Course: UV lamp and UV glue lash course · Module 3 of 5
Choosing and setting up your UV lash lamp properly is half the job. A badly positioned lamp, a foot pedal in an awkward spot or a glue that has been spoiled by light explain many curing problems and, above all, add unnecessary radiation exposure. In this module we build the station: what kit you need, which data you must find in the manual, what distances and times manufacturers give (and why you should never borrow another brand’s figures) and how to store UV glue.
Module objectives
- Know the equipment for a UV adhesive lash station.
- Know which technical data to demand before using a lamp.
- Understand why distance and curing time always come from your own manufacturer.
- Set up the lamp and pedal before your client arrives.
- Store UV glue so that it does not cure prematurely.
Equipment for a UV station
| Item | What it does | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| UV LED lamp | Cures the adhesive | Wavelength compatible with your glue |
| Foot switch (pedal) | Switches the light on and off without putting down your tweezers | Beamlight highlights that it keeps both hands free |
| UV glue | Bonds the extension to the natural lash | Store it away from light |
| UV protective glasses | Protect the technician’s eyes | Wear them for the whole service |
| Gel pads or tape | Protect the client’s closed eyes | Check under the lamp that they block the light |
| Glue holder | Holds the glue drop | Beamlight advises against clear or glass holders |
| Nitrile gloves | Reduce skin contact with acrylates | Change them frequently (Module 2) |
The Lash Canarias UV LED lamp for eyelashes with foot switch comes with a UV LED lamp, a foot switch, a glue, UV protective glasses and a silicone patch, and is available in white or black. You can restock adhesive with the UV glue and complete the station with pads and tapes from our accessories range.
Before using your UV lash lamp: the data you need
Remember what the Finnish authority STUK found when it studied six lash lamps: the technical data was incomplete or implausible in every case. So before working on clients, find in the manual, or ask the seller for:
- The emission wavelength, to confirm it is compatible with your glue.
- The recommended working distance between lamp head and lashes.
- The exposure time per press or per extension, and whether the pedal has timed modes.
- The photobiological risk group and, ideally, the test report to IEC/EN 62471. Starry Lashes recommends choosing lamps with certifications such as LVD, CE, RoHS and IEC 62471.
- Cleaning and safety instructions.
If any of these is missing, do not fill the gap with another brand’s figure: ask the seller and do not use the lamp on clients until you have it.
Working distance: what manufacturers say
This table shows figures from specific manufacturers. It is there to show you how much they vary, not for you to apply to your own lamp:
| Manufacturer (lamp) | Stated distance |
|---|---|
| Beamlight (S6) | About 10–15 cm between lamp head and lashes, with the glue dot in the centre of the light cone |
| KA Lashes (UV LED Light System) | 15–20 cm on the product page; 10–20 cm from the eye in its FAQ |
| Starry Lashes (FLOW) | Lamp head at least 20 cm from the eyes |
| Curacoro (MasterSET Beam) | No figure given; warns that too much distance reduces the light reaching the curing area |
Starry Lashes also explains that most of these devices are safety-tested at 20 cm, advises against placing them closer than 15–20 cm from the eye and warns that exposure rises sharply as the distance shrinks. STUK measured at each manual’s distance and at 20 cm.
Course rule: the correct distance is the one given by your lamp’s manufacturer (and your glue’s, if it specifies one). Never move the lamp closer “to cure faster”: if it does not cure at the stated distance, the problem lies elsewhere.
Curing time and using the pedal
The same goes for timings. These are examples published by manufacturers, each for their own lamp and glue:
| Manufacturer | Stated time |
|---|---|
| KA Lashes | About 1–2 seconds per extension |
| Tatti Lashes (UV glue with its lamp) | Fully cured after 1–2 seconds max |
| Beamlight | Fully cured after 2 seconds max |
| Curacoro (compatible adhesives) | About 1–1.5 seconds per bond; pedal with 3 s, 60 s and manual modes |
| Starry Lashes (FLOW) | Do not press and hold the switch for longer than 3 seconds |
Notice that they all talk in seconds, not minutes, and that each refers to its own system. Depending on your lamp and glue manufacturer, the time may be different. If an extension is not set within the stated time, do not extend the exposure: check compatibility, distance, that the glue dot is centred in the light and the condition of the glue.
