Over-curing is not about leaving the hand in a UV lamp for too long. It happens when the wrong type of UV lamp is used for a gel product. If the lamp gives off too much UV intensity for that specific formula, the gel can polymerize too quickly in a strong exothermic reaction (a reaction that releases heat).
Why it matters for nail techs:
- This sudden reaction can cause heat spikes and discomfort for the client.
- In some cases, it may damage the nail bed and lead to conditions such as pocket onycholysis (where the nail lifts from the nail bed).
- Over-curing can also negatively affect the performance of the gel, making it brittle or prone to service breakdown.
Best practice:
Always use the UV lamp recommended by the manufacturer of the gel system. Lamps and products are tested together, and mismatching can result in over-curing or under-curing.
