Who doesn’t love a good manicure? After all, having pretty, glossy nails can help you feel more gorgeous and confident in your everyday life. Going to the nail salon is also an experience in itself.
However, regular sessions with your manicurist can get expensive real fast. Not to mention it can be hard to find time if you have a busy schedule.
The solution? An LED nail lamp. These increasingly affordable devices are great for bringing salon-quality manicures and pedicures to your home at a fraction of the cost. And with the growing number of nail polish options in the market, you’ll never run out of colours and designs to try.
For the first time buyer, it can’t get pretty intimidating to shop for an LED nail lamp. Fortunately, we’ve run down some of our recommendations here, plus a buying guide, to help you nail (no pun intended!) your purchase of the best LED nail lamp.
The Best LED Nail Lamp 2022
Mylee PRO Salon Series LED
- Bulb Life: 50,000 hours
- Wavelength Range: 395 – 405 nm
- Curing Time: 15 seconds
- Dimensions: 205 x 105 x 160 mm
- Timer Presets: 15 / 30 / 60 seconds
The Mylee Pro Salon Series is the best LED nail lamp for delivering salon-quality results at a fraction of the price.
It has one of the fastest curing times in the market, at 15 seconds, thanks to its proprietary Convex Curing Technology. It combines the unique convex shape of the unit, plus equally spaced 405nm LED lights for the most efficient and consistent exposure.
The wide window also allows you to slip in your entire hand comfortably without accidentally bumping and smudging nail polish on the sides of the machine. The dented guides on the tray are also a nice touch, so you always know where to place your hands for consistent results. The tray is detachable if you want to use this unit for a pedicure.
The Mylee Pro Salon Series includes three preset timers for 15, 30, and 60-second curing sessions. It’s also the best LED nail lamp in terms of portability since it has a universal plug that supports UK, EU, and US standards. If there’s a nail lamp that you need to take with you during extensive travelling, this is it.
The only minor complaint would be the timer controls, which is located at the back. It can make adjustments slightly harder to reach, but overall it isn’t too big of a problem.
The bottom line is that the Mylee Pro Salon Series LED nail lamp is a fantastic performer. It’s light and compact yet wide enough to accommodate your entire hand.
Pros
- Convex curing technology cures nails exceptionally fast
- Removable tray
- Wide window
Cons
- Timer controls are at the back
Our Rating: 4.9 / 5.0
Le Mini Macaron Nail Polish Kit
- Curing Time: 30 seconds
- Dimensions: 17 x 8 x 12 cm
- Weight: 350g
The Le Mini Macaron Nail Polish Kit is a complete manicure kit that also happens to include a little LED nail lamp. The inclusions are nice and include a fast drying gel polish that lasts surprisingly long.
But let’s focus a bit on the LED lamp itself. As the name suggests, it’s shaped like a macaron which is quite adorable. Charging is done via a USB power adapter, so it’s super travel friendly, too. Plus, the LED nail lamp works pretty well and dries as fast 30 seconds. You can also flip the magnetic top around to do a pedicure – a handy feature indeed!
Of course, don’t expect it can rival the results of a home or professional salon nail lamp. The colours are excellent, and the shine is there, but the included polish doesn’t last as long. Fortunately, you can use any nail polish with the LED nail lamp, but you need to tweak the curing time for best results.
Overall, the LED nail lamp included in the Le Mini Macaron Nail Polish Kit is best used as a travel nail dryer, and not a substitute for a full-sized LED nail lamp. We recommend buying it as a complement to another model from this list.
Pros
- Complete kit at a bargain price
- Compact and lightweight nail lamp you can take anywhere
- USB-powered
Cons
- Results aren’t as good as a full-sized LED nail lamp
Our Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
Nailstar Professional UV/LED
- Curing Time: 30 seconds
- Timer Presets: 30 / 60 / 90 seconds
- Dimensions: 22.6 x 19.6 x 8.9 cm
- Weight: 660g
The Nailstar Professional is a fabulous nail lamp that uses both UV and LED technology for the best of both worlds. That makes it compatible with a wide variety of nail polishes and gels, giving you better flexibility while getting the benefits of LED.
