Best Nail Dryers

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 3, 2023
Take a full joy of living with the fabulous, professionally done nails. Whether you are tired of beauty salons or work at one, check ...Read more
PROS

The overall power of 48W and the Double Power Key can speed up drying of practically any nail polish regardless of its type and the number of layers you apply.

CONS

Glossy housing is easy to scratch.

OUR VERDICT

This is a truly smart device, more than just a nail dryer. With it, you will be able to make a beautiful and stylish manicure on par with the one made in beauty salons at a high cost.

detailed parameters
Dryer Type

UV + LED light

Working Element and Capacity

36 lamps total (48 W)

Service Life

Up to 50,000 hours

Timer Settings

10s, 30s, 60s, 99s (low heat mode)

Features

Smart over-temperature control chip, Auto-sensing, LCD screen, Non-skid feet

Power Supply

Grid

Fits

5 fingers or 5 toes

Dimensions

8" x 8" x 4"

1.32 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS

Auto-sensing technology activates the LEDs only when fingers or toes are inside the unit. The curved arc design protects your eyes, minimizing the exposure to UV light.

CONS

The actual power is a bit lower than stated. 

OUR VERDICT

It's quite an affordable lamp for beginners. It's compact, portable, and powerful enough to cure most UV gels. A good fit for anyone who wants a decent budget-friendly lamp for doing nails at home.

detailed parameters
Dryer Type

UV + LED light

Working Element and Capacity

21 lamps total (48 W)

Service Life

Up to 50,000 hours

Timer Settings

30s, 60s, 99s (low heat mode)

Features

Advanced heat dissipation technology, Curved arc design, Auto-sensing, LCD-screen

Power Supply

Grid

Fits

5 fingers or 5 toes

Dimensions

8.5" x 5.2" x 3"

~0.5 lbs

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The large heat dissipation holes with unique design guarantee effective cooling of the device. You'll be able to use it for an incredibly long period of time without worrying about overheating.

CONS

A limited number of timer settings.

OUR VERDICT

The SUNUV lamp is an ideal choice for those who're just planning to start making manicure and pedicure in the comfort of their own home. It's moderately priced, easy to use, and long-lasting.

detailed parameters
Dryer Type

UV + LED light

Working Element and Capacity

18 lamps total (24 W)

Service Life

Up to 50,000 hours

Timer Settings

30s, 60s

Features

Auto-sensing

Power Supply

Grid

Fits

5 fingers or 5 toes

Dimensions

8.4" x 4.7" x 3"

0.47 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The anti-UV gloves protect your skin from harmful UV lights, perfect for people suffering from certain skin issues. The double power function is great for experienced users as it will help them achieve the same result in half the time. 

CONS

The bottom tray loses its grip over time. 

OUR VERDICT

The RICRIS 54W is a professional-quality nail dryer that will be able to satisfy even the most demanding customers. The main highlight of this model is the ultra-quick curing time and extra-long lamp lifespan. 

detailed parameters
Dryer Type

UV + LED light

Working Element and Capacity

36 lamps total (54 W)

Service Life

Up to 50,000 hours

Timer Settings

10s, 30s, 60s, 99s (low heat mode)

Features

Auto-sensing, Removable bottom tray, LCD screen, anti-UV gloves, 5-piece manicure set

Power Supply

Grid

Fits

5 fingers or 5 toes

Dimensions

8.7" x 8.3" x 3.9", 
1.5 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS

There is a non-slip silicone pad on the top of the device. It's designed to let users conveniently place hands on it while shaping nails, cutting the cuticle, or applying gel polishes.

CONS

The power cord could be longer. 

