A photoinitiator is a chemical compound found in every UV/LED-curing product. This substance is responsible for how quickly the material cures under the lamp. The more photoinitiators the product contains, the more heat it will generate during curing.
Why do clear products heat up more than pigmented ones?
Clear materials allow light to pass through them more quickly, causing photoinitiators to react faster and release more heat. In contrast, pigmented materials partially block the light, slowing down the reaction and reducing the amount of heat produced.
A thicker layer of product can also cause stronger heat spikes. Why?
Because a thicker layer contains more chemical components responsible for polymerization — and more active compounds mean a more intense reaction and greater heat release.
The more powerful the lamp is, the faster the product cures — and the faster it cures, the more heat it produces.
Overfilled (over-filed) nails are more sensitive, which is why heat spikes are always more noticeable on damaged or thinned nails than on healthy ones.
Is it safe to keep your hand in the lamp when it starts heating up?
There used to be a myth that you must keep your hand inside, otherwise the product won’t last.
This is absolutely NOT TRUE.
You should NEVER keep your nails under the lamp if they start to burn.
Doing so can lead to nail plate burns and even onycholysis.