Nailstar’s nail lamp can achieve the results of a professional nail salon in as fast as 30 seconds. Operating the unit is easy as well. You can control the curing time with the convenient presets (30s, 60s, and 90 seconds) that can be accessed with the press of a button. An LED screen tells you how much time you have left in your current session.
The nail lamp also has motion sensor technology that detects when you put your hand in, then turns on the lamp accordingly. The base is removable so that you can use this both for manicures and pedicures.
The design of the Nailstar lamp is very stylish, with attractive and sleek curves and a pristine white finish. It looks really impressive when used in a professional nail salon.
Overall, the Nailstar Professional an LED and UV nail lamp hybrid that works exceptionally well and is simple to use
Pros
- Very easy to use controls
- Uses both UV and LED light
- Motion sensors
- Attractive price
Cons
- Curing time varies with brands; some experimentation required
Our Rating: 4.7 / 5.0
LKE Dual Mode 72W Nail Lamp
- Wattage: 72W
- Timer Presets: 10 / 30 / 60 / 99 seconds
- Dimensions: 22.8 x 20.6 x 10.4 cm
- Weight: 680g
The LKE Dual Mode 72W Nail Lamp is a powerful yet cheap unit that uses both LED and UV light. It’s one of the best hybrid nail lamps, especially in its price range.
The LKE nail lamp uses an array of 36 LED/UV lights arranged strategically in a dome to hit every inch of your nail equally for consistent results. Curing time can be as fast as 30 seconds.
Using the LKE is easy as well. You can pick any of the four buttons to select a timer preset in one press. There’s also a slow warm setting so the unit won’t get as hot, but it’s something you won’t see yourself using as much since the nail lamp doesn’t get that uncomfortable.
Once you’ve selected a timer preset, sensors will automatically turn on the light and start the curing process once you insert your hand into the wide opening. The base of the lamp has dimples to guide your hand, including your thumb, for the best placement. In case you need to interrupt your curing session, the LKE nail lamp can remember how much time you have left in your session, and will resume from that time once you put your hand back in.
You can also use the unit without selecting a timer – just insert your hand or foot, and the LKE will run for a maximum of 2 minutes.
A nice touch with this LED nail lamp is the carrying handle, which makes transporting the unit around a breeze. It also helps that the LKE lamp is lightweight.
Overall, this is a great nail lamp with a host of excellent, intelligent features. It works exceptionally well, at a price point that will fit most budgets.
Pros
- Powerful LED and UV lights
- Auto resume feature
- Easy to use with four timer presets
Cons
- The opening is slightly narrower than others on this list
Our Rating: 4.7 / 5.0
UNISUN Nail Lamp
- Wattage: 24W
- Bulb Life: 50,000 hours
- Curing Time: 30 seconds
- Timer Presets: 30 / 60 / 90 seconds
- Dimensions: 9 x 17 x 19 cm
- Weight: 330g
Chic and cute, the UNISUN Nail Lamp does nails as gorgeous as its pink exterior design. While it looks like a high-end model, the UNISUN is actually a budget LED nail lamp with a few useful features thrown in.
The UNISUN uses 12 LED bulbs, consuming a collective 24 watts of power. That gives this nail lamp the ability to cure polish in as little as 30 minutes. Despite the power, it’s gentle and safe on your skin. The wattage is just enough to efficiently dry nails without ever getting hot. However, thicker or more complicated nail polishes can take longer at such low wattage.
To use the UNISUN, you can pick any of the three timer presets and then insert your hand or feet into the machine. The nail lamp has infrared sensing technology that turns on the LED lights automatically when you place your hand in and turns it off when you remove it. An LCD screen conveniently tells you how many seconds are left on your session.
Good points with the UNISUN nail lamp include a big opening (that can comfortably fit an average-sized hand), lightweight (for easy carrying), straightforward operation, and a super affordable price. One minor caveat is that it runs solely via a USB slot – an electric plug would’ve been nice.
Nevertheless, for the price, the value of this UNISUN LED nail lamp is hard to beat. A good budget option that performs as expected.
Pros
- Gentle and safe on skin
- Super budget price
- Auto sensor feature
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some types of nail polish can take forever to dry
Our Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
- Wattage: 84W
- Curing Time: 5 seconds
- Dimensions: 23.6 x 21.6 x 12.8 cm
- Timer Presets: 30 / 60 / 120 (low heat) seconds
The Nobebird Professional is a highly regarded LED nail lamp with top-notch performance and extra features. It’s the best nail lamp for both home and professional salon use.
