Now before anyone accuses me of dissing the LED lamp or anything else can I just say I am NOT.
As an experienced nail technician, I just really would like Sheila or someone, to explain to me how one would make their money back any faster using the LED curing or UV 4 bulb lamp curing? One can only paint as fast as one can paint ... which is slower than the cure time .. IOW the lamp is faster than I would be. So the clients' gel might be cured, but the other hand would be waiting for me! The fact that the cure is faster doesn't make me faster. So how do you save time with it? And are there any other benefits apart from a faster cure? I mean does the service last any longer?
Another question to which I would be grateful for a reply is .. Does the LED cure five fingers at a time like the CND UV Lamp or is it the four fingers two thumbs as it is in most other 4 bulb UV Lamps?
I do find that the five finger cure with the CND UV Lamp is the thing that has saved me on average about 5 minutes so my service is very quick anyway. Just can't see where the huge benefit is in the LED apart from not having to replace the bulbs as often, but the UV bulbs last for months and the UV lamp is much less expensive so the cost of the bulbs (what twice a year?) is in fact cheaper than investing all at once in a more expensive option that does the same job?
Well that is how I see it anyway. Convince me. I really would like the answers.
I am not sure I can answer or convince you Geeg, as I really think at the end of the day this is something that is just down to personal preference.
I am a Gelish user as I just love the colour choices, and initially I have been using the old Brisa lamp to cure it....whilst I know technicians who have been using a 36 watt lamp, with no problems.
However the Brisa Lamp tended to overcure the basecoat as it only needed a 1 minute cure and of course the Brisa is set for 2 minutes, this I feel led to it taking longer to remove the product at the next appointment.
I have been away from the practical hands on side of our Industry for some time so my timings were a little slow to say the least
but I do still think I can apply a precision polish to 5 fingers within 2 minutes!
Did I
need an LED Lamp....NO!
Did I
want an LED Lamp....YES!!
Has it cut my times down....probably not!!! as I take the time I want and chat with my client, I try to ensure I do a good job, let her know I am using the latest products and technology, and make her feel she is getting the best service for her money, and most importantly leave feeling better than she did when she arrived!! Could I do that if I was squeezing 16 clients into an 8 hour day
I don't think so!
In my opinion it is the client who had the relaxing time and a chat (and beautiful nails) that will rebook and recommend you to all her friends, not the clients who felt they were on a conveyor belt and the next in line was right behind her breathing down her neck.
To be honest the LED Lamp has maybe added to my time initially as I find the thumbs just plain awkward to do!!! Yes Geeg it is a 4 finger then thumb lamp.
I have been advised that the lamp should be placed at the edge of my desk and the client can place her fingers under the desk when her thumbs are in the lamp.
Sorry, but with my desk this is impossible, as it has a deep lip in the client side.! I therefore am leaving the thumbs until I have totally finished with the fingers then I hold the lamp slightly over the end of the desk for each cure of the thumbs...not very practical or professional looking I think :o
I have solved this problem and am awaiting a clear plinth/box to sit on my desk with the lamp on it, which I think will look cool and will make my Gelish service quicker and calmer lol!!
Had known this before I purchased the lamp it maybe would have made me think twice...but now I have it I still love it, it is neat and I do love the faster curing times, and I feel the fact that it is cutting edge technology adds to marketing my services.
On average I take 30 to 40 minutes for a Gelish service including picking a colour(which can take ages !) application and updating record cards, and of course chatting to my client.
With removal it can take anything from 45-60 minutes but I think using the LED Lamp and the Magis wraps will bring that down to 45 which I would be happy with.
I don't see why this thread has maybe got a bit off track at times, as at the end of the day we should all be using what we feel is right for our business, and suits our clientel and pockets!
Just my opinion, I hope you all made it to the end of this rather long post
!!