How To Test If Your Gel Is Fully Curing

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#gelpolish #gelnails #gelmanicure

[@rezzy8590]

I'm such a nerd. I want to do all of this and put it on an Excel spreadsheet and I don't own a single gel polish, lamp or am even interested in working as a nail tech. But I do friggin' love me some data, experiments and learning things. I can't thank you enough for this channel, Liz!

[@AK-kl7pg]

I actually love when Liz goes into the science bc then I know WHY I need to pay attention to these things and ask manufacturers for information. I do NOT want to end up with an allergy to HEMA and other gel ingredients.

[@Sarappreciates]

I'm so intimidated by this. I just ordered the Lofuanna starter kit for dual forms, and a Beetles kit for the lamp and polishes. You know, the nail community is verrry different from the gaming community. (Not a complaint, just an observation.) if gel nails was a game, someone woulda published how each gel brand reacts with each lamp by now. There would be graphs for us all to follow with expert players tossing their old cheap polishes to the n00bs.

[@myfriendsnoopy]

Yeah I think the trial and error you have to do yourself and the conflicting information you find online can be really intimidating, especially if you are trying to use the product safely

[@janfranklin2114]

This is so important, first and foremost do no harm! I am a DIYer and after you build your skills up friends and family will ask “can you do my nails?” I am hesitant to do anything other than a gel polish because I don’t want to hurt anyone! If I damage my own nails, well I did it to myself but no way do I want to be responsible for causing damage of God forbid burn someone or set them up for an allergic reaction.

[@zachariahkovac2048]

This was extremely helpful! I am currently a chemistry major in college. My goal is to become a cosmetic chemist. I formulate skincare and makeup now but there is little information on the chemistry of gel and acrylic. This was so cool to watch. Thank you!

[@Marta_Maeldeis]

If you are hungry for more nail gel chemistry, check out books and videos by Doug Schoon! Liz and Doug Schoon taught me soooo much

[@sabrinav]

I am an engineer, I learned that Shellac is actually a flooring finish by seing it on a construction site.

[@MariaMartinStudio]

@@sabrinav Shellac is a CND brand name, but shellac is another product that can be used to create a shiny, thick seal on floors, tables, etc. They aren't actually the same product/ingredients.

[@gemg773]

I love your science based videos. It's good when you simplify/ summarise what Jim says actually means! I'd love to see a comparison of maybe 5 different lamps curing a couple of different gels, especially the SunUV 4, because that seems popular and well priced. Ideally brands that are available in many countries. There's nothing like it that I can find on KZbin that's based in fact rather than opinion

[@hohojinyi8282]

I’m very over allergies for anythings in terms of food , chemical, toxic , micro organisms, pollen and so on ……. so very helpful to learn all her you tube. I’m doing self gel nail at home but good to educate my self all information as chemicals can impact to healthy issues. She is really professional and social medias only shows beauty of gel nails to advertise for products but not many people are emphasised about all chemical and other knowledge! Amazing!

[@Fireymom01]

So, you can't over cure in a lamp ? Your videos are always sensational. Thank you so much for your time and help.

[@christiangyrl3]

Thank you so much for the wealth of knowledge. I love learning about this stuff especially since I am a diy(er) and safety is a huge issue for me. Thanks again Liz❤️

[@ItsMeDee60]

Liz, thank you, I agree the more you are saturated with the info, it really sinks in and becomes easier to understand. Thank you for sharing.

[@karenmcdoanld8805]

This is the most informative video; every nail person should watch!! I was cleaning my shop and the leg on my table gave out, and my lamps hit the floor. I emailed light elegance and young nails to see if that would have hurt the lamps. Thank goodness nothing was wrong. Another great point I use two different lamps and I will test the gel to see if it cures the same in each lamp. You just take for granted that it's an LED and it work. I am going to purchase the thermometer and check it out! Pssst! I Love testing things too! Thank you, Liz, for everything you do for us!!

[@thecrowsclawnails]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you! This will also be an excellent way to test our lamps to see when they need to be replaced.

[@watsTHEtime52]

you're a fantastic educator thank you so much for bringing the science into it to help us better understand how to do our best work

[@Anon_E_Muss]

It's always great to see a new video fr you! These are so educational and interesting to watch. Thank you.

