Sharing My Insights: Why I Skip Capping My Nails! 💅

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[@PolishLabRat]

I added text to the screen during the Short I'm showing, and I guess I removed it by mistake! Sorry about that. It's OPI "Complimentary Wine", and the top coat is the OPI "Plumping" Top Coat. How weird that it got removed, oops!

[@eightmagpies]

I have very short nails, so capping always means painting the edge and then taking extra time to clean the polish off my finger. Thank you for giving me permission to just stop it! 😆 I don't know why I've been feeling like I have to because it's in all the advice videos.

[@PolishLabRat]

I mean, you should if you find it to help you, but if it's a PITA and you don't see a difference, ditch it hahaha

[@PacificMidwest]

Same! I cap on most of my fingers but usually not my thumbs. Those nails are especially short and it just creates more work for me 😅 basically anytime my nails happen to be super short, I don't cap them. Glad someone else does this! 😂

[@LouiseFernannda]

I like to cap to prevent shrinkage. When I don't, the next day I have too much free nail tip.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah it helps with shrinkage, I need to think about shrinkage a lot more… I feel like if I pay attention to shrinkage maybe I can gain some insight in how to make it better… not sure 🤔🤣

[@jane_7375_]

I don’t cap with nail color. I only cap with fast dry top coat to help avoid shrinkage. Seems to help. 🤷‍♀️ Love your videos! I’ve missed your KZbin content!

[@PolishLabRat]

I have many videos already filmed and I’m editing! November is a tough month for me due to many personal things going on, but I’m def here :)

[@abbyswatkins]

I totally agree. Capping doesn’t add longevity and sometimes messes my nails up faster. But I use my hands a lot too like you!

[@PolishLabRat]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! 🥰

[@AmyLSchulte]

I don’t do it either. I usually change my polish every other or third day anyway.

[@PolishLabRat]

Ah yeah, it doesn't matter much if you don't care about mani longevity haha

[@MissReneeMichelle]

I don't cap either. It ALWAYS makes a complete mess.

[@PolishLabRat]

🤣🤣

[@alanecanzone5425]

To cap or not to cap, that is the question 😂😂 I personally don’t cap because I type a lot too and find that it chips faster. Plus, I have shorty squared off nails and I make a mess when I try to cap. So…team no cap! Thanks for all your great vids! ❤

[@PolishLabRat]

While I was filming and editing this video I couldn't stop myself from thinking of teenagers when they say "no cap" lmao or at least they did, that might be an outdated saying by now hahaha

[@ThatSoundsBoring]

I have short short nails and any tip wear makes it look like a third of my nail is bare and I feel like if I don’t cap, it looks like I have tip wear from the get-go. I think that capping prevents almost all tip wear for me although that may just be magical thinking! But I like the look so I always do it. Thank you for your take on this, it’s interesting to hear how everyone prefers to paint their nails and how different thinks work or not work for others.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeahhh for sure! I think u know, for super short nails, even if it makes a mess, capping might be worth it as it can make them look longer. Interesting perspective!

[@purpleir]

I do think it looks better capped but I rarely ever do it myself. It doesn't help with longevity in my nails either and it is difficult to do it as well as my nails are short and I end up paint the skin and then have to clean up too so I don't have the patience for it! No capping team here! 😉🌷

[@PolishLabRat]

Hahaha cheers! Thanks for watching ☺️🌸

[@lestranged]

I never cap either! I have eczema. I get very itchy and I scratch. If I capped my nails and then scratch, it gives too much abrasion to the tip and will start to peel up and take the polish on the nail plate with it. So minor tip wear will transform into large chips. When I don't cap, the minor tip wear just stays on the tips.

[@PolishLabRat]

Makes total sense to me!!

[@triciag3311]

I have never found capping to work for me either. I'm in love with color. So pretty!

[@PolishLabRat]

So so good! 😍

[@vickipetersen9236]

What color are you using for this video?

[@das_ein]

Larissa, I think we're mysteriously possibly sisters? Because EVERYTHING you said about capping is what I've thought about it too!! It was uncanny! 😂 High five 🙌🏽 (do people do that anymore?) And like others have already said, when you have really long nails, capping is so much easier than with our trim lengths. It's fun to watch them do it though. :D

[@PolishLabRat]

Hahahhaa cheeeeeerrrsss! That’s so funny! 😝 Tysm for watching! 🥰🩷

[@gelnails16]

Your nails are soooo pretty.

[@PolishLabRat]

thank you!

[@cynthiacarter532]

When I started doing my nails as a teenager in the mid 1960's, nail articles in magazines suggested doing the very same thing of removing a tiny bit of polish at the tip before the top coat. I tried capping 50 years later and I didn't think it made much difference in preventing chipping at all, so I don't bother.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah makes sense!

[@LightOfJoy1]

I don't cap and I get even tipwear like in your video. When I used to cap, (and every time I've retried it), I get near immediate chips on the edge. Bigly.

[@PolishLabRat]

I’ve had multiple people tell me this as well, that capping gives them trouble!

[@NativeNYerChicHK]

YES!! I find whenever I’ve gotten a professional manicure who capped my nails or capped them myself, my polish does NOT last as long. As soon as that cap gets damaged, then the rest of the polish it’s attached to becomes compromised, and it inevitably begins to chips more easily.

[@PolishLabRat]

I’ve heard this happen to lots of people, yeah. So idk, I guess if it works for someone they should do it and if it doesn’t, then skip haha

[@jackalopexjackalope9870]

I cap, but I want to do an experiment where I cap one hand and not the other and see if there’s more wear on one side (do it two times and alternate which side is which to eliminate L or R bias) 😂. Cause I don’t get too much tip wear on good polish anyway, but capping does take extra time and polish so if it’s useless I wanna know!

[@PolishLabRat]

That would be a good experiment! Haha def def def considering the L/R bias because we don’t use them both the same. Also make sure u use the same polish both times and test in times of similar activity (so similar weeks in ur lifestyle). For example, don’t test one hand when u r taking a week off the gym hahaha

[@jackalopexjackalope9870]

@@PolishLabRat so truuue! I genuinely wanna try it! 🤭🤭🤭

[@das_ein]

Show us your results!! 🤓🙏🏽

[@cherylq7183]

Holy moly that red is GOREOUS

[@PolishLabRat]

Morgan Taylor continues to give us some of the most underrated reds in existence! hahaha

[@cherylq7183]

@@PolishLabRat would love to know the color! Didn’t see it in the drop down…

[@katelynp12]

⁠@@cherylq7183 Morgan Taylor “Reddy to Jingle”

[@ashanein]

I so appreciate you. Thanks for posting this!!! Love the idea of how to maintain a manicure with tip wear. Thank you 💜

[@PolishLabRat]

Glad it was helpful! thanks for watching!!

[@subrosa7mm]

I have long nails and I don’t cap for same reasons. But i will put clear on my undersides to protect from water.

[@PolishLabRat]

Ok so that’s very interesting… I have to think about it some more because it will protect from water but it also will prevent the oil from being absorbed from under the nail… but maybe net value is a positive one. That’s interesting :) I’ll think about it more… not sure yet if I wanna cover under or not haha 🤔☺️

[@lailah.9152]

I like to cap before painting my nails. Capping after makes the polish pool towards the lower part of my nail.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah I think I mentioned that in the video, it makes like a bump, so whenever I cap I do it first.

[@bees_nail_art82]

I always cap but it’s so messy I think I won’t do it when my nail are so short the get tips wear the next day no matter what I do. Lovely red btw ❤

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah makes sense. And yes this red was sooo good!

[@emiliaescobar7652]

I don't cap at all, what a great explanation!!! , when I do my own nails, they last longer, I like going to the salon, & of course they do a much more beautiful job in painting them, then I do, but they chip easily in a few days, My nail technition is probably sick of me, but I don't care, I'm a good tipper, I now tell her to let the coats dry in between, "she's" quick to put on the next coat, I tell her no capping & I don't like them buffed every single time, I also bring my own opi base & top coat, I swear, I feel like they use cheap stuff sometimes, and now my manicure will last a few more days.

[@PolishLabRat]

Hahaha “she’s probably sick of me” 🤣

[@cami-mani]

I like hearing your explanations for capping or not capping your nails. I change my manis every couple days and rarely cap the tips, since I'm not trying to extend my manis. Although capping does look nice. TFS! ☺

[@PolishLabRat]

Thanks for watching Cami! 💕😊

[@Enkeltulipan]

Thank you! So informative! Nobody has teached this before!

[@PolishLabRat]

Glad it was helpful! 🌸🩷

[@laurelloaf]

I think it can help with jelly-ish polish since that seems to shrink a bit (for me at least), but mostly I just think it looks nicer. I’ve never noticed much of a difference in terms of it helping with longevity.

[@PolishLabRat]

I agree on the “looks nicer”… definitely looks nicer!

[@elelle726]

@@PolishLabRat Maybe I am weird, but I like the non-capped version much more and I even like tip wear

[@heeymercedes]

Great video. I agree with you. Lots of trial with this on my end. Certain polishes leave that ‘bump’ like you said. I wear lots of indie polishes and because there’s so many components, getting a smooth cap is hard. Plus, because of career and lifestyle I don’t get much wear anyways. I always cap my top coat though! I feel like that acts as my protective barrier lol

[@PolishLabRat]

Haha yeah, lifestyle matters so much when it comes to anything nail-related, it’s crazy!!

[@lookingatdaisies9901]

I find it nicer looking not to cap with colour, and i prevent shrinkage by capping with base and top coat

[@PolishLabRat]

Haha yeah we have options! 😜

[@sunspear4]

🖥👩🏾‍💻💻You are my nail/nail polish Google. Keep those tips and information coming. Thank You😎

[@PolishLabRat]

You are so welcome! 😊🎊

[@corinalushi2612]

I totally agree! It’s just a matter of estetic, but it doesn’t have anything to do with longevity(at least in my case….)

[@PolishLabRat]

Same here haha

[@RR4711]

I have very flexible nails and anytime I tried capping they chipped huge chunks within a day or two. I’ve found the vintage (never knew before this is still common practice in some places) method of wiping the end off works best for me. Up close it doesn’t look as nice but no one really looks at nails that close normally, so the longevity is worth it.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yep, it’s still done today! But as you know, it works better for some people ✨👏🏼

[@_Obey_]

Listen, I really don't understand it. In the last year I've included extra preppibg steps to make my mani last longer and it really did NOTHING for me 😂 I get rid of cuticles, buff my nails and dehydrate them with 70% alcohol then use basecoat and never touch the cuticles with it and it still chips on the 2nd day and even peels off by the 3-4 day. What am I doing wrong? 😭

[@PolishLabRat]

For one, maybe stop buffing. Buffing ur nails too smooth can cause nail polish not to adhere. Have u seen my video with the 10 tips?

[@LilithThe1st]

I tried it and didn't make my manicure last longer either plus sometimes too thick and come off. I do it only with the clear to had treatment to the free edge.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah, whatever works! Haha

[@jellyflowerr]

I stopped capping a long time ago. I notice no diffrence in wear and I also don’t like how it’ll show the color on the under side of the nail. Aesthetically I was never about it

[@PolishLabRat]

My nails are too short to show the underside, but i have to admit, i also dont like it when my nails are long and the underside shows the cap. That's why I cap (whenever i do it for aesthetics), very very very lightly and barely touching the underside, but yeah.

[@shannonlyvers3238]

I cap just for looks. It makes no difference in wear for me because I wear gel overlays on my nails which vastly extends the mani life, far longer than I plan to wear the polish anyway.

[@PolishLabRat]

Oh yeah, makes total sense 🙌🏼☺️ but yep, they do look nicer capped haha

[@Ann-ec6uu]

I find my polish lasts longer if I cap, otherwise it will chip at the edges quickly before the week is up. Wish I didn't have to cap since it does add on extra painting time. I had no idea that in some places they take off the polished edge on purpose, thought there was only the capping or no capping approach. I wonder if the reason capping does or doesnt work for people is to do with the type of nails they have? I know it will dpend on the polishes used but what if it's to do with how flexible, brittle, thin or thick nails are?

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah I wonder the same, like “what really influences capping?” Because it seems to not be a 100% thing either way. Some people need capping, some do fine either way, some c more chipping… it’s prob a mix of many things! Lifestyle, nail type, nail shape, etc… so that’s why I wanted to talk about it because the “law” that u always have to cap needs revision 🤣

[@Ann-ec6uu]

@@PolishLabRat Very true and I love that you brought it up. It may not be important to everyone but it is interesting. Didn't even think of nail shape as being a factor

[@JadenYukifan28]

Morgan Taylor's "Reddy to Jingle" looks like OPI's "I'm not really a Waitress," same finish as well.

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah, def in that family!

[@JadenYukifan28]

@@PolishLabRat But, I find that the formula for "I'm not really a Waitress" by OPI is a bit thick.

[@lulufortytwo3884]

🤣🤣I put on that OPI polish on Friday and stared right at my hands when the video started playing

[@shelaghseadon9650]

I never cap. Too much clean up. I don’t wear my polish long enough to notice the tip wear.

[@PolishLabRat]

Hahaha there u go!

[@eviltwinnails]

Yesss I love an excuse to not cap my nails!

[@PolishLabRat]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ingevanherzele4990]

When my nails are shorter I don't have to cap (it caps itself, if that makes sense😂) when my nails are longer and I don't cap, it happens that my top coat causes shrinkage😬 Thank you for the video🙏❣

[@PolishLabRat]

Yeah shrinkage is annoying for sure, it depends on the type of top coat too. The quicker dry they are the more shrinkage 🥵

[@ingevanherzele4990]

@@PolishLabRat yeah, I’ve noticed that Essie gel setter or speed setter causes more shrinkage than opi top coat or Essie good to go. But I also want my nails to dry fast🤭🙄

[@GenericAccountVLR]

Neeeed the name of the the color of that Morgan Taylor polish!

[@PolishLabRat]

It's in the video, in the first second! hahahaha "Reddy to Jingle"

[@yagmurdalman]

Thanks! What's on your right hand nails? I loved the color :)

[@PolishLabRat]

It was dip powder from Color Club but don’t remember, maybe it was “More Amour”

[@lineyloveslacquer]

So in the scenarios where you either don’t cap or the touch-up capping short, does that also mean you don’t cap the top coat as well? I’m going to test this out for science lol

[@PolishLabRat]

If I’m not capping, I don’t cap anything at all. If I’m capping (like for an old mani refresh), I cap everything :)

[@naillacquertherapy]

I cap my nails because I find that my nails chip faster if I don’t.

[@PolishLabRat]

I think that’s the case for a lot of people 🤗✨

[@gensgreenmagic6871]

I don’t cap. I don’t want to have polish on the underside of my nail to remove. I’d much rather do a refresh coat in a few days

[@PolishLabRat]

Good point! Haha

[@kricket3142]

I don't cap either. My mani lasts the same amount of time whether I do or don't, so I just don't.

[@PolishLabRat]

Cheers! hahaha

[@hpierce21]

What is the name of the polish?

[@PolishLabRat]

It’s in the first 3 seconds of the video, I don’t remember by memory 💕

[@GenericAccountVLR]

Can you let us know the name of the OPI one, too?

[@PolishLabRat]

This is crazy because I added text to the screen, and now I don't see it, I dont know what happened to it! It's "Complimentary Wine"

[@zahraonokevbagbe2725]

I don't cap my nails, mostly because I don't find it helpful in making manicures last and also I type a lot at my job.

[@PolishLabRat]

Cheers! Hahaha

[@latinaboricua6987]

Cual es el esmalte blanco brilloso que usaste?

[@PolishLabRat]

Re refieres al top coat que use en el short? Es un top coat de OPI que se llama "Plumping". Literalmente se llama "Plumping Top Coat"

[@latinaboricua6987]

@@PolishLabRat Sí, ese mismo. Gracias.

[@pamelabeth]

Interesting how capping does not work for everyone. Personally I do it bc I think it looks better and bc I actually notice my mani lasts longer. Either way I enjoyed the content ❤.

[@PolishLabRat]

Exactly! I always tell people "if it's working, don't change a thing", like no matter who is telling you to do it another way. I'm just sharing my insights on it, but I think a lot of people cap and it works great for them! Also, i agree it looks better :P haha

[@vanessasmith9646]

I have to cap hahaha

[@PolishLabRat]

Haha I think once u get to it, the white unpainted tip would probably drive one crazy. Capped nails do look prettier 😌

[@ThatSoundsBoring]

@@PolishLabRat That’s exactly it, I can’t handle it! To me it’s the same level of nope as a flooded cuticle. On my nails that is, everyone can sit with us, cap or no cap.

[@anniemaymcneely2013]

I cap first

[@PolishLabRat]

I think that's the best way to cap 🌻