The Nobebird features a minimalistic egg-shaped exterior with a sleek LCD screen. We find that it maximizes space well. It’s compact yet provides a wide window to insert your hand comfortably without hitting the sides.
Nobebird uses a powerful array of 42 LED and UV lights that radiate a total of 84W. This combo achieves ultra-fast curing times of just under 5 – 10 seconds. It’s also pretty flexible – compatible with virtually every type of nail polish you could think of. The lights are arranged strategically for 180-degree coverage, hitting every part of your nails (including your thumb) equally from all angles.
Much like any other LED nail lamp we’ve covered thus far, Nobebird uses timer presets for easy operation. The unique preset here is the 120-second option, which switches the unit into low heat mode. This reduces the heat of the LED lamp significantly, making it perfect for sensitive hands. And speaking of sensitive skin, Nobebird also has two red lights that provide light therapy to your session.
Other essential features like the removable tray and automatic sensors are there, rounding out the incredible experience you’ll get from using the Nobebird Professional LED nail lamp.
Pros
- Powerful 84W LED and UV lamp
- Fast curing time with consistent results
- Low heat mode
Cons
- The unit can get hot over long periods due to high wattage
Our Rating: 4.9 / 5.0
Crenova UV/LED Nail Lamp
- Wattage: 72W
- Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 23 cm
- Weight: 540g
- Timer Presets: 10 / 30 / 60 / 99 seconds
The Crenova is the best LED nail lamp if you’re a professional looking for something that’s compact, effective and durable.
The surface of the machine is coated in a special varnish that makes it resistant to scratches, high heat, and corrosion damage. Hence, it’s fantastic for use as a professional nail lamp while in the salon or on the go. Adorning the tough exterior is an extra-large LCD screen with minimalist buttons for the timer presets. Near the top is a convenient carrying handle, perfect for bringing with you this lightweight nail lamp anywhere you go.
The Crenova’s window is wide enough (22.4 cm) to allow for plenty of room for your hand to fit. Inside, an array of 36 LED lights provides a generous 72 watts of drying power. IR sensors can detect whenever you place your hand so it can turn the unit on and off automatically.
For the timer, you have four different settings to choose from. The last setting, 99 seconds, also triggers low heat mode that lowers the temperature for sensitive hands.
Overall, the Crenova is a brilliant LED nail lamp that ticks all the boxes for a professional manicurist – all at an equally brilliant price tag.
Pros
- Exceptional durability
- Compact and lightweight
- Wide window
- Good value for money
Cons
- Some users report a burning sensation at the beg
Our Rating: 4.7 / 5.0
LED vs UV Nail Lamp – What’s the Difference?
Nail lamps come in two types, depending on whether they use an LED or UV bulb for the light they emit. Both do an excellent job of curing nail polish, but they have some differences that you need to know.
Let’s start with UV nail lamps. They use ultraviolet or UV light for nails, which is the same wavelength of light used by the sun and tanning salons. Of the two types, UV nail lamps are much more prevalent, being the preferred option used by most nail salons and professional manicurists in the UK.
There’s a perfectly good reason for this level of acceptance: UV nail lamps can be used with all types of nail polishes, making them the most flexible curing option you have. They do work reasonably fast, curing nails in as little as 2 – 3 minutes.
LED nail lamps, on the other hand, are a relatively new introduction. They use a narrower band of light that hardens and cures polish much faster than UV. Compared to the 2 – 3 minutes a UV nail lamp needs, LED takes just around 30 – 60 seconds for the polish to set, some even faster. LED bulbs also last longer and are safer compared to UV lamps, since they don’t expose your skin to as much harmful UV light (the faster curing time helps as well).
The main drawback with an LED nail lamp is that they only work with compatible gel polish. That’s great if your preferred nail brand works with LED, but if not, you don’t have much of a choice. Generally, LED nail lamps are also more expensive compared to UV.
So should you buy one over the other? Well, it depends on your nail polish brand. If it’s LED compatible, an LED nail lamp is worthwhile for the added speed and safety. However, if you value flexibility, a UV nail lamp isn’t so bad.
