How Do You Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light?

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Plus, how to get a gel-like manicure without harmful UV radiation
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Gel nail polishes have become increasingly popular for their quick drying time and long-lasting wear. While gel polish can keep your nails looking great for weeks, curing the polish with a UV light emits ultraviolet radiation, which can be dangerous for your health. [1] Thankfully, there are alternative ways to cure gel polish with less UV exposure. While only an LED lamp can cure your polish as quickly and effectively as a UV light, keep reading for other drying methods you can try at home.

How to Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light

Regular gel nail polish has to be cured with a UV light or LED lamp. If you don't have a UV light, use a non-UV gel nail polish. Apply thin, even coats to speed up the drying process. After painting, spray on a quick-drying nail polish spray or submerge your nails in ice water for about 3 minutes.

Section 1 of 4:

Can you cure gel nails without a UV light?

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  1. UV and LED nail lamps emit UV wavelengths that cure and dry gel polish. [2] If you don't have or don't want to use UV light, use special non-UV gel nail polishes that are gel-like in terms of their shine and durability but are specially formulated to air-dry without being cured under a nail lamp. [3]
    • Can I use sunlight to cure gel nails? No, you can’t cure your gel nail polish with sunlight. The sun emits UV light at various wavelengths and intensities, while UV or LED light emits specific UV wavelengths and intensities. These machines are calibrated to cure gel polish. [4]
    • Can I use my phone’s flashlight to cure gel nails? No, you can’t cure gel nail polish with your phone’s flashlight, a black light, or a teeth-whitening LED light. Nail lamps are designed to cure gel nail polish—other products likely won’t do as good of a job, and could even be harmful if misused.
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Section 2 of 4:

Methods to Dry Non-UV Gel Nails

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  1. There are several nail polish brands that make non-UV gel polishes you can use at home, such as Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel line and Essie’s Gel Couture line. These gel polishes are applied in the same manner as regular, non-gel polish and are made to dry on their own without light. They’re not technically cured, but they deliver a similar look and durability to gel manicures. [5]
    • When purchasing a gel polish, make sure that it specifies on the label that the polish does not require a UV light or LED lamp to cure. If the polish doesn’t specify that it’s a non-UV polish, it likely won’t cure without a light or lamp.
    • You can also try a gel alternative instead of a non-UV gel polish. For example, Dazzle Dry sells four-step manicure kits that air-dry in five minutes without a UV lamp. [6]
  2. Lay one of your hands out on a flat surface covered with newspaper or paper towels. Hold the can of quick-drying nail polish spray about 7 inches (18 cm) away from your hand, and spray a light coat over your nails while the polish is still wet. Repeat this to spray the nails on your other hand. [7]
    • Leave your nails to dry for the time listed on the bottle—usually, five to 10 minutes. Once the non-UV gel polish is dry and hardened, wash your hands with soap and water to remove any residual spray.
    • While quick-drying polish sprays are generally formulated for non-gel nail polishes, they might also help dry non-UV gel polish faster. Be aware, however, that they won’t cure gel polishes—only UV light can do that. [8]
  3. Lay some newspaper or paper towels out on a flat surface before laying your hand out with your fingers spread apart. Hold the cooking spray about 6 inches (15 cm) away from your hand and spray each of your fingers with the oil while the polish is still wet. Repeat this on your other hand. Leave the oil to dry for several minutes, then wash your hands to rinse off oil residue. [9]
    • Cooking spray thins out the nail polish, helping it to dry faster. Note that it won’t cure gel polish, but could work on non-UV gel polish.
    • Try not to touch anything while your nails are drying, as the cooking spray can leave your fingers feeling a bit sticky.
  4. First, let your nails air dry for about 5 to 10 minutes. Fill a shallow bowl with cold water and a few cubes of ice. Stick your nails into the water, making sure that all the nails are completely submerged. Hold your nails under the water for about three minutes before removing them from the bowl. Let your fingers and nails air dry for at least an hour. [10]
    • While your nails will likely feel completely hardened right when they come out of the ice water, they may not be completely dry for several hours. Be careful with your nails for several hours after removing them from the water.
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Section 3 of 4:

