Course: UV lamp and UV glue lash course · Module 1 of 5
UV lash extensions (also sold as “UV LED” or “LED lashes”) use a different way of setting the bond: instead of waiting for the adhesive to cure with the moisture in the air, you harden it on demand with a dedicated lamp. In this first module of the UV lamp and UV glue course you will learn what the system actually is, how its chemistry differs from a traditional cyanoacrylate glue, and what advantages and limitations the sources describe, including the ones that call for caution.
One important point before we start: this online course is for educational and information purposes only. It does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator, nor the manual for your lamp and your adhesive. Whenever we mention curing times, distances or wavelengths, your equipment manufacturer’s instructions always come first.
Module objectives
- Understand the components of a UV/LED lash extension system.
- Tell the difference between moisture curing (cyanoacrylate) and light curing (photopolymerisation).
- Know why the lamp and the adhesive must be compatible.
- Weigh up the advantages and limitations cited by manufacturers, regulators and doctors.
- Avoid the most common misconceptions about UV lash glue.
What UV lash extensions are
A UV system has three parts that work together:
- A light-curable adhesive containing light-sensitive ingredients called photoinitiators.
- An LED lamp that emits the wavelength that adhesive needs, usually switched on with a foot pedal so both your hands stay free.
- Protection: UV-filtering glasses for the technician and cover for the client’s closed eyes (pads or tape), covered in detail in Module 2.
For example, the Lash Canarias UV LED lamp for eyelashes with foot switch comes with the lamp, a foot switch, a glue, UV protective glasses and a silicone patch. The UV glue is also sold separately. Your placement technique (isolation, pick-up, direction) stays the same; what changes is how and when the adhesive hardens.
How traditional lash glue cures: cyanoacrylate and moisture
Standard lash adhesives are cyanoacrylate-based. As LashBee Pro explains, the reaction with water in the air is what kicks off polymerisation, the change from liquid to solid. That has three practical consequences you already know from the extensions course:
- Higher humidity makes cyanoacrylate cure faster; lower humidity slows it down.
- Both very high and very low humidity can produce a weaker bond.
- That is why every manufacturer gives a working range for humidity and temperature, and why a hygrometer belongs on your station.
With traditional glue, the “switch” that starts curing is the environment.
How UV glue cures: photopolymerisation
With UV glue, the switch is light. Sugarlash PRO sums it up: UV-cured adhesives contain photoinitiators, which activate and speed up curing when exposed to UV light of specific wavelengths. Starry Lashes, a maker of UV LED lash systems, describes its adhesives as a mix of acrylates and photoinitiators: when the photoinitiator receives the right light, it triggers hardening.
Why the lamp and the glue have to match
A photoinitiator does not respond to just any light. Incure Lab, a manufacturer of industrial light-curing adhesives, explains that the lamp’s emission peak must fall within the absorption band of the adhesive’s photoinitiator. If they do not match, most of the light passes straight through the adhesive without triggering any reaction, however powerful the lamp. It also flags a less visible risk: the adhesive can look cured on the surface while the cure underneath is incomplete, and that bond can fail later.
That is why datasheets for LED-curable adhesives state a recommended wavelength. In lashes, several brands go further and sell the lamp and glue as a system: Tatti Lashes, for instance, states that its UV glue is “for use with” its own UV LED lamp only.
Golden rule of UV lashing: before pairing a lamp and a glue from different brands, check in both the manual and the datasheet that the wavelengths are compatible. If you cannot confirm it, do not experiment on a client.
Do UV lash glues contain cyanoacrylate?
Many do. This is one of the most widespread misconceptions. The ingredient lists that manufacturers publish make it clear:
| Manufacturer (product) | Published ingredients |
|---|---|
| Tatti Lashes (UV Lash Glue) | Ethyl cyanoacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, photoinitiator |
| Beamlight (S6 system glue) | Ethyl cyanoacrylate, sodium stearate, photoinitiator |
London Lash, which also sells UV glues, says it plainly: despite what some marketing suggests, UV glues still use cyanoacrylate. In other words, many UV lash glues are hybrid formulas, a cyanoacrylate base with a photoinitiator added so that light completes or speeds up the cure. The only way to know what is in yours is to read its ingredient list (INCI) and its safety data sheet.
Wavelengths: what kind of light are we talking about?
According to a 2024 letter in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology by two Irish dermatologists (O’Malley and Feighery), manufacturers’ specifications place these lamps in the UVA spectrum, many of them at 385–400 nm. Figures from individual manufacturers fit that range:
| Source | Stated wavelength |
|---|---|
| KA Lashes (UV LED Light System) | 395–400 nm |
| Beamlight (S6 lamp) | 395 nm |
| Curacoro (MasterSET Beam) | 395–400 nm |
| Starry Lashes (FLOW lamp) | Purple bulb 395–400 nm; white bulb 405 nm |
Your own lamp’s wavelength should be in its manual or on its label. If it is not, ask the seller before you use it.