OUR VERDICT

This SUNUV lamp can be very comfortable both for manicurists and their clients. Not only does it come with an armrest, it also has a low-power 90-sec setting for curing extra-thick polishes without hot sensations.

detailed parameters
Dryer Type

UV + LED light

Working Element and Capacity

33 lamps total (48 W)

Service Life

Up to 50,000 hours

Timer Settings

10s, 30s, 60s, 90s (low heat mode)

Features

Auto-sensing, Removable bottom tray, Non-skid feet

Power Supply

Grid

Fits

5 fingers or 5 toes

Dimensions

7.9" x 6.7" x 3.9"

~1.3 lbs

Warranty

1 year

Broad Use

The best thing about this nail dryer is probably the fact that it is pretty heavy-duty. With the 36 lamps inside able to work for up to 50,000 hours, even if you work at a professional salon with a continuous stream of clients to the point you have little to no time for lunch, this device will still be helping you out years and years later. Just because we're curious, we've calculated it. Assuming you work a 9-hour day with a one-hour lunch break—so, 8 hours of working—even if you work all 7 days a week this little helper will work for over 17 years! And with a five-day work week, the longevity rises to approximately 24 years. And that's if you keep the dryer on constantly, which you probably don't. That's a whole lot of time, it will come out of operation due to the new trends in our lives long before its lamps stop working. Just, whoa.

Seeing as it is a UVLED nail dryer, it combines UV rays and LED light used to cure different types of gel nail polish. As a result, you can use this device for just about any type of gel. And thanks to the fairly large body, this model can fit all five fingers or five toes at the same time, no need to cure finger-by-finger, simply paint one hand and then another while the first one is inside a dryer.

Smarty

The SUNUV SUN4 UVLED is as smart a device as it is possible for a nail dryer today. It has a timer with several settings from 10 to 99 seconds, the latter being the Double Power / Low Heat mode for specific tasks: the Double Power makes curing twice as fast (a convenient feature for the clients who are constantly in a hurry) and the Low Heat mode is intended to be used on hard gel. However, it is not the most surprising one, in fact, it's not much of a shock at all. The nice feature is actually the auto-sensor that detects when you or your client puts hands inside and takes them out: you can proceed to work with your client's other hand or toe without stopping to push the button on the dryer; this way, your overall working time reduces bit by tiny bit for every session and you don't use as much electric power as you used to when you left the lamp on even though no fingers were curing inside. When you do use the timer, you can take advantage of its memory function, as well.

Among other benefits, we believe it is worth mentioning that this model has over-temperature protection to spare your hands. The special chip included with the mechanisms detects the temperature inside the dryer and, if it happens to rise above certain numbers, turns on the low-power mode right until the device is back to normal. No more unpleasant sensations during your manicure session.

The shape of this nail polish dryer is designed to not let the light escape, which means that a) all the light is focused on the fingers inside, and b) your eyes are perfectly safe from the UV rays that can be harmful to your sight when the exposure is prolonged. Finally, the model is also equipped with an LCD display that will show you the curing time; it's large and the numbers are easily seen from any angle. And when you need to clean the device after use, it is quite simple as well since it has a removable bottom tray. Just remember to turn the dryer off and disconnect it from the grid.

Last updated price $49.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B071CTZJ6L

For Home Use

If you need an affordable mini lamp to use at home, you should definitely take a closer look at the Gel UV LED Nail Lamp by LKE. Coming at less than $25, this model falls into a budget-friendly category, yet it boasts great performance which makes it one of the best-selling products on Amazon. Though it doesn't have any extra frills, it does its job as expected.

Equipped with 21pcs LED lights and double light source (365nm+405nm), this lamp shows excellent results curing and drying all types of gels, including LED gels, UV gels, UV nail builders, UV top coats. It generates about 40-48 Watts, which puts it on a par with most other nail dryers from popular brands.

To make sure the lamp can be used to dry different types of gels, the manufacturer has added 3 settings - 30-second, 60-second, and 99-second. All you need to set the needed time is to press the corresponding button and the next time when you slide your hand back inside the unit, the LEDs will turn on automatically. The model is fitted with a very accurate sensor that triggers the LEDs immediately once it detects movement.

Nice Design

As mentioned, it's a simple and affordable lamp that has no bells and whistles. It comes in a simple cardboard box with just a US adapter connector and a few instructions included. The said adapter feels a bit flimsy, so you should err on a caution side when using it. Other than that, there are no real flaws in lamp design. It's made from anti-break ABS plastic and is quite sturdy thanks to a non-skid base. Also, it has an unobtrusive glossy-white finish that blends beautifully into most interiors.

Made with safety in mind, the lamp has a unique curved arc design to give you better protection from harmful UV LED light. Another thing we like about this lamp is that it has a set of white lights instead of purple, which produce softer lighting that is better for the eyes.

All in all, the LKE brand offers a quite affordable lamp that gets the job done. It has some minor design drawbacks but they don’t affect its performance. We would definitely recommend this nail dryer to anyone who wants an inexpensive lamp for doing a manicure or pedicure at home.

Last updated price $19.59
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07G31SQZ7

Good Value

Need a budget-friendly device for home use? Then this cute little thing should be right up your alley. Although the SUNUV SUN9C have fewer usable functions compared to some professional-grade models, it can be called one of the best nail dryers for light, home use.

The lamp has everything you may need to make manicure and pedicure at home - it's super easy to use and extremely compact. We dare say, you'll be hard-pressed to find a lighter and smaller nail dryer on the market. Hence, this little thing won't take a lot of space on your tabletop and will be easy to store out of sight when not in use. With that, it fits all five fingers or toes, making the mani/pedi procedure quick and effortless.

It deftly combines UV and LED light sources and uses 18 high-quality LED pieces in total. The white-light bulbs offer an extra-long 50,000-hour lifetime, meaning the lamp can serve you for years to come.

Importantly, the powerful white light can't harm your eyes or skin - you'll definitely feel the warmth of the tiny 24W bulbs, but your skin won't get hot, just toasty warm. No burning or whatever.

The lamp is made with large heat dissipation holes that have a unique design to guarantee effective cooling of the device. Therefore, you'll be able to use it for an incredibly long period of time without worrying about overheating.

Drying or Curing?

This lamp is quite heavy-duty and applicable to curing almost all types of nail gels (LED gel, UV gel, gel builder). That is to say, it's capable of handling most gel polishes including even sculpture gel and gem glue. With no specific brand requirement.

The only slight drawback here is a bit scarce number of timer options. The lamp offers 30-sec and 60-sec timing settings only and doesn't have a countdown timer/display. Yet, it does have an automatic sensor that cures for 99 seconds or until you take your fingers or toes out.

Finally, we would like to say that the SUNUV SUN9C nail dryer is backed up with generous 12-month customer support and warranty. The company stands behind all its products and believes in their highest quality. And in case you have some issues with this dryer, you'll get a free replacement.

All this makes the lamp an ideal choice for those who're just planning to start making manicure and pedicure in the comfort of their own home. It's moderately priced, easy to use, and long-lasting.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $23.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01JGG5CTW

Less Time Wasted

The RICRIS 54W may not contain such stuff that dreams are made of but it certainly works with all of them, especially if your dreams include fabulous-looking nails. Aside from all kinds of gels, including but not limited to UV gel, LED gel, guilder gel, Sculpture gel, rhinestone gems glue, and OPI gel, the model also works with nail builders, CND shellac, and other similar materials and solutions.

But its biggest strength does not necessarily lie with its flexibility. Though it is definitely part of the appeal, we would say it is the appliance's power that separates it from most of its competition. Equipped with 36 lamps that together add up to 54 watts, the RICRIS cures and dries your nails faster than the absolute majority of its counterparts.

Furthermore, the lamp beads are merely half of the equation. Another half that's responsible for speeding up the curing process is the model's large interior space. Regardless of the size of your hands, your legs, or your fingers, you'll definitely be able to fit 5 fingernails or 5 toenails at the same time. Not curing the nails separately allows you to save a lot of time, time that's better spent on other activities.

A Comprehensive Package

As we've established earlier, the RICRIS 54W UV dryer is powerful, to say the least. But not all solutions require that kind of power nor can all people benefit from it. But that's totally fine. Not dissimilar to its more expensive counterparts, the model incorporates 4 timer settings. You can set the curing time to 10, 30, 60, or 99 seconds, the latter, of course, being the usual low heat mode, the perfect choice for inexperienced individuals.

On top of the unit, you'll find a nice little LCD screen that displays the curing time. You can set the timer or simply put your hands inside and let the screen tell you the time your nails had been drying. It comes equipped with an automatic sensor, so you won't have to turn the machine on and off, a nice little feature that streamlines the whole procedure. Another nice little feature is double power, a function with a rather self-explanatory purpose.

Speaking of the model's top, your nails won't be the only fabulous part of the room. Though not that different from most nail dryers, the RICRIS lamp features a surface that was treated with gloss oil, so it looks a little nicer than what you'd normally get from a machine like that.

We did imply that this dryer is equally suitable for fingernails and toenails and that is mostly thanks to the detachable magnetic reflective panel. You take it off and the machine instantly becomes more convenient for toenail gel curing and cleaning. You put it back on and you have as comfortable of an appliance for fingernail curing as the next dryer.

All things considered, the RICRIS dryer gives you a professional-quality nail dryer that will be able to satisfy even the most demanding customers. Having said that, the model is just as good for beginners, thanks in part to the anti-UV gloves and the 5-piece manicure set that come with the machine.

Last updated price $19.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07BBNMDG6

Smart Design

If you're looking for something fancy and unique, this SUNUV Gel UV Nail Lamp is surely worth your closer inspection. At a glance, it is easy to see that the lamp looks not like most other devices. It has a stylish design with a flashy pink insert on the top, which adds appeal to it. The said insert also serves as a soft armrest and lets you do a manicure with minimum slippage.

The lamp comes with a pink insert out of the box but if you want, you can easily swap out the top part between other colors. The pack includes pink, gray, and white inserts that can be attached/detached via magnets. The pearl-pain surface of the inserts is difficult to scratch but easy to keep clean.

As for the bottom, it has a well-thought-out design as well. The metal plate is attached with magnets and can easily come off for pedicures so that you get enough room for your tootsies and can cure them quickly and safely without the risk of smudging the gel. Once you slide your toes or fingers inside, the lamp will sense that and stay on. Alternatively, you can set a timer. There are four timer buttons placed on the back side of the unit.

Effective for Any Polish

When it comes to performance, this lamp is definitely a huge step up from average 6V lamps. Drawing 48 Watts of power, it cures everything from regular gel polishes and hard builder gels to thick glitter gels. Even the 10-second flash cure works temptingly well.

Besides the mentioned 10 seconds, the device lets you choose between 30-second, 60-second, and low power 90-second setting, with the latter setting making it suitable for curing any base coat that a heat spike. That way, you can be sure that even extra-thick builder gels, which have a painfully long flashpoint, will be cured with just slight warming.

So, if you often work with tricky polishes, the SUNUV lamp can make things much more comfortable. We'd definitely recommend this product to anyone from beginner to a seasoned pro.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01N0BCN9B

Infographics


What Is a Nail Dryer?

Despite the fact that we live in a hectic world, always being on the run, trying to meet ends together, we still want to keep looking great. For that reason, we use various stuff like eyebrow kits, lip plumpers, creams, face brushes, and more. The same goes for our nails. Not only do we care to wear nail polish but also most of us want it to go along with the clothes we're wearing and can do manicure several times a week. The brilliant news is that now you don't need to sit for ages waiting for your nails to dry. Thanks to the invention of special nail dryers, you can enjoy the convenience of doing your nails and toes in the comfort of your own home without spending money on salons.

For this article, we've selected the best nail polish dryers which are currently presented on the market. All of these models are ideally suited for professional tasks and will expedite the nail-drying process tenfold, so no wrong choices here. And if you do enjoy doing your own nails, we can offer you to read about these cute nail drills.

Best LED & UV Nail Dryers

What Features to Compare

Type of Light Source

The first thing to consider when selecting a nail dryer is whether or not it will work with the polish brands you like. Currently, there are three types of nail dryers available: LED lamps, UV lamps and a mixed type (also called smart nail lamps). Basically, what you need to know is that LED lamps only work with LED polishes while UV lamps work with all polish brands. That being said, it's worth noting that the majority of gel polishes today are formulated to be cured by LED, so they will perfectly work with UV, LED and UV+LED. What's more, even Shellac seems to work fine with LED.

Cure Time

Since the whole purpose of buying a nail dryer is to expedite the nail and toe-drying process, it's important to consider the curing speed. Generally, LED nail lamps dry nails faster than UV lamps. Just so that you can compare: it takes around 30 seconds to dry one layer of gel polish under LED lamp and it takes around 90 seconds to dry the same layer under UV lamp. This means if you need a nail dryer for professional tasks, a LED lamp will be a better choice for you.