Curing Gel Nails with an LED Lamp

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  1. Put on fingerless gloves or sunscreen to protect your skin. While LED lamps may be less harmful than UV lamps, they do emit some potentially harmful UV rays. Before painting your nails and curing the polish with an LED lamp, protect your skin by wearing fingerless gloves or putting a layer of high-SPF sunscreen on your hands. [11]
    • You can buy professional nail gloves made out of a special polymer that contains titanium dioxide, a sun-protecting ingredient found in many sunscreens. [12]
  2. “You have to take basically all of the moisture out of the nail so that when you apply the gel product, it really adheres,” explains salon owner and professional nail artist Kristin Pulaski. She recommends using rubbing alcohol and a lint-free nail wipe to dehydrate and prep your nails before a gel manicure. [13]
  3. Apply a thin layer of gel base coat to the nails on one hand. Dip the nail polish brush into the gel base polish. Wipe the brush on the inside of the lip of the polish bottle to remove any excess polish. Then, paint a thin coat on each nail on one of your hands. [14]
    • Make sure that the base polish is applied evenly and that there aren’t any drips or clumps. The polish will take longer to dry if there are globs instead of a smooth coat.
  4. Once each nail is painted, place your fingers in the LED lamp hand slot. Make sure your thumb is under the lamp as well. Then, set the lamp’s timer to 45 seconds and turn the lamp on. Leave your hand under the lamp until the light shuts off. [15]
    • Operating instructions will vary depending on the exact LED lamp you’re using, so make sure you follow the directions for your lamp.
    • If your lamp doesn’t have a timer, you can set a timer on your smartphone to help you keep track of the time.
  5. After the base coat has cured, dip the brush into the color gel polish. Wipe excess polish off on the inside of the bottle so it doesn’t clump. Then, carefully paint a coat of the color polish on each of your nails on top of the cured base coat. [16]
    • Be careful not to get any polish on your cuticles, as this can impede the curing process and cause your polish to peel.
  6. Set the timer on your LED lamp to 45 seconds and slide your hand with the painted nails into the hand slot. Then, turn the lamp on, keeping your fingers under the light until the timer goes off and the polish has cured. [17]
  7. If you want your gel polish color to be more opaque, apply another thin coat of polish on each of your nails. Cure the gel again under the LED lamp after each additional coat. [18]
    • If you get the color you want from the gel polish after one coat, you can skip this step.
  8. Once you’re satisfied with your nail color, apply a thin layer of a gel top coat to seal and protect the color polish. Cure the top coat under the LED lamp for another 45 seconds. [19]
  9. Hold a clean cotton ball over the top of a bottle of rubbing alcohol and flip the bottle over to saturate the cotton. Then, rub the cotton ball over each of the painted nails. This will remove the sticky finish left on top of your nails after curing the top coat. [20]
  10. Paint the base coat, color coat(s), and top coat on your other hand, curing for 45 seconds after each coat. Since the polish is cured and hardened on the finished hand, you’ll be able to use it to paint your other hand without damaging the polish.
    • As with UV-cured polish, gel polish cured with an LED lamp lasts up to 3 weeks. [21]
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Section 4 of 4:

UV vs LED Nail Lamps

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  1. UVA rays are a kind of ultraviolet radiation. Their wavelengths penetrate the skin and damage cells, causing tanning, skin aging, wrinkles, and skin cancer development. [22] If you’re trying to avoid using a UV light because you’re worried about cancer risk, note that an LED nail lamp will expose you to similar radiation. [23]
    • You’re mostly exposed to UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. That’s why it’s important to wear sunscreen and cover up when you go outside.
    • A 2023 study on the effects of UV-emitting nail polish dryers on human cells revealed that cells were damaged and mutated. However, more research is needed to establish if there’s a direct link between using the nail-drying lamps and an increased risk of skin cancers. [24]
  2. This is because they produce a narrow, targeted spectrum of UV wavelengths. Some people believe the shorter curing time makes LED nail lamps safer than UV nail lamps. [25] However, the UVA rays they emit are more intense than those emitted by regular UV lamps. If you have concerns about exposure to UVA rays, limit or stop receiving gel manicures that are cured by either kind of lamp. [26]
    • Curing time also depends on wattage. A high-wattage LED lamp cures within around 30 seconds, but a UV lamp takes around two minutes.
  3. Check the nail polish bottle or the product page for the specific polish online to verify that it’s compatible with an LED lamp. If it says something like “UV lamp only,” you won’t be able to properly cure it using an LED lamp. [27]
  4. UV nail lamps have a bulb life of around 1000 hours, or one and a half months. However, you’re advised to change the bulbs twice a year (so, every six months), whether or not they’ve burnt out. LED nail lamps, on the other hand, have a bulb life of 50,000 hours, providing you around five and a half years of light without having to worry about changing the bulbs. [28]
  5. However, they may be worth the splurge if you value a faster curing time. Other factors that affect price include the size and wattage of the device you buy. Also, you’ll need to replace bulbs in the UV nail lamp every six months. [29]
    • You can’t replace bulbs in an LED lamp, so don’t worry about that becoming an expense. The lamp is meant to last for years with the LEDs it comes with.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I don't have a sunlight machine, so how do I do it?
    Asher Mott
    Community Answer
    Essentially you can't. You need a UV light to cure or dry the nails. Try checking the specific brand's helpful tips.
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      Warnings

