OPI Star Light Gel Lamp Review
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When I first started swatching OPI gel polishes, I wanted to use what I had and so I tried other UV LED Lamps. The polishes lasted about a day and they are designed to last up to 3 weeks.
So I knew I probably needed to match brand to brand.
Using the brand’s gel lamp that is tested to work with that same brand’s gel polishes is typically one of the first things you try if your gel system isn't performing the way you want it to.
First things first, this lamp is a financial investment, which is why I waited and tried other lamps before diving into it.
Thankfully, it also feels like a financial investment. It has a heavy-duty, sturdy weight to it that makes it feel like a power tool.
Many gel lamps I’ve tried are kinda light, flimsy and seem easy to break - not this one.
It’s 36 watts and weighs 1.15 kg or 2.53 lb.
The power adapter, which you’ll see below, is rated for an output of 12 volts and 3 amps, which matches the advertised wattage.
The reason it matters that the power adapter matches the advertised wattage output is because some other gel nail lamps are rated for a certain high wattage, but the power adapter’s output is rated for a lower wattage.
What that means is that theoretically the unit can deliver a certain wattage, but in practice, it won’t, because the power source can only deliver so much.
So, your gels may not properly cure as promised or your curing time may need to be longer than what the package recommends.
Having a power adapter that’s rated to deliver as much power as the lamp is one way this lamp stands out from others.
Okay so let’s get into photos of the lamp:
It comes with a 2 year limited warranty that covers manufacturers defects and you’ll need to register your warranty with your receipt at OPI.
It also comes with:
A drop resistant structure
Five finger curing space
Pedicure friendly pop out foot stands
Rubber pads on the base for stability
Mirror finish throughout
Removable hand plate with finger grooves
Automatic or manual light options
3s, 5s, 30s, 60s, or 90s curing times
A digital timer display
A steel handle coated in a rosy copper finish
An audible tone, which you can turn to silent, indicates when your hand has started and stopped curing
It’s recommended for use with all OPI Gel Systems. You can try using it with other brands but OPI can’t guarantee the results of any other gel pairing.
I really like the grey color of it - which will help conceal any grime or dust that may get on it.
Overall impressions:
I had this lamp on my wishlist for a long time before I purchased it due to the cost. Before I had it, I envisioned how my life would be better with it in my nail room - and I was right, it is.
While I originally got the lamp to ensure my OPI gels would cure properly, I’ve since noticed many benefits:
First: It feels like a quality tool. Having a tool that feels like a good product makes a difference in your overall ease and satisfaction when you’re using it.
It's like having the best cheese grater if you’re a cheese person or the best spatula if you’re a stovetop cook.
There are little things you notice about it that not only make cooking easier, but because cooking is easier, it’s also now more fun to do.
When you have good gel polish tools, the same feeling of satisfaction comes about while you use them.
So, there is a positive feeling I get while using it that you must feel for yourself.
Second: it stays in place. As a higher quality lamp, it doesn’t slide around on your desk when using; it stays right where you put it.
It doesn’t accidentally turn on or off when you wiggle the cord. It doesn’t tip sideways because the cord is too short or has too many kinks.
The cord is really long and heavy duty, so it doesn’t interfere with the device’s stability.
Third: the guess work is gone.
Previously, I would guesstimate how much time each cure had left and use that guesstimation to plan my next moves.
Also, no more guessing if your hand is placed correctly to get adequate curing - the finger groves in the base help you know your spacing is appropriate.
Fourth: it saves you time. It’s a 5-finger lamp so you can cure your entire hand at once.
Most gel lamps are 4-finger and you have to do your thumbs separately - meaning you have to do 4 separate rounds of curing.
Some are even 1-finger, meaning 10 separate rounds of curing, so it takes you much longer to do your manicure.
These lamp styles are great for travel, and they reduce UV exposure on the hand, but they also increase your manicure time.
On top of it being a 5 finger lamp, it’s a 30 second cure when using OPI soft gels. Many others are a 60 second cure. So this cuts your processing time in half too.
Speaking of time, it also saves your pre-selected time setting between each cure.
You don’t have to re-select your preferred cure time between every cure round. If you selected 30 seconds, it holds that time for you for each round until you change it.
Fifth: the fully mirrored interior makes a difference. I have had trouble with gels fully curing in lamps without a mirrored interior - even when pairing brand to brand.
Many other lamps I have tried have white, non-reflective interiors, or are reflective on 3 sides, but not the bottom, which reflects light upward, and there is a difference.
This lamp has a mirrored inside throughout all 4 sides including the bottom, ensuring even light distribution - all worries of whether the UV LED light is getting to the sides of the thumbs or other hard to reach areas are gone.
I think the mirrored interior is the reason why I also noticed no heat spikes.
Using other lamps and products, even brand matching, I would regularly experience heat spikes, where my fingers would feel like they were burning.
Even one time, I got a chemical burn from the heat reaction, under the nail, that required dermatologist attention.
In the end it was all okay, everything healed fine. Plus, I like her, she gives me an abundance of free samples every time I go and the drive there is scenic.
Not a single heat spike yet using this lamp. While it could also be that OPI’s gel formula is just nice and chemically balanced, it could also be due to the even light distribution.
When unboxing it, I was impressed with how sturdy and heavy duty it looked and felt. It was packaged with care and plenty of cardboard and foam to stabilize the device.
The initial positive impression has remained while using it.
The only thing to note is if you’re using this lamp to do your own nails, all the controls are on the back of the device, since it’s meant for professional use where the client doesn’t need to see that.
You just need to lean over the device to see the timer, which is no big deal.
Plus, there is an automatic timer that beeps when your nails are done and an infrared sensor that starts the timer when you put your hand in and stops when you take it out.
The automatic timer will start your time back at the full time when you remove your hand, readying itself for your next coat, so just keep that in mind.
Still, it’s easy to use the lamp for personal manicures and pedicures, or curing press ons, without needing to keep an eagle eye on the timer.
To end, I’m glad I took the leap and tried this lamp.
I love the high tech features like the mirrored interior, pedicure foot stands, finger placements, digital time display, heavy duty power adapter and beeping auto timer.
I’m assured that my OPI gels are now properly cured and I’m much closer to the 3 week wear time than I was before.
It’s by far the most sophisticated lamp I’ve tried yet - it definitely feels, looks and uses like professional grade.
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