Bulb Life

Next thing to consider is the bulb life. As you may know, all LED lamps come with long-lasting light beads that can serve for as long as 50,000 hours. After that, the lamp should be replaced. When it comes to UV lamps, those last significantly less, offering you around 100 hours. This might seem not much, but if you deduct the time you typically spend preparing your nails for manicure, you will see that one session only lasts 4-5 minutes, which means those 100 hours will last you a long while.

Size

Finally, for your convenience of use, check out the size of the lamp. This is important, especially if you plan to use it for pedicure as well. Not all lamps allow you to fit all five fingers. Some of them are made rather small and will accommodate only four fingers, meaning you'll need to cure your thumb separately. If this doesn't sound like what you want, then make sure the lamp comes with a removable tray so you can use it for pedicure, and it's possible to cure one foot or hand at a time. This will make the process of nails-drying way more convenient.

Extras

Some nail dryers feature additional functions which greatly contribute to the convenience of use. These can be motion sensors that will trigger the lamp once you place your hand under, pre-set times letting you customize the settings as you need, and even a fan so that you can also use it with regular lacquer polishes.

How to:

FAQ:

Q: Are UV nail dryers safe to use?

A: Nail dryers emit the minimal quantity of UV light, and using these devices is much safer than walking under the sun in summer, for example. If you’re still concerned about the harm of UV rays, you could try wearing anti-UV gloves or, alternatively, choose a LED nail lamp. Please, note that LED nail dryers are compatible with LED-based gel polishes only.

Q: What kind of polish do I cure with a nail dryer?

A: It depends on the type of nail dryer you choose and the purpose of your purchase. LED nail dryers work for LED gel polishes only, while UV lamps can handle both UV and LED coatings. If you do acrylic nails or you prefer to apply regular nail lacquers, we’d recommend you to get a nail dryer with a built-in air fan. Keep in mind, though, that in order to harden acrylic nails, you’ll need the airflow to be warm, while for the lacquers to dry faster, you’ll need to switch it to blow cold.

Q: Which dryer is better – with or without a display?

A: Buying a device with or without a display is just a matter of personal preference. In general, a lot of nail dryers today come with displays to allow users to see the time left and control it more accurately.

Q: Do I need to take a special course to use a nail dryer?

A: You don’t need to have special skills to use a nail dryer. Even if you’ve never done your nails in a nail dryer before, you’ll be able to do it, given its intuitive controls. What you may need to google, though, is how to apply and remove gel polish correctly, so that you didn’t ruin your nails by the wrong nail treatment.

Q: Can I dry gel nail coat without a nail dryer?

A: No. The thing is that gel nail polish is made with the application of either UV or LED technologies and it doesn’t actually dry, it hardens due to the chemical reactions that start only under the influence of a special light source. Only regular nail polish can dry without any additional devices used.

Q: Does gel nail polish harm my nails?

A: A gel coating itself isn’t detrimental to your nails. Moreover, if your natural nails are thin and weak, wearing a gel polish will only harden them and make less prone to breaking and peeling. But it is worth mentioning that a wrong coat removal can cause damage to your nail beds. If you want to keep your nails healthy, make sure you remove gel polish correctly.

Q: How often do I need to recoat my gel polish?

A: When to re-apply a gel polish is totally up to you. Some people can wear it during a whole month, while others may need to change it once every two weeks. It all depends on your normal nail growth.

Sources:

1. Nail Dryer Buying Guide, eBay. June 9, 2014.

2. Miriam Lacey 5 Simple Ways to Dry Nail Polish Faster, Prevention. April 13, 2012.

3. Daniel J. DeNoon UV Nail Lamps Safe, Study Suggests, WebMD. December 6, 2012.

4. Shonagh Walker Can a gel manicure give you…, Bodyandsoul. March 20, 2012.

5. Dana Burke Expert Nail Polish Hacks, CONDÉ NAST. January 11, 2016.

6. Augusta Falletta How to Make Your Nails Stronger, SheKnows. 2014.

7. Helpful Tips on How to Make Your Nails Dry Faster, Allwomenstalk. June 13, 2013.

8. Sam Escobar 3 Key Things That Make Your Nails Grow Faster, Hearst Communications, Inc. March 11, 2016.

Other reviews