[@sophiamurphy1731]

This is a wonderful experiment to educate yourself on curing times and gels. Thank you

[@soniaclarkson3766]

In a perfect world ALL Nail Technicians should be educated by you to keep us (clients safe):( thanks for sharing

[@countrycluckers7644]

Thank you for this wonderful explanation on curing the gels and knowing with confidencethe gel light reaction is complete. I am new to acrylic and gel nails, so I am soaking up info where I can find it and where it is explained the best to better my DIY manicures. I am a Chemist, and this exothermic reaction was explained well, visually and mathematically, good job! Many blessings! 💜

[@Rachel-ud7xd]

You make such an excellent teacher, always so thorough.

[@kathykov1]

What an outstanding experiment. I think I'd like to add this to my curriculum.

[@mynailfairy]

Thank you so much Liz! Some of the brands I am using doesn’t have their own lamps so now I can test them to figure out the amount of time I needed to fully cure them.

[@poolahpot]

ok, just bought the thermometer! going to test the gelish soak it off top coat! thanks so very much for this !!! Appreciate it greatly!

[@krisl6327]

Whoever doesn't like you ranting and repeating and loading us with nerdy information should not be here. There is enough of us who looove learning and you do an awesome job teaching.

[@aussieprincess]

Thanks for the video, as always it was really informative Liz. I wasn’t into this sort of chemistry stuff at school but I am now that I am a lot older, I have saved one of these thermometer’s in my watchlist on EBay (we use it more here in Australia than Amazon) I’m definitely interested in testing out my gels and I’d imaging my boys who are 10 & 8 will love to do it with me as well. I missed your video with Jim, I will have to go back and watch it, I had spinal surgery in May and haven’t been watching much nail related stuff but catching up now in hopes of finally starting my home business next year🤞

[@lorriangus4681]

This is great info, thanks!

[@soniaclarkson3766]

You explain it sooooooo well thank you

[@Beckah82]

THANK YOU! This was really, really helpful!

[@Elvienstar]

Loved this video. Would appreciate a new one where you test various brands to show us. Can you test gel on practice nails, for example? This seems like an easy way for a beginner to test the actual thickness they use in real life

[@tinab7791]

Love that whole series you did with Jim McConnell but I do get what you're saying about the sound. It didn't deter me and I've watched/listened to all of them several times at this point. So packed full of info! Looking forward to this new one from you today, I'm always looking for great videos to share!

[@poolahpot]

WOW WOW WOW! incredible info!!! thank you so very much!

[@alandreareynolds]

Wow, your eyebrows are PERFECT!

[@nailsofinterest]

Love this experiment!! Tfs💜💖💜

[@michellec2447]

Thank you!!!!! This info is so so good!!!!!

[@juliijules3]

Thank you so much for this!!! 💖

[@tishrourke]

Everything is so right on!

[@filipposx6595]

Great information. Thanks a lot ❤

[@KingsMom831]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@renelovenails527]

Great video!! Thank you so much!!!

[@terryhill166]

i have a masters in neurobiology and my minor in undergrad was chemistry. very very well explained.

[@bibabiba7580]

❤❤❤❤ Fascinating video, you speak so clearly. I would like to ask why not just dry the nails for a minute and a half and that way we will be sure that it has heated and dried properly And I'm not talking about the cheap lamps because anyone who buys a low-quality lamp knows that. Perhaps the experiment is important for those who purchased a quality drying lamp to know that it does the job well and gives them value for money

[@AK-kl7pg]

For the people who are buying the $19.99 lamps from Amazon, I don't think they'll invest in a $35 thermometer to ensure proper curing, unfortunately.

[@Marta_Maeldeis]

Thanks Liz, I enjoyed this video and appreciate your hard work to educate techs and clients. I have found some holes in this method however. Jim has spoke before about cure thickness and complete cure, and how both are measured very differently, the latter of which requires specialised equipment. When you spoke about assuming a full cure when there is no significant heat disparity on another 60 second cure, this would only really work if we assume the lamp and gel have been calibrated to work together and that the lamp is not old and needing replacement. Some lamps will only cure so much of the gel and leave the rest uncured no matter how long you leave it under its UV light because the photoinitiators in the gel weren't matching the wavelength output of the lamp. I just don't want someone to watch this video and test this method but their cheap Amazon lamp is being used with 10 different brands of gel and they think it's curing them all because it feels hard and there is no heat increase on a second cure.

