Why Does Gel Cure Inside My Nail Art Brush?

You pick up your favourite nail art brush and discover the bristles have gone hard but you definitely didn’t put it inside your nail lamp.

So how has the gel cured? 

Your curing lamp isn’t the only source of UV exposure around your nail desk.

Your brush is too close to your lamp

This happens incredibly easily.

You finish painting.

Put your brush down.

Place the client’s hand inside the lamp.

And your brush is sitting right beside it.

Escaping UV light can expose the gel remaining within your brush.

Repeated exposure can cause product inside the bristles to begin curing.

Create a dedicated area for your brushes away from your curing lamp.

Sunlight contains UV too

If your nail desk is beside a window, this is another important consideration.

Natural sunlight contains UV.

Leaving a gel loaded brush uncovered in direct sunlight can expose the product inside it.

Protect your brushes even when your lamp isn’t switched on.

Keep your brushes covered

Where your brush has a protective cap, use it.

Once you’ve finished working with the brush, remove excess product appropriately, reshape the bristles and cover it before storage.

This protects the bristles from both UV exposure and physical damage.

Don’t allow product to build up

Avoid repeatedly allowing large amounts of gel to remain deep within your brush.

Keep product away from the ferrule where possible and load only the working area you need.

Product trapped deep within the bristles is more difficult to manage if it begins to cure.

Can you remove cured gel?

If the gel is simply uncured and the brush has become stiff, it may be possible to gently work an appropriate fresh gel through the bristles to restore flexibility.

Fully cured gel is different.

Once gel has polymerised between the bristles, trying to remove it can damage the hairs and permanently affect the shape of the brush.

This is particularly problematic for precision brushes such as liners and French brushes.

One tiny section of cured product can separate the bristles and ruin your beautifully fine line.

Don’t automatically reach for acetone

Aggressively soaking precision brushes in acetone isn’t something we recommend as routine brush care.

Repeated solvent exposure can dry the brush fibres and may travel into the ferrule, potentially affecting the adhesive holding the brush together.

Prevention is much better than trying to rescue a brush after gel has cured inside it.

Protect your brushes from UV

Think about your desk setup.

• Where is your lamp?
• Where do you put your brush while curing?
• Is your desk beside a window?
• Do you replace your brush caps?

Your nail art brushes are precision tools.

Keep them covered, keep them away from UV and don’t let your nail lamp accidentally cure your favourite brush.