      • Both LED and UV lamps emit UV rays, including UVA radiation—a type of radiation that’s associated with a higher cancer risk. [30] However, more studies are needed to establish a direct link between nail-polish curing lamps and the development of skin cancer.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Gel nail polish won’t dry on its own. It must be cured by a UV or LED lamp. The UVA wavelengths emitted by these devices activate particles in the gel nail polish, turning it from a liquid into a solid, plastic-like substance. [31]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Avoid chipping off your gel polish, since it can actually remove the top layers of your nails and weaken them, says nail artist Lindsay Yoshitomi. [32] Instead, soak your nails in pure acetone before gently removing the gel .
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      Things You’ll Need

      Methods to Dry Non-UV Gel Nails

      Curing Gel Nails with an LED Lamp

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-health/features/uv-radiation.html
      2. ↑ https://www.today.com/health/are-gel-manicures-safe-what-know-about-uv-exposure-skin-t154294
      3. ↑ https://www.verygoodlight.com/2022/06/06/dazzle-dry-review/
      4. ↑ https://chuanchuanfashion.com/blogs/news/does-gel-polish-dry-in-the-sun
      5. ↑ https://www.nailsmag.com/348101/no-uv-light-no-chip-nail-polish-a-cnd-vinylux-trial
      6. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/are-there-any-healthier-alternatives-to-gel-manicures.html
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4bqXfI1mE0
      8. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/the-science-behind-quick-dry-n
      9. ↑ https://www.vogue.in/beauty/content/how-to-dry-nail-polish-fast-application-tips
      1. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/beauty/a562508/how-to-dry-nails-quickly/
      2. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/safety-of-led-nail-lamps
      3. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/gel-manicure-uv-nail-lamps-and-skin-cancer
      4. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview 19 May 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      6. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      7. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      8. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      9. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      10. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      11. ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/led-nail-lamps-do-they-really-work-spoiler-alert-holy-crap-yes-they-do/
      12. ↑ https://vogue.sg/post-gel-manicure-cuticle-care/
      13. ↑ https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-s-the-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays-.h15-1592991.html
      14. ↑ https://www.today.com/health/are-gel-manicures-safe-what-know-about-uv-exposure-skin-t154294
      15. ↑ https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/uv-emitting-nail-polish-dryers-damage-dna-and-cause-cell-mutations
      16. ↑ https://www.grazia.co.in/beauty/uv-vs-led-nail-lamps-which-one-is-safer-for-gel-manicures-12068.html
      17. ↑ https://www.today.com/health/are-gel-manicures-safe-what-know-about-uv-exposure-skin-t154294
      18. ↑ https://www.grazia.co.in/beauty/uv-vs-led-nail-lamps-which-one-is-safer-for-gel-manicures-12068.html
      19. ↑ https://www.grazia.co.in/beauty/uv-vs-led-nail-lamps-which-one-is-safer-for-gel-manicures-12068.html
      20. ↑ https://www.grazia.co.in/beauty/uv-vs-led-nail-lamps-which-one-is-safer-for-gel-manicures-12068.html
      21. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/safety-of-led-nail-lamps
      22. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/uv-light-nails-cancer-truth
      23. ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.

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