Quick comparison: traditional glue vs a UV system
| Aspect | Traditional cyanoacrylate | UV adhesive system |
|---|---|---|
| What starts the cure | Moisture in the air and on surfaces | Light from the lamp (in hybrid glues, moisture too) |
| Effect of humidity | High: you work within the manufacturer’s range | Some manufacturers (e.g. Tatti Lashes) say it does not affect curing; check your glue’s datasheet |
| Cure time per extension | Depends on the glue and the room | 1–2 seconds according to several manufacturers (KA Lashes, Tatti Lashes, Beamlight), always with their own lamp |
| Extra equipment | None specific | Compatible lamp, foot pedal, UV eye protection |
| Allergy risk | Yes (cyanoacrylates) | Yes: many contain cyanoacrylate and other acrylates |
Advantages the sources mention
- Speed. Manufacturers quote 1–2 seconds of curing per extension with their lamp. Tatti Lashes also claims it can save up to 30 minutes per treatment; that is the brand’s own figure, not an independent study.
- Shorter fume window. London Lash explains that the main benefit is a faster cure, which shortens the period during which fumes are released.
- Control. Because the glue does not fully set until you switch the light on, you can adjust the extension first. Sugarlash PRO lists this “greater control” among the benefits claimed by supporters.
- Fewer stickies. Tatti Lashes points out that because the bond cures in seconds you can move on to the next lash without stickies forming.
Limitations and reasons for caution
A good professional knows the other side too:
- Little independent research. Sugarlash PRO warns that research is limited, that the claimed benefits need independent verification and that the long-term effects of repeated UV exposure around the eye are unclear.
- Dermatologists’ concerns. O’Malley and Feighery (2024) acknowledge that industry statements attest to the safety of these systems, but say the process raises significant concerns. They compare lash lamps with gel manicure lamps, which work at similar wavelengths, and note that although there is no conclusive causal link between nail lamps and skin cancer, there is mounting evidence of a possible association.
- Lamps vary enormously. The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) measured six lash lamps bought online and three fell into the highest risk group for the unprotected eye. You will see the details in Module 2.
- Allergies do not disappear. London Lash stresses that UV glues can lower the risk of reactions but are not completely reaction-proof; Starry Lashes likewise warns that the process is not “100% allergy free”.
- More kit, more protocol. You need a compatible lamp, eye protection, light-proof glue storage and, depending on the manufacturer, possibly a dedicated remover (Modules 3 and 5).
Common mistakes
- Marketing UV lashes as “hypoallergenic” or “cyanoacrylate-free”. Many UV glues contain cyanoacrylate and acrylates. Never promise this to a client with an allergy.
- Pairing any lamp with any glue. If the wavelengths do not match, the bond may be under-cured even if it looks set.
- Assuming more light is better. Longer exposure or a shorter distance will not fix a compatibility problem, but it will increase exposure.
- Borrowing another brand’s timings. One manufacturer’s 1–2 seconds applies to its lamp and glue, not to yours.
Module summary
- A UV system combines an adhesive with photoinitiators, a compatible LED lamp and eye protection.
- Traditional cyanoacrylate cures with moisture; UV glue cures (or finishes curing) with light.
- The lamp’s emission must match the photoinitiator’s absorption: check the manual and the datasheet.
- Many UV lash glues are cyanoacrylate hybrids.
- Cited advantages: speed, a shorter fume window, control and fewer stickies. Limitations: little independent evidence, open questions about repeated UV exposure and an allergy risk that remains.
Self-assessment
What starts the cure of a traditional cyanoacrylate glue?
Moisture: water in the air and on surfaces starts polymerisation. That is why humidity and temperature at your station matter so much.
What is a photoinitiator and why does the lamp’s wavelength matter?
It is the ingredient in the adhesive that reacts to light and triggers hardening. It only activates with the wavelengths it absorbs; if the lamp emits outside that band, the cure can be incomplete.
A client with a confirmed cyanoacrylate allergy asks for UV lashes “because they don’t use normal glue”. What do you tell her?
That many UV glues contain cyanoacrylate and other acrylates, so a UV system is not a safe alternative for her. With a confirmed allergy you do not apply, and you suggest she discusses it with her doctor.
What wavelength range do many lash lamps use according to manufacturers’ specifications?
UVA, many at 385–400 nm according to O’Malley and Feighery (2024). Your own lamp’s wavelength should be in its manual.
Note: this online course is for educational and information purposes only and does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator. Always follow each product manufacturer’s instructions.
Sources
- LashBee Pro – Cyanoacrylates in Lash Extension Adhesives
- Sugarlash PRO – UV Light Lash Curing: Innovation or Overhyped Trend
- Incure Lab – 365 vs 385 vs 395 vs 405 nm: Choosing the Right UV LED Wavelength
- Starry Lashes – Safety of the UV LED lash extensions
- Starry Lashes – UV LED lash lamp FLOW (product page)
- Tatti Lashes – UV Lash Glue (product page)
- Beamlight – UV Lash System S6 Complete Set (product page)
- KA Lashes – UV LED Light System (product page)
- Curacoro – MasterSET Beam UV LED Light (product page)
- London Lash – Lash Extension Allergies: A Safety Guide for Technicians
- O’Malley S, Feighery C. Ultraviolet light and eyelash extensions: does convenience outweigh theoretical risk? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2024
- STUK – Antti Latomäki: Examining the UV radiation of lash extension devices (2024)
Buy the course supplies
All the supplies for this course are available at Lash Canarias: