Confused About Base Coats & Top Coats? Dive In! (Beginner Friendly)

***** My course "Mastering At-Home Manicures" is now open for enrollment:
polishlabrat.t...
*** Music Used (KZbin Audio Library):
"Ludic Dreamer" by "Spazz Cardigan
***** Social Media:
Instagram: / polish.lab.rat
TikTok: / polish.lab.rat
Pinterest: / polishlabrat
Blog: polishlabrat.com

[@das_ein]

Figuring out that a fast-dry top coat was the *only* way I didn’t end up with sheet marks on my nails made all the difference. Since then, I do all my manicures at home and save lots of money. 🤓 Thanks Larissa! Hi Max!! 🐕 ❤

[@PolishLabRat]

Haha yeah, discovering quick dry top coats was a game changer for me years ago!

[@Kats4korner]

Great clarification of base and top coats. I’d like to see a video on your favorite: base and top coats; ridge filling base coats; nail polish remover; thinners etc… There are so many brands out there and I’d like to know your favorites 😊💗

[@PolishLabRat]

Alright, I’ll work on something where I talk about favorites ☺️👍🏼

[@Kats4korner]

@@PolishLabRat Thank you. Looking forward to seeing your favorites video😊💗

[@seraph511]

​@@PolishLabRatYes that would be amazing!❤❤

[@justinbailey1669]

I just have to say, I normally do my own nails but I got them done at a salon this weekend for a wedding. I use the Glisten & Glow quick dry topcoat and the technician was struggling to take off my toe polish!!! 😂That stuff is the best in the game!!!!

[@PolishLabRat]

Oh yeah it shields the manicure A LOT hahaha

[@sMak06]

Appreciate this video! Even as someone that’s been following you for a while- still helpful and I can share with friends who are just starting out. Also wanted to say that finally tried the Glisten & Glow ridge filler base coat and wow it did make a difference and made for a smoother surface to apply polish on - especially helpful with sheer and pastel colors!

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah their ridge filler is awesome. I tried it just recently and really liked it 🔥☺️

[@PolishedYogi]

Such a good & informative video! Def would love to see your favorites too :)

[@PolishLabRat]

Will do!! Ty 🥰❤️❤️

[@lisaabced123]

Which apricot nail polish are you wearing on your left hand? It is very pretty.

[@PolishLabRat]

I have no idea 😫 so sorry!

[@lifeandrandomness1868]

I know you said you weren't going to address top coat shrinkage in this video. Do you have one that does talk about it? Or would that be something you would be open to creating? I think I might be experiencing it, but I'm not sure what it looks like. (I feel *super* stupid admitting that, but I'm pretty new to my nail painting journey & have never used a salon professional so everything I'm learning is through trial-and-error & watching YT videos.) Thanks much!

[@PolishLabRat]

Hey, so… this is a bit complicated for me to film because I have to paint my nails and kinda hope that it happens. But think of it like the top glossy layer drying and pulling the polish underneath with it, so then u get what looks like tip wear. Can also happen at the cuticle line but it’s more common towards the tip. Another thing that can happen is not necessarily shrinkage but if u paint the top coat and don’t encapsulate the polish with it, the top coat dries and u can c a bump of top coat on the edge.

[@lifeandrandomness1868]

@@PolishLabRat Yes! Then I am sometimes seeing it happen, but not really at the tips - it's more those weird ridges around the perimeter (cuticle & side walls). It's so frustrating & confusing because it doesn't always happen even with the same products. This most recent time was with Zoya Tip Perfector covered by Zoya Ultra Glossy TC, and it was so hideous that I was embarrassed to have anyone look at my nails.

[@PolishLabRat]

I think application plays a huge role on this. When I apply quickly (and more carelessly) I see it happen more because I simply just didn't apply the top coat as far as to cover the whole polish color, so when the top coat dries, you see this perimeter bump. It's not really shrinkage, it's just the top coat drying where we applied it. We need to "over"apply in a way, as to encapsulate the polish color with the top coat. Then even if it shrinks a little, it still covers the whole polish and we don't see the bump.

[@lifeandrandomness1868]

@@PolishLabRat Another excellent point - thank you! I will definitely keep it mind...😃

[@angelahayward6988]

Very useful information - thank you

[@PolishLabRat]

Yw!

[@CamilaSaurus]

What would you say is the fastest drying top coat?

[@PolishLabRat]

"Seche Vite" or "Glisten & Glow" (they are comparable in how they behave, with the diff that SV seems to go thicker for me faster than GG, otherwise they are about the same)

[@BrittMFH]

​@@PolishLabRat Agree. I have the SV thinner (which I use with all my QDTCs).

[@PolishLabRat]

It will work, but the SV thinner has toluene on it, and even tho I’m ok with toluene for the purposes of a top coat, idk that I wanna be playing around and putting toluene on random things that didn’t have it in the first place, u know? (Maybe it’s ok, but I just feel weird about it haha it’s unfounded, just me thinking this and not a proven bad thing at all - like I said, I’m ok with my top coats having toluene). I just prefer thinners that are 2-ingredients, simple, not too complex.

[@CamilaSaurus]

Thank you so much!!

[@rebeccafrost7419]

This video was so informative! What do you recommend if Someone is wanting to do just a clear polish manicure? One coat each of a base coat and top coat or maybe just using one of those instead of the other? I tried just doing a coat of the Essie gel couture and it peeled and chipped off within a day 😭 Thank you! :)

[@PolishLabRat]

Hello, glad the video helped! What I wear is just a base coat. If you do just a top coat I would expect it to peel off like you mentioned. A base coat holds off better. Not all base coats hold on to the nail the same way when worn alone. The Eddie Here To Stay is good, the base coat from Seche Vite also (been testing that one lately). I have the Essie linked on my Amazon store (link on KZbin bio) 💕

[@rebeccafrost7419]

@@PolishLabRat thank you so much!!🥰🙏🏻

[@MarahNalica]

Hello how can I identity if its base coat or top coat? They have the same bottle😭

[@PolishLabRat]

The bottle should say base coat or top coat. If it doesn’t say it then we won’t know and I wouldn’t recommend buying that product 🌸

[@gelnails16]

Base coats an Top coats are equally as important to me.

[@PolishLabRat]

Same! With the exception of some polishes that are formulated to not need a base coat and those seem to do well longevity wise.

[@mideseoerestu]

What about those are advertised as base coat and top coat?

[@PolishLabRat]

Those are what I was referring to when I said “2 in 1”

[@JadenYukifan28]

@@PolishLabRat I don't really like "2 in 1" Base/Top coats since you are actually staining the clear Polish when you use it as a Top Coat.

[@PolishLabRat]

This could happen with some top coats too that are not 2in1, sometimes certain top coats will bring color with it on the brush (it sucks! haha)

[@JadenYukifan28]

@@PolishLabRat I've had that happen many times before, I think it's the fault with the Nail Polish itself and not the Top Coat.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah that could be as well. Some polishes are more chalky and this will happen more with those

[@jadabayy]

👍🏻♥️

[@PolishLabRat]

🌸😊