[@Danellr007]

Great question. I am curious for the answer. I have been very critical of Jim’s explanations, they always seem ‘do it because I know better’ with no real world tests to back it up. This video was very helpful but like you said there are still holes in the theory. I would love to see how the gel brands create their lamps, what are the tests, what are the wave lengths (365nm and 405nm are the most talked about, but are there others) of different lamps. SHOW me my $50 SunUv lamp does not work, don’t just tell me not to use it. Most people use more than one brand, it is crazy to think they are using different lamps for each brand in a service.

[@Marta_Maeldeis]

@@Danellr007 I want to see all of that too and have yet to see a single brand really deep dive into their production. I can understand how they would also want to protect this though for fear of other brands copying their manufacturing. But imagine really getting to learn how a true full cure is measured, where the percentage can be found. Jim spoke of a complete cure Vs cure thickness and it seems most brands dont have the equipment to measure a complete and true cure unless their chemist has access to it.

[@TheNailHub]

If the gel was not curing at all or not even close to a sufficient level it would remain liquid in parts. There’s also the leaching test which I also covered in a previous video with Jim. Please check out all of the tutorials. Info on my channel is cumulative.

[@Marta_Maeldeis]

@@TheNailHub Ah, yes I've seen every video of yours and the Chemist Corner (some of the best videos on gels in all of KZbin seriously) and the leeching test intrigued me a lot. However, knowing that gels can appear hard at only 51% and need to be closer to 85-90% cured to be safe does really sit uneasy with me. If the lamp does not have the appropriate intensity and/or wavelength and there is no significant exothermic reaction with this test on the double cure, there is still such a high chance of far too many unreacted monomers waiting to leech out into the nailplate and surrounding skin. I would definitely advise techs and DIYers to perform both this and the leaching test together to be confident of their multiple brands curing in one UV unit. The consistent rise of gel allergies truly makes me worry for the future of our industry.

[@TheNailHub]

Agreed. This is one test of many that can be performed to ensure curing and the leeching test covers the rest of your concern about undercuring. But more importantly in this video is the discussion of safe levels of heat for the nail bed. Also using HEMA-monomer free products and being diligent about ingredients is part and parcel to this discussion. Plus this is also part of a self selecting group. Anyone diligent to even care about this topic will be a million times better off that someone who isn’t.

[@ItsLeiaxo]

Hey liz! I loved the videos you did with Jim, I’m just looking for a bit of help. Some brands don’t state that their gels are HEMA free but I don’t see 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the ingredients list, does this mean it actually is HEMA free and the company just haven’t declared it? Thank you!

[@skalskaga]

This is the most usefull channel about gel nails! ❤

[@tishrourke]

😆 I love it!

[@Lily_Samson]

I, like some am not a professional and get a bit zombified when listening to those who are... However, when you used the term 'goobers, and wire thingy', I felt less out of place! Great video altogether... Even for being over 30 min. You gave some great knowledge nuggets... Thanks! 🦋Lily🦋

[@micuchua70]

Thank you.

[@user-cw6dr4xd3f]

I really love your videos! I have a question... I make my own nails, using ibd products. My top coat is non wipe. I have it a few years already.... Now I see that, when using the same polymerization time I always used, my top coat stays sticky... I end up polymerizing it a bit more. What could be happening? Any ideas?

[@poolahpot]

so now i can test my gelish top coat in a 50.00 led uv lamp!(sunuv professional) instead of their 150.00- 250.00 lamp😮

[@helens4046]

How do I distinguish whether the heat spikes stop occurring due to proper curing versus the limitations of a lamp? I've heard that some lamps will never fully cure some gels, so what can I look out for regarding that? Your channel has been so helpful as a newly-allergic DIYer trying to avoid my HEMA allergy from progressing to other acrylate allergies :)

[@2102olma]

Wow I looooved your video ❤

[@TheNailHub]

Thank you so much!!

