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Over-cured

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.

Synonyms:
over curing
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