Best Nail Polish Top Coat [Review] in 2022

When painting your nails at home, a nail polish top coat can make or break your manicure. It’s a step we often miss, we all get lazy and cut corners in our beauty routine, but the topcoat is actually super important for the longevity of your nails.

It seals in the color and holds onto it for dear life, protecting it from everyday knocks and bumps, so you can have a chip-free finish for longer. Just like a base coat, it is crucial for keeping hold of the color.

A topcoat is the necessary finishing touches, not only will it extend the life it also gives you a shiny finish and protect your nails from fading due to harsh UV rays.

It is like armor for your nails, you’re bound to catch it on things throughout the day, even the UV rays from the sun can be damaging to your manicure. A topcoat protects your manicure from these things and prevents fading, so those pretty nails last longer.

When seeking a good top-coat you should get a topcoat with great shine and durability and take a look at how quickly it dries- if time is a concern.

But if you find yourself scrolling through Amazon or walking through the nail polish section in Target or Walmart wondering where to start, take a minute to pause and let’s go through everything you need to know about top coats, together.

Longevity

If you go to the salon you will notice that they will always seal the manicure with a top coat simply because it makes your manicure last so much longer. If you get told that a top coat isn’t important they are lying, it helps keep everything in place and protects your nails from chipping for longer. 

Topcoats also protect your nails from UV rays from the sun, if you’re going on holiday and don’t want your nails fading within the first couple of days then I would invest in a trusty top coat- especially if you have vibrant colors. 

Your hands going through a lot throughout the day, from constantly having to wash your hands to just washing the dishes a top coat will protect your nails and prevent them from peeling or chipping. 

Pair a trusty topcoat with some cuticle oil and you’re good to go. 

Improves performance

To get the most of your manicure, with long-wearing nail polish I would use cuticle oil daily, and wear gloves if you’re using water for long periods of time will help prolong the shine and durability of the nails. 

If you’re using regular nail polish you should take extra care and reapply topcoat every couple of days to help the nail polish last longer than a few days. Apply a thin layer of a topcoat for optimum protection. 

With a high-quality top coat, you will find that it will massively improve the performance of your manicure. 

Improves the finish

Anyone can tell you that topcoat improves the durability of the nail polish but it also improves the finish overall. If you go for a shiny top coat you will achieve a glossy finish, with a matte topcoat you will achieve a more smooth, textured finish. It is all down to preference.

You can even get glitter topcoats to give a glittery finish, or pearl topcoat to boost the pearlescence, like inside a shell. 

The options are wide, so not only will a topcoat improve the durability of the nail but also transform the finish as a whole. 

Base coat vs top coat

We all hear we need to apply both the base coat but what’s the difference?

They actually serve two very different purposes, the base coat adheres to your nail, giving your nail polish a grippy surfaced to cling onto. Whereas the topcoat will provide a protective shell that absorbs any shock from catching your nails, to prevent chipping.

If your base coat is slippery like the top-coat then your nail polish won’t stick and if the top-coat is too rubberized it wouldn’t be as durable.

I would definitely spend a little bit extra to get yourself a base coat and topcoat as buying one that’s a mixture of the two won’t be near as effective as having them both.

What is the best topcoat for nail polish?

It all depends on the finish you’re looking to achieve from your manicure, if you’re looking for a fasting drying formula with a glossy finish then I would recommend going for Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. Or if you’re looking for a matte finish then OPI’s matte topcoat may be the one for you. Whatever you choose on this list today I can guarantee you will give you a long-lasting finish. 

How long does the topcoat take to dry for nails?

Usually, 1 to 2 hours to dry fully but you can start applying your nail polish after a few minutes- check out how long nail polish takes to dry.

Can you use any topcoat on any nail polish? 

Yes, you can even use a gel top coat on regular nail polish, however, it won’t adhere as well as gel would. I would recommend using a regular nail polish top coat on ordinary nail polish snd a gel top coat on gel nails. 

In this guide today we have gone through the very best topcoats that will keep your nail polish in place for longer and prevent fading. We have covered the very best nail top coat review that will stop your nails from chipping with no questions asked.

The topcoat is the armor for your manicure so let’s not skip this step, we all hate chipping.

Whatever topcoat you decide on today, I can assure you it makes your manicure last much longer than before, while also giving you either a glossy or matte finish. Let’s stand out with the brightest, most vibrant colors without them fading within a few days.