Pro Tips › Nails
Cordless Curing: What the New CND Lamp
Changes Day to Day
- Cordless
- Pedicures
- Mobile
- Presets
The CND Visible Light Lamp is a cordless, rechargeable curing lamp for CND's light-curable systems, listed for CND SHELLAC, PLEXIGEL and BRISA. Day to day, the practical changes are the ones around the curing itself. With no cord, the lamp is not tied to a power point, so it can move between the nail desk, the pedicure chair and a mobile client's table. CND states that a fully charged lamp lasts up to a full working day. The baseplate is removable, so the lamp can sit over a foot for pedicures. An LCD display shows a countdown timer and the battery level, and five preset buttons, labelled 1, 2B, 2S, 3 and IR, set the cure. The IR button is an optional red light setting. Which preset to use for each product and step is set out in CND's instructions.
The visible light curing explainer covers how the new lamp works: diodes that emit above 400 nm, and photoinitiators that respond to the wavelengths they were designed for. This article is about the other half. What it is like to use, where it fits in a salon's day, and who gets the most out of it.
Most of what changes comes down to one thing. A lamp with a cord decides where the service happens. A lamp without one goes where the client is.
At a Glance
What the lamp has, and what it means
| Feature |
What CND says |
What it means at the desk |
| Power |
Cordless and rechargeable |
No cable across the desk, and no need to sit near a power point |
| Battery |
Up to a full working day on a full charge |
A charging routine replaces a power point |
| Base |
Removable baseplate for pedicures |
One lamp for hands and feet |
| Carrying |
Portable, with a built-in handle, and stackable |
Easy to move between stations and to pack for mobile work |
| Display |
LCD with countdown timer and battery level indicator |
Time left on the cure and charge left in the lamp, at a glance |
| Controls |
Presets 1, 2B, 2S, 3 and IR |
Cure times set by button rather than by hand |
At the Desk
No cord, a different desk
A corded lamp sets the layout of a nail station. It sits where the cable reaches, and everything else is arranged around it. Without the cable, the lamp can sit wherever suits the client and the tech, and it can be moved out of the way between steps.
- A clearer desk. One less cable to catch on a bottle, a towel or a client's sleeve.
- Easier to share. A lamp with a built-in handle can move between stations when one tech needs it and another does not.
- Stackable. Lamps can be stored on top of each other at the end of the day, which helps where bench space is tight.
Build a charging routine
A cordless lamp needs a habit in place of a power point. Charge it at the end of each day, check the battery indicator before a long service such as a full set, and keep the charger where the whole team knows to find it. Follow CND's instructions for charging and care.
Pedicures
One lamp for hands and feet
Pedicure chairs are often set away from the nail desks, and rarely next to a convenient power point. Curing gel on toes has usually meant a second lamp, an extension lead, or asking the client to move.
The CND lamp's baseplate comes out, so the lamp can sit over the foot instead of the foot going into the lamp. Combined with the battery, the same lamp can finish a manicure at the desk and then a pedicure in the chair, without a cable following it across the room. The mani and pedi range covers the rest of the pedicure station.
Mobile Work
For techs who go to the client
Mobile nail techs work in homes, offices, bridal suites and aged care rooms, and the power point is never quite where the table is. A cordless lamp removes that problem.
Battery
Plan the day by charge
Start each day full. Check the battery indicator between appointments, and carry the charger in case a client's home becomes a top-up stop.
Carrying
Pack it safely
The built-in handle makes it easy to carry. Pack it so the inside of the lamp is protected from knocks and from spills in the kit bag.
Set-up
Any table will do
With no cord to reach a wall, the service can be set up wherever the light and the client's comfort are best.
Presets
Five buttons and a countdown
The lamp has five preset buttons, labelled 1, 2B, 2S, 3 and IR. Pressing one selects a cure setting, and the LCD shows the setting and counts the cure down, so the tech can see how long is left without watching a clock. CND's instructions for each product set out which preset belongs to which step, so check them before the first service rather than guessing from the labels.
- Use the preset for the step. A cure cut short is one of the causes covered in why gel polish lifts and peels.
- Train the whole team on the same settings. A preset only helps if everyone uses it the same way.
- Watch the battery as well as the timer. The display shows both.
The IR setting
CND describes the IR button as optional red light technology for a spa-like experience. Treat it as an optional setting, and follow CND's instructions on how and when it is used.
Products
What it cures
Salon First lists the lamp for CND's light-curable systems: SHELLAC, PLEXIGEL and BRISA. It is designed around CND's own formulations. A gel cures when its photoinitiators receive the wavelengths they were made to absorb, so for any other brand, check that manufacturer's guidance on which lamp to use before relying on it. UV vs LED nail lamps covers why the lamp and the gel have to match.
CND states that the lamp improves curing of highly opaque SHELLAC shades and depth of cure in high viscosity coatings. Those are CND's descriptions of its own system, explained in the visible light curing article.
Who It Suits
Is it right for your salon?
The lamp makes most sense where several of these are true.
- CND is your main gel system. It is built for CND's light-curable products.
- You do pedicures with gel. The removable baseplate and the battery suit a pedicure chair away from the desk.
- You work mobile. No power point to find, and a handle to carry it by.
- Power points or bench space are tight. Cordless and stackable help in small salons.
If most of your gel work is another brand, keep the lamp that brand recommends for it. The full gel lights and accessories range is the place to compare.
Summary
The cure is CND's, the freedom is yours
The CND Visible Light Lamp changes how a service is set up more than how it is done. No cord means the lamp goes where the client is, the removable baseplate makes it a pedicure lamp too, and the display shows the countdown and the battery together. Build a charging habit, follow CND's presets for each step, and it fits a busy desk, a pedicure chair and a mobile kit equally well.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the CND Visible Light Lamp cordless?
Yes. It is rechargeable and runs without a cord, so it can be used away from a power point at the nail desk, the pedicure chair or a mobile appointment.
How long does the CND Visible Light Lamp battery last?
CND states that a fully charged lamp lasts up to a full working day for a nail professional. The display shows the battery level, so check it before a long service and charge the lamp at the end of each day.
Can the CND Visible Light Lamp be used for pedicures?
Yes. The baseplate is removable, so the lamp can sit over the foot for pedicures, and the battery means it does not need a power point near the pedicure chair.
What do the presets on the CND lamp mean?
The lamp has five preset buttons, labelled 1, 2B, 2S, 3 and IR, and an LCD that counts the cure down. CND's product instructions set out which preset to use for each step, so check them before the first service.
What is the IR setting on the CND lamp?
CND describes it as optional red light technology for a spa-like experience. It is an optional setting. Follow CND's instructions on how and when to use it.
Does the CND Visible Light Lamp cure other gel brands?
It is designed and listed for CND's light-curable systems, including SHELLAC, PLEXIGEL and BRISA. A gel cures only when its photoinitiators receive the wavelengths they absorb, so check the other brand's guidance on which lamp to use.
Trade Account
Cure without the cord
Salon First stocks the CND Visible Light Lamp alongside the full gel lights and accessories range and the CND range, with wholesale pricing for registered salon professionals.