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Doing at-home manicures has been great for my nail game but absolutely tragic for my wallet—look, experimenting with nail stickers, the water marble nail trend, press-ons, and the best gel nail polishes can get expensive! So, in an effort to get salon-quality nails at home without the hefty price tag, I started searching for the best UV nail lamp to cure (aka harden and seal) gel nail polishes. And if you're ready to upgrade your at-home manis, too, I've got you covered with all the 411.
First off, what does a UV nail lamp actually do and why the heck do you need one? UV nail lamps use either LED or UV lights to cure gel nail polish, ensuring that your polish dries strong and chip-resistant. So, TL;DR: longer-lasting nails without having to pay salon $$? Sign me up! After combing through hundreds of tester reviews, hitting up nail experts, and testing lamps myself, I'm happy to say that I found the best UV nail lamps to buy now—and I'm making your life easier by sharing them with you all.
From Amazon bestsellers to professional-recommended options, keep scrolling for all the top-rated UV nail lamps that'll give you a salon-worthy gel mani at home.
This UV and LED nail lamp works for every type of gel nail polish, meaning you'll have no issues curing any polish. The lamp also comes with four timer settings (10, 30, 60, and 99 seconds) that automatically shut off at the end of the processing.
Glowing Customer Review: "For the cost of one manicure, my nails look professionally done without all the hassle or cost of going to the salon every 2 weeks. I can even buy a new nail polish color every other week and still spend less than I was spending at the salon. Time and money saver!”
You won't need to worry about the fuss of extra buttons and settings with this nail lamp. Equipped with an auto sensor and soft lights to protect the skin, this easy-to-use DIY nail lamp will have your mani lookin' professional.
Glowing Customer Review: “This UV light looks and works exactly like the ones in the nail salon. It’s lightweight, but large enough to fit your hand in comfortably without fear that you’ll ruin your polish by touching the top or sides. And I’m saving so much money doing my nails at home!”
Yes, this nail lamp is a splurge. But sometimes if you want a good-quality product that doesn't break down after a few months, it's worth the investment. This one by Gelish uses 18 LED bulbs and a motion activated sensor, so you can easily cure five nails at once. But the best part is that it comes with a protective eyeshield, so your eyes won't be damaged by the light.
Glowing Customer Review: "This is so worth the buy! I have literally saved myself hundreds of dollars by doing my mani at home," writes a tester. "It may seem pricey initially, but the other lamps don't pack the punch of this one and will leave you frustrated with a crappy job!"
A little nervous about jumping into the gel polish game? This lamp is the perfect starting point. Not only does it feature powerful LED lights, it has two timer settings—30 seconds and 60 seconds—and has a sensor that will automatically turn the machine off when not in use. This reduces the risk of over-exposure and means you can use this baby pretty much hands free, which is great if you're new to doing your manis at home.
Glowing Customer Review: "I truly enjoy the simplicity of this light. I'm a first-time learner and I can get overwhelmed easily. I like that it's open, so I'm not going to accidentally dent my nails moving in or out (trust me, I've done that many times at the salon)."
Don't have enough room on your vanity for a bulky nail lamp, or worried about fixing up your gel manicure on the go? There's a solution for that: a handheld UV LED nail lamp like this one. This pen-like light has a 40 minute battery life, so it should work for quick fixes and even full manicures (though you might not want to depend on it to last through curing 10 fingers and 10 toes).
Glowing Customer Review: "Sent this to my daughter who was traveling overseas. I was skeptical of whether it would work well or not because of its size. She loved it! The compact size made it so easy for her to travel with and she said it worked perfectly."
I could write a love letter about my experience with Aprés Nail. Basically, this brand was the one that made me take the leap and convert to being a primarily at-home gel girlie. The kits come with everything you need to do your own Gel-X—i.e., a "soft extension" that is less damaging to the nail compared to traditional gel polish. It includes Gel-X tips (choose btwn almond, coffin, round, square, or stiletto in various sizes), a top coat, pH bonder, primer, extend gel, nail file, and the star of the kit, the brand's Beta LED Nail Lamp—which has three timer settings and a USB port so you can charge your phone while you cure.
Glowing Customer Review: "I've only used [the Beta] three times, but it has been great! Love that the bottom tray comes off so I can do pedicures without a problem. I do wish it had a longer cable, but totally not necessary since it still fits in my work area. Absolutely love the look and it fits the aesthetics of the rest of my tools."
This nail lamp is recommended for use with semi-cured nail strips, which definitely speed up the manicure process. However, many reviewers say this small, portable lamp is also compatible with UV gel polishes, though it may take a few rounds to cure fully. The lamp has two timers—60 and 45 seconds—and comes with a light USB charger that's easy to fit in your carry-on.
Glowing Customer Review: "This product is amazing—not only the price, but also the functionality. Convenient and portable."
Unlike other UV nail lamps, which utilize many small LED bulbs, this nail lamp from SHANY features four 9-watt UV bulbs and uses reflective panels to cure your mani (or pedi) evenly. The machine also has an on-and-off switch with two timer settings—120 seconds and 180 seconds—and a constant power mode that powers down after 30 minutes for safety.
Glowing Customer Review: "It works! This is a great lamp for the price and well worth it! I've been using gel polish on my nails and the light cures them perfectly. So much money is going to be saved now that I basically have my own little salon at home."
If you're like me, then you don't love the idea of spending hours doing your nails. You have a need for speed, and the best way to pick up the pace of an at-home gel manicure is to get a UV LED nail lamp that fits both hands or feet at once. Not only does this lamp have enough room to cure 10 nails in one go, it's got four timer settings, a sensor to power on and off, 57 LED bulbs, and a long cord so you can set it up anywhere.
