Does your nail art chip off easily? Here’s the solution!

Summer nails or winter nails, whatever it may be, doing nails is something we all love a lot! A fresh manicure with dazzling cute nail arts is all we need to improve our day. But at the very same time, it doesn’t feel very good to see the nail paint chipped off. Do you know what you can do to make it last long?

A topcoat nail polish helps seal the paint and gives your nails the dream looks. There are a lot of brands selling topcoat paints and they have outstanding features. Some have a high-quality gel; some keep stains at bay and some dry really quickly.

Best topcoat nail paints of 2022

OPI Topcoat (Best overall)

The brand is quite renowned for its top-notch quality nail polishes, and their topcoat is no more petite! Made with premium gel, it has the perfect consistency that lets the coat spread easily onto your nails. It seals the color and ensures your nails are free from scratches, yellowing or chipping.

You have five varieties of finishes to choose from: high gloss, brilliant high shine, matte finish, plumping and Rapi Dry. The transparent topcoat nail polish is highly transparent, so it doesn’t mess with the look of the color or pattern beneath.

Pros

• A 15 ml bottle that lasts for multiple uses
• The gel doesn’t dry up in the bottle, so it doesn’t go to waste
• Sheer finish that doesn’t spoil the polish’s look

Cons

• It doesn’t have an angular or flat brush

Seche Vite Top Nail Coat (Vegan ingredients)

If you don’t like to wait around after your manicure, this might be the perfect topcoat nail polish for you! It dries almost instantly without any UV or LED light curing, and it adds such a shine — bringing your dull nails to life.

Not only that, but it protects your nails from any staining or chipping, all while adding strength to them. A thin coat protects your nails for over two weeks without harmful chemicals such as sulfates or triclosan. Made with 100% vegan ingredients, it also prevents the lacquer below from fading.

Pros

• Very easy to remove when you’re changing the color
• It comes in two different sizes
• Keeps nails safe and makes them healthier with vegan ingredients

Cons

• Changes the lacquer Beneatha’s color at times

Beetles Gel Topcoat (Most durable)

A blend of nine toxin-free ingredients, this topcoat nail polish can last for 21+ days without chipping, smudging, or cracking. It makes your nails healthier over time and gives you the perfect shine without adhesives.

Not just for your natural nails, but it can be used on acrylic extensions, artificial nails or even gel manicures. The topcoat is environment-friendly, perfectly safe to use and free from tacky odors. The brush tip spreads easily onto your entire nail, so your coat is even and doesn’t look bumpy from any side.

Pros

• Suitable for all gel nail polishes, it doesn’t matter if nails are natural
• High shine and gloss that lasts for a really long time
• Proper consistency gel that spreads on the nail evenly

Cons

• It needs to be put under an LED/UV lamp for sealing & curing

Sally Hansen Topcoat (Dries quickly)

When you apply this nail polish topcoat on your colored lacquer or nail art, you don’t need to wait for more than 30 seconds for it to dry! Its acrylic polymer formula makes sure that the topcoat nail polish takes shape properly and lasts for at least ten days. Along with that, the double UV filter formula protects your lacquer’s original color from fading and distorting. A single coat of this is enough to cover the nail paint from any chipping or scratches.

Pros

• A unique formula that is sturdy and lasts for a long time
• A transparent coat that provides proper sheerness
• It dries in a record time, even if there’s a glitter nail polish beneath

Cons

• The poor-quality brush doesn’t flatten up evenly on the nail

CND Topcoat (Best for gel nails)

If you use Vinylux nail polishes and are looking for a suitable topcoat, this one would be the most ideal for you. The supreme quality gel provides a salon-like finish to your nails and lasts for seven days at least.

Since gel nail paints have a really oily texture, this topcoat tends to tone that down, so you don’t end up with smudged nail jobs. Keep your nails free from any chips and scratches too. This heavy-duty topcoat nail polish is here to protect them!

Pros

• Easy to use and apply to your gel nail polishes
• It lasts long even if you indulge yourself in everyday tasks
• High gloss and shine

Cons

• Spoil’s the lacquer beneath’s original color

 

What to look for in a topcoat nail polish?

 

• Consistency 

A thick consistency topcoat nail polish is quite difficult to spread on nails, and a thin one never holds its shape. You need a glue-like consistency nail paint that not only spreads well but also stay away from any ugly smudges that some topcoats usually get.

• Durability

Durability is one factor that remains to be underrated! You need to have a topcoat nail polish that not only prevents chipping but should be durable enough to keep any scratches away and eliminate the smudges too.

• Sheerness

A topcoat is meant to bring your nail paint to life with ultra-gloss, matte or plumped finish. It should not dilute the lacquer’s presence in any way. Make sure you get a topcoat nail polish that is highly transparent and sheer for the inner nail paint or nail art to reflect.

• Easy to dry

It is not necessary for the topcoat to dry in mere seconds, but ideally, it shouldn’t take more than 2-3 minutes for it to dry. Also, it shouldn’t need a curing lamp in particular and should dry by itself automatically.

• Good brush

It becomes really tough to apply nail polish with a round brush, let alone apply a topcoat that in itself is an additional layer. For an even application, the brush coming with the topcoat nail polish should be either angular or flat since that takes lesser coats and sets in one time.

• Long-lasting 

A topcoat is a protectant for your nail lacquer, imagine it getting spoilt in a few days. Doesn’t sound too good right? It should last for at least ten days and provide typically coverage to your nails. If your topcoat gets off in 5-6 days, maybe you need to find a stronger one!

• Price

A regular topcoat comes for as less as $3, but it doesn’t guarantee long-lasting capabilities or durability. But even a good quality topcoat made with a durable gel, free from toxins and lasting for a long period should be available for just under $6.

 

What are the benefits of applying topcoat nail polish?

 

• Prevents chipping

No one likes to see their nail paint or nail art chip off a day or two after the application. To prevent this, a topcoat nail polish comes to the rescue! Its supreme-quality gel-like formula not only keeps chipping at bay, but also protects from scratches and cracks.

• Eliminates smudges

Hate the nail paint blobs that collect at one section of your nail after you’re done applying? A topcoat nail polish stops that section from smudging and gives you a salon-like finished nails that look clean and fresh.

• Helps the manicure last for a longer period

Since a topcoat gives an extra protection layer to your manicure, it automatically increases the duration of your manicure. So, say goodbye to short-term manicures that barely last for a week, a fresh topcoat is here to make it stay for at least 10 days.

How to apply a topcoat nail polish so it lasts for a while on the nails?

1. Apply the lacquer below it or do the nail art, let that rest for 5 minutes, or cure it under the LED light for a minute
2. Apply the topcoat slowly, one coat at a time
3. Let it dry, if required add another coat too
4. Use a soft angular or flat brush for application, avoid rounded ones

 

FAQ’s:

 

Q: Why are topcoat nail polishes considered special?

A: As you pair a long-lasting nail polish, you’ll enjoy the features of seven-day wear. The polish assists you in blocking UV rays from damaging the color, shielding it from other things your hands get in touch with.

 

Q: How many minutes should I wait after applying?

A: This totally depends on the topcoat nail polish you are using. Some may dry in 30 seconds whereas some may take a few minutes. However, on an average, you should wait for 2 minutes after the application to ensure the best outcome.

 

Q: Can topcoat nail polish cause skin allergies?

A: Yes, that is a possibility. However, this isn’t the case with topcoat, any nail paint as a matter of fact can cause allergies. Check the ingredients before application and if you’re allergic, use a toxin-free and vegan topcoat nail polish.