Reddit mentions of SUNUV 48W UV LED Light Lamp Nail Dryer for Gel Polish with Auto Sensor Professional Nail Art Tools (Black)

I have my nail tech license, so I have access to the professional products and equipment, but I’ve found a lot of alternatives to the ‘mainstream’ giants in the nail industry. If you go into the nail section of Cosmoprof and SalonCentric, they’re usually dominated by OPI, CND, Essie, and Gelish. CND’s Shellac was probably the first/most prevalent/recognizable gel polish that became familiar to the public, so much that “Shellac” became a catch-all name for gel manicures (similar to names like Q-Tip, Band-Aid, or Kleenex). For a long time, a gel manicure was likely requested (or listed in the salon service menu) as Shellac, regardless of the product line that was used. I was trained on the CND Shellac line when I first learned gel polishes, but I never went on to purchase a single CND Shellac polish/base/top coat. I do own the remover and prep, because it came in a kit for their Brisa gel, but I still don’t own anything “Shellac”. The big thing that I’ve learned? With these giant brands that become industry standards, I’d say that the high price of their products is generally: 75% (a product bearing a brand name that a non-nailpro can see in your supply kit and instantly recognize, therefore they’ll be more likely to have confidence in the products that you use and trust your professional knowledge/skill) and 25% (a popular product that is trusted within the industry).


I have a pretty varied mix of gel polish products, which I started building by stocking up when Cosmoprof and SalonCentric would heavily discount a new batch of OPI and Gelish, and supplemented my stock with Gelaze by China Glaze (which is extremely affordable, compared to OPI/Gelish/Shellac). Of the “big brands”, Gelish is my favorite. But I’ve branched put away from the “mainstream brands” and have found a lot more unique (and affordable) products through nail artists on instagram and by just falling into nail-related rabbit holes on amazon. You can absolutely build a solid stash of gel polishes and supplies without breaking the bank. Here’s what I would recommend:

-Cleanse/Remove: You don’t need a special to remove gel polish. It’s one of those products that are easily packaged and promoted as a “must have” part of the product line. You can soak off gel polish by using a file or buffer to remove the top coat (basically until the surface is no longer shiny), then soaking for a few minutes with those little foil wraps and 100% acetone. If you prefer to not use acetone, the polish can be 100% buffed off with a 120 grit file or buffer. Gel polish cleanser, which is used to clean the natural nail before application and to remove the sticky layer after the gel cures, is 99% isopropyl alcohol. 99% is the most effective, but I know that some cleansers that you can get at Walmart and the like aren’t 99%. I picked up a cheap cleanser and a bottle of acetone at Walmart (Onyx Professional brand) and they worked just the same as my professional brand products. I recommend the little rectangular buffers (you can buy a good amount at Sally’s for cheap) and a 100/120 grit zebra file. The final thing here is lint-free nail wipes. You can find them in the nail aisle at Walmart, which is a great thing because I could only find the damn things in pro stores forever. If I’m being cheap and doing my own nails? I just use paper towels, as long as they aren’t the quilted/soft ones. Never toilet paper, it’s way too crumbly.

-Prep/Base/Top Coat: I’ve tried a few, but Gelish has been the most effective for me. It’s also lasted FOR-EV-ER. You can get the full size of pH Bond, Foundation, and Top It Off in the Gelish Terrific Trio Kit on Amazon for $30.99. This an excellent price and the only way I’ll purchase these items, because they’re individual prices are ridiculous.

Curing: This is where I circle back to my rant about the professional brands and how they can get away with ridiculous markup by slapping their name on a product. A few years ago, OPI and CND both unveiled their ‘cutting edge’ LED nail lamps. This was when the industry was moving away from UV and embracing LED. Gelish also had a very popular lamp at the time. If you went into any salon, you were probably going to see a lamp by Gelish, OPI, or CND. These came with $200-450 price tags. My reaction was basically “fuuuuuuck that”. I bought a basic UV lamp for $20 on eBay and a little LED on amazon for $40. I’m still using them, 4 years later. This is a knockoff version of the CND lamp, and the one that I’m looking at to upgrade from my first LED. Here’s another option, which is similar to the one I currently use.

-Read the reviews when you buy nail products on amazon, but pay attention to the complaints. Some negative reviews come from faulty products, but a LOT of them come from people who have no idea what they’re doing.

I kinda wrote a book here, but if anyone ever has a nail question, shoot me a message and I’m happy to help or make recommendations!!

I've been looking into eyelash lifting--i have dark brown hair and would LOVE a curl. The kits on amazon scare meeee. IM DYING to learn microdermabrasion--but i'm so scared I'll do damage! How often do you do them, now that cost isn't a problem?

For manis, I use this lamp! (this isn't an ad and i am being 100% honest hahah. it works well and I like it, but you could probably find one of similar quality for 30. Def get LED, not UV). I use OPI gels from ebay and a dehydrator like this.

There are so many great lights on Amazon. The one I like is this one:

SUNUV 48W UV LED Light Lamp Nail Dryer for Gel Polish with Auto Sensor Professional Nail Art Tools (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CTZJ6L/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_KTz4DbZXZ2C52

As for polishes and base/top coats, I really like both Gellen and Vishine brands on Amazon. Both cheap, but I've loved them both (more than Gelish). If you want to stick to well-known brands, Gelish, OPI and CND are the top brands that salons carry. They're pretty pricey though.

If you haven’t already ordered one, this is the one I use. It’s cheap and has a lot of high end features for a cheap price.

SUNUV 48W UV LED Nail Dryer for Gels Polish With Sensor (White)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CTZJ6L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_.VpxCbR53PD2B

SUNUV 48W UV LED Light Lamp Nail Dryer for Gel Polish with Auto Sensor Professional Nail Art Tools (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CTZJ6L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3cakDb0MJ1WDJ

Gellen Pick Any 6 Colors Soak Off Gel Nail Polish 300 Colors Available https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GUSEJUM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JdakDb2C0QN2K

That’s what I use and I’m happy with it :)