Beetles Gel Polish can also be cured without UV light, but it will take longer for the polish to set. Here is how: To cure without UV light, apply a thin coat of polish to each nail and allow it to air dry for about 30 minutes. Using An Expired Gel Nail Polish. Using an expired gel nail polish means that the gel polish will not cure properly. This is because the chemicals in the polish are no longer active and do not react with the curing light. The result is a soft, tacky finish that will likely chip off after just a few days. This item: AOMIDA 82W UV Nail Lamp, Fast Curing Gel Nail Polish with 3 Timers and LCD Display,Professional LED Nail Dryers Lamp with Auto Sensor,Gel Nail UV Light for Home DIY $17.99 $ 17 . 99 ($17.99/Count) Not to mention that the UV light used to cure the polish is debatably unsafe for your skin. So when I discovered Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish, a DIY gel alternative that provides the same long-lasting glossy look without a UV lamp or damage, I was sold. It claims to combine the quality and convenience of a salon visit with a chip-free formula How to apply gel nail polish. 1. Gather your kit together: nail polish remover, manicure set, gel base and top coat, gel cleanser, UV or LED lamp (depending on the brand you use) and gel colour polish. 2. Use nail varnish remover to get rid of any previous nail polish 3. Use a cuticle softener to loosen the cuticles before carefully trimming Best for Beginners: Olive & June The Mani System at Oliveandjune.com (See Price) Jump to Review. Best Gel Kit: Le Mini Macaron Mini Gel Nail Polish Kit at Amazon ($38) Jump to Review. Best Powder Acrylic nails should dry entirely in 15 minutes, even without using UV lights. If the nails are wet to touch, then there’s a problem somewhere. It can be that your acrylic powder and liquid monomer components were too cold before mixing. In this scenario, you’ll need to wait a little longer for the acrylic nails to dry. Gelish PolyGel (the original, patent-pending formula) is roughly 23 percent lighter than acrylics and 16 percent lighter than traditional hard gels, but it's just as strong. Haile also adds that The ultraviolet (UV) light provided by gel polish causes nails to dry faster. The gel medium not only reacts to UV light, but it also creates a highly concentrated finish. Using a UV gel nail manicure instead of going one to 10 days without chipping can give you up to three weeks of useful nail polish. Top 10 Best Gel Nail Polishes 2023. 1. Best Overall Gel Nail Polish: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish + Top Coat. View on Amazon. Why we like it: A light isn’t needed for this polish, so it’s great for those who are new to gel nail polishes so they can try it out without spending a lot of money. Editor’s Rating: g94kjk.