[@quirkyviper]

Love this experiment but I have a question - how are you gonna get that thermometer tip out of the gel? 😄 Seriously, thank you for breaking down all this info - it really helps build confidence while learning!

[@TheNailHub]

You can snap the gel in half where the wire is and it pops right out. Or you can cut it out with an exacto knife or drill it out with an efile. I’ve done all three.

[@0joface899]

What a classy intro ❤️👌

[@karenmcdoanld8805]

How did u get the little wire out if the gel? The air was 70.9 after was 124.2 was that good? I hope I did it right! Thank you Liz

[@katrinahendrey9826]

I did this test, I applied on the form the way I would apply if doing an extension, I apply thin coats then cure I don’t apply 1 thick coats so unfortunately it wouldn’t show a weight on the scale , all I could do was trace it out and see if it shrinks in size . I use akzentz mini lamp with my light elegance gels .

[@ohhowfuckingoriginal]

Not sure if you've already covered it somewhere. Can you talk about how/why gel can cure under glitter and foil inlays?

[@josephinenicolas8198]

Thank you so much your video was so helpful and I have a better understanding in led lamps I am definitely purchasing the led lamp you sell online you are amazing love all your videos you inspired me todo my own nails at home!!!! 🤩😀

[@adrienneevans8501]

Hi Lis Adrienne from NZ. I use a sun block 50 plus on the backs of my hands when I do my nails with Gel and cure them in my lamp. Is this a good thing to do. I absolutley love your channel and have learnt so much.

[@TheNailHub]

Hi Adrienne, yes you can use sunblock if you like. I usually recommend cloth gloves with the fingertips cut off or they even sell gloves like that if you are looking for something to block the light on your hands. Sunblock can get all over the place so I usually stay away from that option. And in general the amount of UV exposure you are getting from one nail curing session is minimal. Less than you get driving around in your car.

[@ZeldaMontaigneNailKorner]

Thank you I will try this. Can you still flash cure and the gel polish cure completely once you cure again.?

[@TheNailHub]

Yes flash curing is a great way to control both heat and product movement. And you can always fully expose the gel to the full time throughout the service. I’m a huge fan of flash curing.

[@AngelX-xb2eo]

Hey Liz, I know this may be late but what’s your opinion on adding pigment powders to a clear gel to make a new color? I would like to do that as I don’t have the funds to buy multiple gel colors, but I’m wondering how the curing process would be and if it would be possible? I would love it if you can respond and thank you :)

[@TheNailHub]

Make sure they are cosmetic grade as they might not be stable when mixed into gel products. But in general this is totally fine. You might run into curing issues with certain concentrations/combos as gel manufacturers (at least good ones) will actually customize the clear formula to make sure the gel fully cures when it contains different pigments. Some block light more than others.

[@rosanavidal9066]

Hi Liz if we over cure the gel, does it becomes a glass? Or does it cracks easier? Thank you.

[@TheNailHub]

The effects of overcuring are minimal usually. Normally the biggest issue is the gel being more yellow as the photoinitiators will be more "charged up" and they tend to cast a yellow hue on the gel. Sometimes this is only temporary. Usually with gels they stop polymerizing when the chemical reaction has been completed so you can't really continue to cure it past a certain point, however, it is always best to follow the recommended curing times and pay attention to this. Everything related to gels is all tested and organized for best performance, so if you deviate from a manufacturer's guidance you are venturing into the unknown.

[@mejanilsson1047]

Would it be possible to perform this test by using a kitchen thermometer to put in the gel and cure it for 60 seconds, then repeat the procedure and see if the temperature spikes again? Or is the type of thermometer you use in the video a must?

[@TheNailHub]

It depends on the sensitivity of the thermometer. You could try that but not sure you’d want to get nail products on your food thermometer.

[@tue_sunny]

Thank you for sharing this knowledge. But how do you get the wires out？？ seems like the cured inside the gel. 😅

[@TheNailHub]

You can snap the gel in half where the wire is and it pops right out. Or you can cut it out with an exacto knife or drill it out with an efile. I’ve done all three.

[@deefeliz4610]

Wich lamp is the Safest place?

