Gel
Bonding gels
used to increase adhesion to the natural nail plate
Pigmented gels
can be building gels or self-leveling gels that include color pigment.
Inhibition layer
a tacky surface left on the nail after a UV or LED gel has cured.
UV bulb
Also known as UV light bulb; special bulb that emits UV and LED light to create light cured gel nail enhancements
LED
Light Emitting Diodes
Building gels
any thick-viscosity resin that allows the cosmetologist to build an arch and curve into the fingernail.
Gel polish
A very thin-viscosity gel that is usually pigmented and packaged in a pot or a polish bottle; it is used as an alternative to traditional nail lacquers.
photoinitiator
initiates the polymerization reaction.
UV Lamp
Also known as UVlight unit; specialized electronic device that powers and controls UV and Led bulbs to cure UV and LED gel nail enhancements
Lamp wattage
the measure of how much electricity the bulbs consumes.
Self-leveling gels
thinner in consistency than building gels, allowing them to settle and level during application.
Glossing gel
also known as sealing gel, finishing gel or shine gel, is used over the finished and filed gel application to create a high shine, in much the same way a top coat would be applied over colored nail polish.
Hard UV and LED gels
also known as traditional gels, cannot be removed with a solvent such as acetone. They need to be filed off the natural nail to be removed.
Viscosity
The measurment of the thickness or thinness of a liquid and how the fluid flows
Opacity
The amount of colored pigment concentration in a gel, making it more or les difficult to see through
light cured gel
Also known as UV and LED gel. This is a type of nail enhancement product that hardens when exposed to a UV or LED light source.
oligomer
a short chain of monomer liquids that is often thick, sticky, and gel-like and that is not long enough to be considered a polymer.
Soft UV and LED gels
Also known as soakable gels, including gel polishes, are removed by soaking in acetone
One-color method
When one color gel, usually clear, is applied over the entire surface of the nail
Cure
To harden
urethane acrylate
A main ingredient used to create light cured gel nail enhancements
urethane methacrylate
A main ingredient used alone or in combination with urethane acrylates to create light cured gl nail enhancements
What are the different types of light cured gels found in current systems?
bonding gels, building gels, self-leveling gels, pigmented gels, gel polish, and glossing gel.
Two Color Method
A method whereby two colors of resin are used to overlay the nail
Describe the chemistry and main ingredients of light cured gels.
Light cured gel enhancements rely on ingredients from the family called acrylates. Urethane acrylate and urethane methacrylate are the main ingredients used alone or in combination with urethane acrylates to create light cured gel nail enhancements. Light cured gel resins react when exposed to the UV or LED light source that is recommended for the gel. It takes the combination of resin, photoinitiator, and the proper curing bulb to cause the gel to cure completely.