The Painful Truth About Gel Nail Heat Spikes (and How to Avoid Them)

The first time a gel manicure heat spike happened to me, I thought my nail had somehow caught on fire under the UV lamp—it was that painful. Luckily, calling 911 wasn’t necessary, even though it felt like it might have been for a second.

There’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you have also suffered the pain of a gel nail heat spike and wondered why, and more importantly, how to stop it from ever happening again. That’s why I tapped the experts to answer all your burning questions (pun intended). Keep scrolling to find out how to keep your next gel manicure pain-free.

Nail expert Iram Shelton says that a heat spike is that “sudden, intense warming or burning sensation you might feel when your gel nail polish or builder gel is curing under the lamp.” Usually, it happens with thicker gel products.

“Since I am not a scientist, I keep it super simple for people—the way that I describe it is when the gel molecules polymerize or harden,” nail expert Julie Kandalec explains. “The heat spike is caused by an exothermic reaction. Or to keep it even more simple and memorable (but somehow a lightbulb goes off), I tell people it is like when lots of people are on the dance floor, the dance floor heats up.”

It’s all about the curing process. “When the gel is exposed to the LED or UV lamp,” Iram says, “a chemical reaction called polymerisation happens, and this creates heat.” This goes back to Kandalec’s metaphor: too many people are on the dance floor, and the dance floor is heating up.

However, “if the layer of gel is too thick, the reaction happens super fast, causing heat to build up quickly and hit the nail bed,” Iram explains.

Another possible cause is “if the nail plate has been damaged, so it is thinner and much more sensitive and therefore feels the exothermic reaction more,” Kandalec says. “Or, the gel lamp is too powerful for the product and cures it too quickly. This is why it is SO important to stick with the lamp that matches the gel you're using.” In this case, low heat settings on the UV lamp can be your best friend.

Overall, this heat spike is caused by incorrect product application and curing times and should not occur.

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Heat spikes are not “ideal,” Iram says, “but don’t panic because it doesn’t automatically mean your nails are damaged. However, repeated or extreme heat spikes can cause discomfort, sensitivity, and in rare cases, damage to the natural nail if it’s been over-filed or already weakened. It’s definitely something to flag with your nail tech if it happens often.”

Is there anything you can do to prevent heat spikes when you’re having a manicure? In short: Yes! Kandalec and Iram share a few pointers that you (or your nail tech) can do to prevent or stop a heat spike:

• Remove old polish the right way—proper removal is important to preventing heat spikes and improving adhesion.
• Apply products in thinner layers, especially with builder gels or overlays.
• Use a lamp that has a low heat setting.
• Flash cure and pop your hand in the lamp for just a couple of seconds, pull it out, then cure again fully. This helps ease your nails into the heat.
• Tell your nail tech! A good tech will adjust the application and/or curing time to keep you comfy.

“Pulling your hand out is a debated topic—because the top layer cures first, it can prevent the middle area from being properly cured, which can then cause allergies and contact dermatitis,” Kandalec says. “The best thing to do is this: pull your hand out of the light slightly (about halfway) so that it cures more slowly—essentially it gets the effect of curing on low heat—but do not remove it from the lamp entirely. But it's always better to work in thinner layers.

This isn’t as common as you might think. “In extreme cases, there's a chance, but generally, this heat spike is temporary,” Kandalec says.

Ultimately, understanding and mitigating heat spikes in nails is essential, not just for preserving product quality but for ensuring the safety and comfort of every client. When it comes to your mani, remember: pleasure, not pain! Kandalec says, “This is always preventable—that's the beauty.”

• Julie Kandalec is a celebrity manicurist, educator, and co-owner of Star Touch Agency​. She is based in NYC and LA and has worked with A-listers, including Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, and Rachel McAdams.
• Iram Shelton is a celebrity nail technician based in the UK who has worked with beauty brands including Chanel, Armani Beauty, Lancôme, GHD, Gucci Beauty, and OPI.

Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based journalist who has covered beauty for two decades and, as a nail art devotee, has experienced way too many gel nail heat spikes for a lifetime.

Lia Mappoura (she/her) is a beauty writer at Cosmopolitan UK with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video, and digital platforms.

Lia Mappoura

Beauty Writer

Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).

In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn. 

Celia Shatzman

Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in New York, Cosmopolitan, WWD, ELLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Travel + Leisure, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Refinery29 and NYLON, among others.