One small thing that’s worth mentioning – how long your polish lasts has nothing to do with whether you use LED or UV to cure. That one’s determined by the overall quality of your polish, how well you applied it, and how much wear and tear you expose your nails to.
Are LED Nail Lamps Safe?
Since they use harmful UV light, people are concerned about the safety of using nail lamps. Many so-called experts have claimed that the UV radiation in these nail lamps can cause health problems like skin ageing and cancer.
The good news is that nail lamps relatively safe. The UV radiation used is UV-A, which is considered safer than UV-B. The short exposure time and coverage area also have a negligible effect on your skin. In comparison, walking outside under the sun or tanning are much more dangerous activities as far as UV exposure is concerned.
Nevertheless, there are still some steps you can take further to minimize the risk of skin ageing and damage when using nail lamps. When given a choice, go with LED lamps since they limit exposure to just a few seconds, plus they don’t emit as much UV radiation compared to UV nail lamps. You can also apply sunscreen on your hands or wear Anti-UV Gloves for further protection.
If you’re still concerned about the safety of LED nail lamps, here’s an article you can check out.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best LED Nail Lamp
Nowadays, the market is filled with LED nail lamps with various features and specs. It can be challenging for any would-be nail artist to pick one, so here’s a few factors to help you out:
Bulb Life Span
Generally, the bulb used in UV lamps only lasts for around 100 – 1,000 hours, after which they need to be replaced. LED nail lamps don’t have this problem, as their bulbs can last for 50,000 hours on average; which is to say, they never need replacing.
Now, even among LED nail lamps, there’s some variation on bulb life. It might be tempting to get a more expensive model with a longer bulb life. But remember that you only use a nail lamp for minutes at a time. So unless you’re running a bustling nail salon, it’s highly unlikely you’ll reach the lifespan of an LED bulb, much less exceed it. Typical bulb lifespans of 5,000 are often enough.
Curing Time
As we’ve discussed, LED nail lamps cure nail polish way faster than UV nail lamps. But even among LED models, there’s some variation. Higher tier models can cure nails in as little as 15 seconds. If minimal exposure and bulb usage is your concern, go as fast as you can with curing time.
From experience, however, most LED nail lamps are fast enough (30 seconds on average) that curing time is rarely a dealbreaker.
Size and Weight
The size of your LED nail lamp is essential because it determines how many fingers (or toes for pedicures) you can cure at a time. Most models only accept four fingers, so you need to cure your thumb separately. Not only does it take too much time if you’re curing two hands, but it can also be uncomfortable to insert just your thumb inside the lamp.
The best option is to buy an LED nail lamp that accepts your entire hand. You can do even better by getting one that can accept both of your hands or feet at the same time (if you don’t mind the added bulk). Either option can save you much time.
Size and weight are also essential to consider if you bring your nail lamp around a lot (if you’re a manicurist doing home service, for example). If that’s the case, a smaller model might be a better option for you. Fortunately, LED nail lamps are lighter in general versus UV lamps.
Wattage
Wattage determines how much power your LED nail lamp consumes. The higher the wattage, the faster and better the curing performance of the lamp. However, high wattage also increases the price of the lamp, as well as raises electricity consumption (which also contribute a cost of its own).
Generally, you want a nail lamp with at least 10 watts, as anything below won’t cure your nail polish efficiently.
Warranty
Warranty is a good guarantee of the quality of your nail lamp, so it’s always nice to have. Most LED nail lamps have a one-year warranty, which is the standard you should go for. The best is to get two-year warranties or more, but those are generally present only in higher-end models.
Preset Timer
Some LED have presets that allow you to cure your nail polish at set time intervals or you can program in your own. They’re meant to be convenient, so you don’t have to time your curing when using the machine manually.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, LED nail lamps are the safest and most inexpensive way to get salon-quality nails done, in the comfort of your home, at a fraction of the price. For the nail savvy woman, it truly is a worthy investment to make!
Want more recommendations for your favourite beauty products? Check out our review on the best eyebrow pencils to enhance those gorgeous brows of yours. Or, if you’re into stunning curls, this buyer’s guide on the best curling tongs can help you with your new look!