[@marvella21]

I was watching the other video and came to that one after your recommendation. So I tested it out: Madam Glam Buildergel in pink onto a silicone pad and into the Sun X12 Max lamp - after curing 3x 120sec it still went from 26 degrees Celsius up to 34,5 i stopped after that (I took the temperature with one of these laser thermometers. Then I took out my Enailcouture lamp and did the same thing..with kind of the same test result.. Then I took out the Madam Glam Kali lamp I got for free with my first order and tested it the same way. It never went higher then 25 degrees Celsius even after pushing the button a 4th time cause I thought I am doing something wrong but the tacky layer was more tacky then with the other lamps… I am totally confused 😮 Can anybody enlighten me please? ❤

[@glossguild]

I did the same last night with my Light Elegance Mini Dot and SunUV 4. I noticed the laser thermometer might be picking up the increase in ambient air temps from the heat the LEDs give off during the second round. I kept shifting from the gel to a gel-free area to get a more accurate representation of what might be happening.

[@TheNailHub]

Hi @marvella21. A laser thermometer will not accurately tell you the temperature of just the gel. You also have to make sure the gel completely cools down to room temp. The thermometer I used that I got from Doug Schoon in my most recent videos about lamps is so sensitive it can pick up fractional changes in temperature which a laser thermometer cannot. Because of the complexity of these experiments that's why a lot of gel manufacturers just say "get the lamp that goes with your system" because there are just too many combinations of gels and lamps to 1. come up with a full list and 2. the experiments are hard to do "at home" to get a clear understanding for each situation.

[@pinecone3099]

I LOVE YOU

[@gabronijabroni]

Ok I’m sitting down to test all my gels in my lamp. I want to see how flexible vs. hard they are too!

[@sandieloca7674]

If i do not feel a second heat spike is it safe to say the gel is fully cured ? thanks for the video btw i watched all of it!

[@TheNailHub]

No, not necessarily. There could still be heat being released that you simply cannot feel, so that is why we need a more sensitive instrument to measure.

[@MsTwirlyGirly1]

How do you embed the wire in gel *polish*/base coat/top coat which are typically much thinner than builder gel/hybrid gel, etc ? And how do you safely remove the wire from the cured gel without damaging it?

[@TheNailHub]

You don’t need to embed the wire. Just touch it to the gel. Using clips helps and even gel polish and base coat you can do this with. To remove the wire you can snap the gel in half where the wire is and it pops right out. Or you can cut it out with an exacto knife or drill it out with an efile. I’ve done all three.

[@riccca1]

If you haven’t gotten an allergy for a decade of at home gel manicures (sometimes sloppy gels or definitely under cured gels due to ignorance), will you ever?

[@TheNailHub]

Very hard to say. Some people go years before any reaction, some it’s instant, and some never react. Totally depends on your particular immune system and what you’re using.

[@chantaldowling4342]

Is there a way to test if builder gel is properly curing under a full cover tip?

[@TheNailHub]

Yes you could fill a tip with gel, place it on top of a form and then cure. If you separate the form and it’s still liquid or semi liquid then you for sure know it’s not curing all the way through. This is more likely with pink or nude builder gels used with these full coverage extensions. And you could also do this same test I did by putting the wire/sensor in between the form and the gel filled tip.

[@tanyawastaken]

Why did you add 46.6 to 76.5 if 76 was the room temperature? Wasn't the air temperature in the lamp supposed to be higher?

[@TheNailHub]

It’s the total temp a finger would feel. The increase from normal lamp temp to what the gel got to above that. It’s a temperature differential so to find the total we must add them.

[@poolahpot]

isn't above 120 an ouchie?

[@TheNailHub]

Yes most definitely. There are a lot of gels that get to levels that go beyond feeling like they're burning; they are burning which is terrible. This also is affected by the lamp used. Some lamp and gel combinations can make the heat worse.

[@poolahpot]

@@TheNailHub I am very appreciative and thankful for this video series that you have created! I just got my thermo-meter and testing will be done. I am also sending nailies this way 🤗 Again, thank you!

[@Sebbiewebbiewoo]

Do you own the name nailhub? I keep seeing random accounts with the name thinking it’s you and it’s not

[@TheNailHub]

Yes we do but that doesn’t stop people trying to create dupes. We have a check mark on all our official accounts.

[@sushles]

Girl that blob looked expensive 🥴