Recommendations for Base and Top Coat for Nails

Spanishsunawaits

After many years of having acrylics, after much perseverance, my nails are ready for nail polish. Can anyone recommend a good base coat and top coat for varnished nails.

I am finding that with just varnish and my own top coat, my nails are chipping after about a day or two. Even with a good brand OPI. Any help greatly appreciated, thanks.

SuperHan

I have the same problem with normal nail polish, and have just put it down to the way my nails are.

I use Sensationail gel polish now, it last 10 days to 2 weeks - but is a bit more heavy duty than normal nail polish, so may not be what you're looking for.

Spanishsunawaits

Thanks for the reply. I have used some gel polishes, those not requiring a lamp, but not much success. Thank you for your suggestion and if it lasts that long, it might be worth trying.

StaffieTerrier

I use Bluesky peel off gel nails. They need to be set using UV/LED light but I've managed up to 3 weeks without chips.

maddiemay

For conventional nail polish my go to products are Nails Inc Caviar Base Coat and Quick Drying Top Coat. I have tried lots of different makes, but these have bee my staples for 2/3 years now. I shop around until I find an offer as they are quite expensive. (QVC, Nail polish Direct, e-bay).

Spanishsunawaits

Thanks Maddiemay. I will look into those. Thank you.

Kim_kim

I like Orly bonder base coat

https://www.orlybeauty.com/bonder.html

I was thinking of trying the Nails INC lacquer lock - for a top coat.

Murphybear

Do you have access to a TKMaxx? They have loads of nail polishes and other nail products. I have bought some China Glaze top coat and base coat recently for silly money and their products are excellent. I can recommend Sally Hansen and Leighton Denny and O.P.I is particularly good. I have tried dozens of top coats and haven't really found a huge difference between them.

One word of warning. Seche Vite is supposed to be one of the very best but I have found it gets gloopy and therefore unusable very quickly.

maddiemay

Murphybear wrote: »

Do you have access to a TKMaxx? They have loads of nail polishes and other nail products. I have bought some China Glaze top coat and base coat recently for silly money and their products are excellent. I can recommend Sally Hansen and Leighton Denny and O.P.I is particularly good. I have tried dozens of top coats and haven't really found a huge difference between them.

One word of warning. Seche Vite is supposed to be one of the very best but I have found it gets gloopy and therefore unusable very quickly.

I used SV for years, still do from time to time, gives a super shine, for me it doesn't go gloopy quickly, usually when the bottle gets down to half full, I then use SV thinners for this and all NPs which need a drop of thinner.

A tip for all nail polish/treatments, wipe the neck of the bottle thoroughly with remover soaked pad after every use, cap will then make a good seal and no air get into the bottle.

suki1964

I love sally Hanson Hard as nails, so much so Ive been using it 20 or 30 years

Question to the OP, are you covering your top edge when doing your nails?

Murphybear

maddiemay wrote: »

I used SV for years, still do from time to time, gives a super shine, for me it doesn't go gloopy quickly, usually when the bottle gets down to half full, I then use SV thinners for this and all NPs which need a drop of thinner.

A tip for all nail polish/treatments, wipe the neck of the bottle thoroughly with remover soaked pad after every use, cap will then make a good seal and no air get into the bottle.

I have seen advice loads of times about keeping nail polish in the fridge to stop it getting too thick. I haven't tried it myself but would be interested to know if it really works. The problem is I would need another fridge for my ever expanding collection :rotfl: