Articles · Topic
Tools and lamps
Choosing and using nail tools, UV/LED lamps, files and the basics, safely and well.
11 articles
Gloves for gel and acrylic work: why nitrile, and why change every 30 minutes
UK dermatologists repeat that latex and vinyl gloves don't stop nail acrylates. Nitrile helps only for a short time: change often and never touch gel, gloved or not.
5 min readNail filing dust is plastic dust: capture it at the source, not with a fan
Filing gel and acrylic makes fine plastic dust. In lab tests, extraction at the source cut dust at the worker's breathing zone by 67-90%; a fan only moves it around.
5 min readDo nail lamps damage DNA? What the 2023 study shows, and what it does not
A 2023 UC San Diego study shone nail lamp light on cells in a dish and found DNA damage and mutations. No human cancer data yet. Simple ways to protect your hands.
4 min readCleaning makeup brushes and sponges: how often, how, and when to replace them
A wash schedule by brush type, the AAD way to wash without loosening the glue, drying flat, when a brush or sponge is done, and why makeup is not for sharing.
6 min readSetting up a home nail corner: desk height, light, airflow and safe storage
Set up a home nail corner that is comfortable, well lit and ventilated, with the lamp in the right place, dust under control, and products away from children and food.
6 min readNail art tools: dotting tools, liner brushes, stamping and brush care after gel
What each nail art tool does, how to make even dots, clean lines and a five-dot flower, how stamping works, and how to clean gel brushes without ruining them.
6 min readPhotographing nails with your phone: true colour, soft light, no heavy filters
Get nail photos that match real life: daylight or soft light, one light colour, a white reference, a plain background, the right angle, and no filters that shift colour.
6 min readNail e-file basics: bits, speeds, rotation and how a beginner should start
Understand an e-file before switching it on: what each bit does, RPM ranges per task, rotation direction, a first practice routine, and protection from heat and dust.
6 min readYour first nail kit: files, buffer, pusher, wipes, alcohol. What can wait
The nine things a beginner needs for gel nails at home: what file grit numbers mean, how to use a buffer and pusher, which liquids matter, and what not to buy yet.
7 min readStoring gel and nail tools: light, temperature, lids and period after opening
Why gel thickens in the bottle, what temperature to keep it at, how to read the open-jar (PAO) symbol, when a gel has gone off, and how to store a lamp and e-file bits.
7 min readUV vs LED nail lamps: the difference, and why your gel stays soft
UV, LED and UV/LED lamps give off different light, and each gel needs its own range. Match the lamp to the gel, spot under-curing, and use the lamp safely.
4 min read