Setting up step by step
- Read the manuals for the lamp and the glue, including the safety warnings.
- Put the lamp on a stable base and route the cable where you cannot trip over it.
- Place the pedal where your foot reaches it naturally without shifting position, so you do not switch it on by accident.
- Aim the flexible arm at the working area. Curacoro suggests setting it for each working zone rather than moving it after every lash.
- Narrow the beam to the smallest useful setting if your lamp allows it (Starry Lashes, Curacoro), so you do not light up more area than needed.
- Check the manual’s distance with a ruler before your first client, until it becomes second nature.
- Test your pads or tape under the lamp (Starry Lashes) and keep your UV glasses to hand.
- Practise on a mannequin until tweezers, pedal and lamp work together without thinking.
Storing UV glue
UV glue reacts to light, so stray light is enemy number one. What the manufacturers we consulted say:
- Keep it away from light, in its original pouch or packaging (Tatti Lashes, Beamlight, KA Lashes).
- Cool and dry, but never in the fridge (Tatti Lashes, Beamlight, KA Lashes).
- Shake before use: KA Lashes and Beamlight say about 30 seconds.
- Shelf life varies: Tatti Lashes states 6 months unopened and 2 months once opened; Beamlight, 1 year unopened and 6 months when stored correctly; KA Lashes, up to 2 months once opened. Follow the dates and period-after-opening on your own bottle.
- Protect the drop: Beamlight advises against clear or glass glue holders because daylight can reflect through them and cure the drop early. For the same reason, do not leave the drop under the lamp’s beam or next to a sunny window.
Common mistakes
- Using another brand’s distance or time because “that’s the norm”.
- Moving the lamp closer to cure faster. Exposure rises sharply.
- Badly placed pedal. It causes accidental switch-ons while the client is unprotected.
- Storing glue in the open, by the window or in the fridge.
- Buying a lamp with no manual, wavelength or test data.
Module summary
- Basic kit: compatible lamp, pedal, UV glue, UV glasses, pads or tape, an opaque glue holder and nitrile gloves.
- Before using the lamp you need its wavelength, distance, time, risk group and cleaning instructions.
- Manufacturers give distances from 10 cm to over 20 cm and times of a few seconds (1–2 s per extension in several cases): they only apply to their own system.
- Set up lamp, pedal and protection before the client arrives.
- Store UV glue away from light, somewhere cool and dry, and never in the fridge.
Self-assessment
Your manual does not give a working distance. Do you use another brand’s 10–15 cm?
No. You ask the seller or manufacturer and do not use the lamp on clients until you have the figure; every system has its own distance.
An extension is not set within the stated time. What do you check before increasing exposure?
Lamp-glue compatibility, distance, whether the drop is centred in the light cone and the condition of the glue (expiry, storage).
Why should you avoid a glass holder for UV glue?
Because, according to Beamlight, daylight can reflect through it and cure the drop prematurely.
Where do you store opened UV glue?
In its original pouch or packaging, away from light, somewhere cool and dry and never in the fridge, within its period after opening.
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
- STUK – Antti Latomäki: Examining the UV radiation of lash extension devices (2024)
- Starry Lashes – Safety of the UV LED lash extensions
- Starry Lashes – UV LED lash lamp FLOW (product page)
- Beamlight – UV Lash System S6 Complete Set (product page)
- KA Lashes – UV LED Light System (product page and FAQ)
- Curacoro – MasterSET Beam UV LED Light (product page)
- Tatti Lashes – UV Lash Glue (product page)
Buy the course supplies
All the supplies for this course are available at Lash Canarias: