If you have the right products, creating glamorous, long-lasting nail art at home is achievable. If you're frustrated with home manicures that seem to crumble and fade a few days after polishing, you may need gel base coat nail polish, which can alter your nails. These gel base coat nail polishes can strengthen your nails to minimize breakage and other common nail problems, improve your nail health and beauty with these easy-to-use gel base coat nail polishes. Getting a Salon-quality manicure has never been easier.
While the gel base coat looks skippable when applying nails at home, we interviewed several experts who say it's a must. A gel base coat is the basis of any nail art application, and it creates a sticky layer for your nail lacquer to adhere to.
Therefore, this article is written to introduce what is gel base coat and how to use and remove gel base coat. Through this post you will find out the importance of gel base coat. Keep scrolling.
An Introduction to Gel Base Coat
Gel Base Coats tend to contain ingredients such as resins and primers that make your gel polish adhere amazingly well to your natural nail plates.
And they also create a super sticky surface for your colored gel polish to bond with. You see most gel base coats don’t cure completely instead they leave a slightly wet layer on the surface. This wet layer is purposely designed for your colored gel polish to anchor onto, so you don’t need to wipe it off.
So basically the base coat bonds firmly onto your nails and then the colored gel polish sticks onto the base coat.
They also help protect your nails. They help prevent chips and scratches on any nail polish you may use.
Gel top coats are very difficult to damage and therefore durable. They are also difficult to crumble or peel off, making them more durable and impermeable to water. A gel top coat can extend the life of nail art by two weeks, while regular nail polish can last about two to three days.
Gel Base Coat VS Regular Base Coat
Why does a regular base coat not stick?
It's a whole different job when you use a regular base coat.
They're specifically designed to make sure your nail polish color doesn't stain your nails. This is important if you use darker colors, like red, or darker edgier colors, like dark blue and black.
While it is very important to let the nail polish dry completely before applying it, it dried smoothly. It doesn't need to be cured under a lamp, and it's not like a gel base coat. Traditional base coats just need to dry in the air, just like regular nail polish and nail polish.
If your base coat is used with an air-drying varnish or color instead of a gel color, the only reason it's still sticky or sticky is that you didn't let it dry sufficiently.
So you might wonder, what's the purpose of the gel base coat, and why it feels sticky when you put it on?
If you are new to gel polishing, it is important to understand that the base coat is not an optional extra, it may be plain and non-gel.
A gel base coat is applied to ensure that the gel nail polish will adhere to the nail properly. It needs to stay sticky or sticky so that when you apply the top gel color, it can actually stick to the base coat.
Every layer you apply in a gel manicure, including your base, color, and top layer, will feel sticky until you remove all the sticks with rubbing alcohol or gel cleanser.
If you choose a non-wiping finish, this stage may be missed.
When a gel base coat is applied to nails, it needs to be cured with an LED dryer designed specifically for gel manicures, which is another word for drying.
So basically every gel base coat you use in a gel manicure will stay sticky until you wipe off the residue, or you're smart enough to skip this stage and use a gel top design that makes your gel manicure smooth, shiny, and without any stickiness.
The Benefits of Gel Base Coat
Benefit # 1: The gel base coat will make your manicure last longer.
Think of it as double-sided tape for your nails. In addition to plasticizers that make them pliable, the gel base coats contain extra cellulose chemicals that make them "sticky" They stick to the nail below and the polish above to prolong the lifespan of the manicure and gives the flexibility to move with the nail as it bends. Without this sticky, elastic surface for the paint to stick to, your nail will chip a lot faster.
Benefit #2: The gel base coat prevents nail polish from staining your nails.
Ever tried that hot new red only to find it staining your nails yellow? Chances are, you're not using a gel base coat and the dye has occurred due to a chemical reaction between the ingredients (dyes and chemicals) in the polish and your nail plate. A gel base coat is the best way to prevent staining. It provides a clear protective layer between the nail and the nail polish pigment on it.
A good rule of thumb is that the darker the color, the more important it is to use a gel base coat. But neon is an exception. Neon lights aren't dark, but they're easier to dye than regular nail polish thanks to fluorescent dyes.
If you're in a pinch, skip the gel base coat, avoid dark colors, and use natural shades from clear to muted, which are less likely to stain your nails. But keep this in mind: it's especially important to use a good, long-lasting gel base coat when you're applying pigment directly to the nail bed.
Benefit #3: The gel base coats can be handy problem-solver.
Some gel base coats contain ingredients that solve many nail problems, and there are many on the market that can be tried. Read the labels to determine the one that best suits your needs. Are there extra dry nails? Choose one that moisturizes to keep your nails in tip-top condition. If the surface of your nails is uneven, choose a gel base coat with the property of filling ridges. It will provide a thicker base to even out the ridges or dents on the nail before applying a color coat, and if your nails are weak and brittle, go with a fortified formula.
Just beware of gel base coats that claim to be nail hardeners, these often contain high levels of formaldehyde that will temporarily harden your nails but later cause them to crack and split more easily because they will become too hard.
If you're not bothered by any of these problems (you're in luck!) Just look for the same qualities as any nail polish and avoid formaldehyde resin and toluene, which are common contact allergens.
Another tip: resist the urge to use a topcoat as a gel base coat and vice versa. In general, gel base coats don't have the shine of topcoats, and topcoats don't have 'sticky' surfaces that are important in gel base coats, so switching between the two is not a good idea.
How to Apply Gel Base Coat?
· Start by removing any nail polish or any impurities on the surface of the natural nail using 100% pure acetone on a lint-free pad.
· Then start by pushing the cuticles back and removing any dead skin/cuticle that may be on the surface of the nail plate.
· Gently file over the natural nail with 180 grit file to remove the surface shine.
· File the free edge into the desired shape (moving in a one-way direction to ensure no damage is caused).
· Brush off any dust using a dusting brush.
· Wipe over the nail plate in a backward motion (towards the cuticle) with pure acetone to remove any excess dust/ oils.
· Use a dehydrator and an acid-free primer to prep the nail ( this step is not essential however for maximum adhesion this step can help).
· Apply gel base coat
· Cure under a UV/LED lamp for 60 seconds in a 48w lamp (some lamps may differ)
· You will now be ready for the next stage of your application.
How to Soak off Gel Base Coat?
Step 1: Protect the cuticle.
Acetone - which in most cases you'll need to use to remove the gel - can strip the nail and surrounding skin of its natural oils, which can severely dry it out, which is why you should try to protect your poor cuticle as much as possible. Before you soak, protect the surrounding area with cuticle oil. There's no need to buy fancy professional cuticle oil unless you want to. Vaseline is an effective quick home remedy. Vaseline will create a barrier that will minimize acetone damage. Aquaphor works well, too.
Step 2: Loosen the top layer with a thick nail file.
A gel topcoat is a hard, nearly impermeable layer that holds the color in place, which is why gel hairs last for weeks rather than days. Scraping the surface with a rough nail file will help the acetone penetrate effortlessly. When filing, use gentle parallel pressure. This will help avoid scratching the finger deck below.
Step 3: Soak your nails in acetone with a cotton ball and aluminum foil.
Acetone is stronger and more effective than non-acetone nail polish remover, and it's exactly what you need to get rid of nail polish gel. Drizzle some cotton balls (or pads) with the stuff, then wrap each finger in aluminum foil and secure them to the nail. (You don't need to buy any special tinfoil -- cut cooking tinfoil into small squares and wrap them around each finger). How to Wash off nail gel
Step 1: Protect the cuticle.
Acetone - which in most cases you'll need to use to remove the gel - can strip the nail and surrounding skin of its natural oils, which can severely dry it out, which is why you should try to protect your poor cuticle as much as possible. Before you soak, protect the surrounding area with cuticle oil. There's no need to buy fancy professional cuticle oil unless you want to. Vaseline is an effective quick home remedy. Vaseline will create a barrier that will minimize acetone damage. Aquaphor works well, too.
Step 2: Loosen the top layer with a thick nail file.
A gel topcoat is a hard, nearly impermeable layer that holds the color in place, which is why gel hairs last for weeks rather than days. Scraping the surface with a rough nail file will help the acetone penetrate effortlessly. When filing, use gentle parallel pressure. This will help avoid scratching the finger deck below.
Step 3: Soak your nails in acetone with a cotton ball and aluminum foil.
Acetone is stronger and more effective than non-acetone nail polish remover, and it's exactly what you need to get rid of nail polish gel. Drizzle some cotton balls (or pads) with the stuff, then wrap each finger in aluminum foil and secure them to the nail. (You don't need to buy any special tinfoil -- cut cooking tinfoil into small squares and wrap them around each finger). This traps heat and helps the gel break down faster. This traps heat and helps the gel break down faster.
Gel base coat formulas vary in strength, so the wait time can be anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. The process will take about 10 minutes for softer gel polish, and may take longer the harder the gel is (polishes used for nail extension and strengthening are typically harder), Romah says. If you don’t get it exactly right the first time, you can always rewrap it and keep on soaking.
Sometimes it's best to do it one hand at a time at home. I like to start with the dominant hand and work out the hard parts. So, if you're left-handed, soak the fingernails on your left hand first, and then your right hand will relax. It was a small change, but it made a huge difference.
Step 4: Gently scrape off a few layers and soak again if needed.
Once you've given the acetone enough time to work its magic, remove the tinfoil and cotton, then pick up the file (or nail buffer or cuticle stick) and continue gently scraping a layer to safely remove the gel polish from your nails. If you soak long enough, the first few coats will come off easily.
If you encounter more resistance layers, you'll need to loosen them with another acetone soak. Repeat the soaking and scraping method until all color, including primer, is safely removed.
Step 5: Wash your face and moisturize.
After you soak the acetone, you want to make sure you wash it off thoroughly before applying a layer of cuticle oil to replenish the water loss caused by the acetone.
If you want to go a little more advanced than vaseline this time, try the highly acclaimed Maccibelle cuticle oil (which comes in three different scents: milk honey, pomegranate, and tea tree lavender). You'd better keep moisturizing for a few days, just to replenish the moisture in your nails, because acetone can be harsh. After you've applied your cuticle oil, it's a good idea to follow up with a moisturizer or hand cream rich in moisturizers, emollients, and/or occluders - apply it to your nails and surrounding area to nourish dry skin after acetone application.
Moisturizers like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, substances that bind water to the cuticle (the outermost layer of the skin), can help keep the skin hydrated.
Emollients are nutritious fatty or oil-based ingredients (such as squalane or ceramide) that help ensure the skin does not lose moisture and also help to soften and smooth the texture of the skin. Blockers, which include ingredients such as oil, beeswax, and lanolin, physically stop the skin from losing moisture.
Conclusion
The gel base coat forms the base of the final coat so naturally, it is applied before the final coat of nail polish.
Good gel base coats include protein, aloe vera, and vitamin E that can replenish nails that are stiff and dry. Some gel base coats contain calcium as well. A gel base coat helps in restoring the moisture that your nails need to stay healthy. So, we can say that a gel base coat works toward healthier nails, and by applying it, you can prevent breakage and any other damage to your nails.
So, you must have understood that base coats act like a primer for nail paint and it ensures a better bond of the paint with the nail.
Therefore, choose a good gel base coat for your next manicure.