are all the same so all their lamps should work with each other. China Glaze Gelaze only says 36w for both UV and LED. Are you dizzy yet!?

Sorry if I sound confused -- it's because I am. It is a confusing situation, one created because each brand is a silo and doesn't really deal with working with other brands. Gelish is a notable exception here.

I simply want to buy ONE more lamp, yet I want to be able to use more than just ONE brand of polish. I don't see how I can "pick a brand I like best" IF I'm unable to test various brands with the lamp/s I have. I certainly cannot buy a lamp for each "test" brand. All I know so far is that I do NOT like Mally's color selection of polish.
We're not really at the point where anyone can really say that there is one lamp that will cure anything. There is a reason for this. The UV range of LED lamps and polishes is small and being off by a few nanometers can mean a bad cure. So no gel polish manufacturer is quite ready to say - "mine cures under any UV or LED lamp" (although you'll find lots of lamps, especially cheap ones, saying they'll cure any gel polish). It is likely that most name brand lamps will cure most name brand polishes, so stick to a quality name brand lamp.

I'd like an alternative lamp, and hopefully one that will give me the widest range of brands to test out with it.
Again, my suggestion is to slow down, start with one brand and stick with it a while to master the technique and then branch out. In your case, I'd recommend the Gelish mini line which you can get at Sally. It is likely that this will safely cure any LED curable brand, albeit not in 30 seconds. Buy the $75 lamp and in a few months if you still are committed to SOGs, upgrade to a pro lamp.

Wanting to have my cake and eat it to, it seems.... :/

As has been said here before, there is a learning curve to gel polish; it's not like regular polish that you can slap on and run. Also, I think it is important to understand the science behind this product, read up and it will make your choices easier. Read anything you can by Doug Schoon - http://www.schoonscientific.com/educational-eblasts.html.
Also, here's a few classics from Nails Mag -
http://www.nailsmag.com/article/93494/uv-or-not-uv
http://www.nailsmag.com/print/91808/the-science-of-gels
Click to expand...


My answers in blue.
 
#13
Hi NancyG,


Thanks for the responses! Lots for me to consider. I think I will go look at the Gelish mini. At least I have several Gelish polishes to play around with for a while.

Much thanks for all of your advice!
 
#14
I am using a gel base, gel polish, and nsi glaze n go and experienced burning when i put my hand under uv lamp. Is it because my nails are thin from removing acrilycs or because its nit for use on natural nails?
 
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