Glowing Customer Review: "This is the first light I have owned that actually cures the gel fully in less than 2 minutes," writes a reviewer. "The gel stays on until I decide to take it off. I am so very pleased with it. Plus it's big enough for both hands or both feet at the same time."
LED and UV nail lamps can easily get overheated, resulting in damage to your skin (not to mention, a super uncomfortable manicure). In addition to having a sensor to automatically power on and off, this lamp will automatically power to 220 Watts (vs. its advertised 268W) when the temperature gets too high to protect the lamp and your hands. We love a safety precaution!
Glowing Customer Review: "I'm a DYI at home nail hobbyist. I do full sets of UV/LED Gel X, glue ons, poly, and builder gel overlays on myself. This lamp sets whatever medium I'm working on quickly and solid."
The worst caveat of some UV nail lights is when it takes a few rounds to truly cure your gel nail polish. This one by Red Carpet Manicure is absolutely loved for its ability to speed up the whole process in...wait for it...just thirty seconds. Basically, it gets the job done—as in it cures your gel nail polish quick, quick.
Glowing Customer Review: "Polish dries quickly and usually doesn't chip for at least seven days. It's a DIY salon-quality manicure - and touch-ups are easy! "
I'm no expert nail artist, but you best believe that I watch every single TikTok and YouTube tutorial from my favorite nail gurus out there. This UV nail lamp includes a dedicated spot for your phone to go so you have easy viewing capabilities for all those tutorials you're inspired by. Or, let's be real, it's also great for when you wanna watch a Netflix series.
Glowing Customer Review: "After purchasing many different UV lights, this one has been a great addition to my DIY nail equipment. I also enjoy the fact that the bottom piece comes off if you want it to; it's nice when I’m doing my toes."
Individual nail lamps can be time consuming to use, but if you’re a nail artist, they are the tool you need to get those mani designs done right. This lamp from Melody Susie is cordless, rechargeable, and has a unique base to steady your nail as you cure or design. The only downside: the LED light is just to give extra brightness, not to cure gel nail polish.
Glowing Customer Review: “It’s such a cute and high quality nail lamp. It’s rechargeable and also the right size to carry in my purse, so I can take it with me and do my nails when I am traveling.”
Not only is this DIY gel mani kit totally adorable—the lamp is shaped like a macaron—but it's mini, and everyone knows the cutest things come in the smallest packages. If you're looking to dip your fingers in (hehe) the gel lamp world, consider opting for this kit that has everything you need to get it goin'. Seriously, it comes with an LED lamp, a 3-in-1 gel base, color, and top coat, a cuticle stick, one mini nail file, and 10 gel polish remover wipes.
Glowing Customer Review: "I have been using Le Mini Macaron for over a year now I have around 15 colors. This product works extremely well if you use the polish as directed. I have purchased many of the kits for friends and family as well and they all love this product too!"
This OPI gel nail lamp will cost ya a pretty penny, but think about all the money you will save from those trips to the salon. In fact, many professional nail salons use this very lamp. Seems like a winner, huh?
Glowing Customer Review: "My clients love how roomy it is inside, the handle is GREAT for moving and handling purposes. It looks very professional and clean, and there is ample room for clients to rest their hands on top as I polish."
If you're taking the salon home, you're going to need to remove the old gel polish before your fresh set. With this nail lamp, not only will you have access to a quick curing lamp, but you'll also get a nail drill to help you remove those bbs when it's time.
Glowing Customer Review: "I like this kit—my nails look more professional. The lamp is easy to use and it has an included nail drill. It's very cost-effective, and I recommend it," writes one customer.
This nail lamp is fully powered by LED lights and is cordless and rechargeable, so you can bring it with you on the go. To top it off, this LED lamp also comes with a built-in motion sensor activation to lessen the risk of accidental smudges.
Glowing Customer Review: "Love, love, love it! I got it as a gift so I can do my own gel nails. It works great. Love that it can be used without the plug. Love the settings! Very professional!
If you're someone that travels a lot and always wants to ensure that your mani stays in tip-top shape, this compact cure mini gel lamp is just the thing for you. This LED lamp is the perfect tool to keep on hand in those emergency nail chipping scenarios.
Glowing Customer Review: "This lamp is a must-have. Perfect to take with you and it is a powerful little thing—love that you can fold it and close it.”
No, LED lamps are not necessarily better for you than UV lamps, and both can damage skin. "UV manicure lamps emit UVA radiation, which is a known cancer-causing agent," says board-certified dermatologist, Karan Lal, MD adding that exposure to this radiation may lead to sun spots and damage to the skin.
However, LED lamps also expose you to UV light. It might feel less hot and look less bright than a UV lamp, but LEDs still emit levels of UVA radiation. “Nail lamps use LED bulbs because they are long-lasting and they do not emit heat—but they are still UV light,” cautions board-certified Dornechia Carter, MD. “These are not safer.”
LED nail lamps will cure gel polish much faster than UV nail lamps. On average, an LED lamp takes 30 to 60 seconds to cure your gel, whereas a UV lamp takes up to two to three minutes. My personal preference is an LED lamp due to it also having a longer lifespan than UV options. However, as noted above, both pose risks.
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to find the best fashion deals of the season, the softest sheets on the market, or exactly how to use retinol without irritating your skin? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As her 2024 goal, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini NYC has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at that magazine life.
Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle. She loves finding and testing the best skincare products to recommend, like the best tinted sunscreens, and is always researching the best cat accessories for her fur baby. She has over 10 years of experience as an entertainment and culture writer and editor, and her work has been featured in The Cut, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Polygon, Bustle, and more.
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