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Does using UV gel with full cover clear tips cure properly?

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This technique is becoming more popular and can be very efficient. 

As long as the ‘full cover tips’ are completely clear they will not block the UV energy from properly curing the UV gel coating that adheres them to the nail plate. 

What is very important though is, after the ‘flash cure’ with a UV lamp or torch, the whole hand is placed in the matched UV lamp for the full time recommended by the brand. The ‘flash cure’ is just to keep the tips in place while you hold them. Then the full and proper cure is achieved by the hand being in the UV lamp.

An extra precaution is to make sure that no UV gel touches the skin around the outside of the tip. If it does escape, immediately remove it with a brush dipped in IPA or an orange stick. 

If you’re experiencing a burning sensation during your UV gel application, you may want to check out our article on whether UV gels should burn like crazy for more information.

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In a salon, when an artificial nail covering has achieved 90 percent polymerisation and has reached its intended strength, containing only very low levels of unreacted monomers, which is considered safe.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_1246a1b7fb9bed3e4702bd0168f71114":"

Nail plate<\/div>
Nail Plate\n

Hard layers of modified and keratinised skin cells, bonded together, to form a protective plate on the end of each finger and toe, that prevents damage to the underlying bone and allows for manual dexterity.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_3301334d7b41d59c5fe2f5d888d1da1e":"

Coating<\/div>
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A coating in nail services terms is any product that is applied to the nail plate<\/a> and leaves a layer of product. It can be traditional nail polish, a strengthening product, a UV gel product, an L&P product.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_f328d734711cc4e9eb4c65070e22ae6d":"

UV Lamp<\/div>
UV-GEL hand in nail lamp\n

UV lamp is the electrical equipment that is needed when using UV cured nail products. These products have a formula including photo initiators that need the energy of UVA on the electronic magnetic spectrum to start the polymerisation process. It s important that the lamp is scientifically matched with the products to ensure a \u2018proper cure\u2019 of the overlay or coating as the wavelength, intensity and time is crucial for the process to be efficient.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_6e4b2c42b82604c2f739d01368901b8a":"

Cure \/ Curing<\/div>
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This is the term used to describe the polymerization process for the acrylics (whether uv gels or l&p systems) used in nail coatings. A 'proper cure' is what should be achieved which is when, at least, 80% of the coating has been polymerised. Anything less than this is considered to be 'under-cured' and can cause an allergic reaction. \"Over-curing\" would be when the nail coating is cured in a lamp that has a stronger output than what the manufacturer recommends, and it will make the nail coating brittle.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_4eb428598c1d8f289e6897779124e77d":"

UV Gel<\/div>
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A nail product that cures (or polymerizes) under a UV lamp.
There are various types of UV gels, categorized by the way they can be removed, or by the way they can be used.

<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_be3931e712d61dbc905165a4257ef0c9":"

Brush<\/div>
Brushes\n

There are many different brushes needed by a nail professional. e.g an L&P brush which needs to be a natural Kolinsky sable brush so it can hold the monomer liquid and pick up the polymer powder as a bead; UV gel brushes are usually nylon or other man made fibre. Nail art brushes are usually a variety of natural fibres. All have different uses and all much be kept clean to provide long usage.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_ee31ce6104b92d60fe5a6c0ce86a5b09":"

IPA<\/div>
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Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) - Used as a nail plate cleanser and for the removal of the \u2018inhibition layer\u2019 on many UV cured coatings. For an efficient nail plate cleanser a mix of IPA and acetone is ideal. They each remove different types of oils and temporarily dehydrate the surface of the nail plate in readiness for the application of a coating.<\/p>\n<\/div>"}}; -->