Is it possible to use a gel polish base under gel nail extensions?

How can you replace nail primer?

According to reviews from experts online, there are several popular ways to replace nail primer at home:

• Vinegar. If you don’t know what to replace the primer with before applying nail polish, you can wipe the surface with a cotton pad or cotton swab soaked in vinegar. The nail should dry naturally, without wiping with a lint-free cloth. Vinegar also softens the cuticle after a five-minute bath in water with the addition of it. Using vinegar instead of a primer will reduce the time for manicure, as it simultaneously acts as a primer and degreaser.
• Alcohol. Many professional products already contain it. Therefore, you can safely use it in its pure form if there is no primer. The alcohol quickly evaporates from the surface of the nail, leaving a barely visible light coating. One application is enough, as more will dry out the nail plate and the skin around it.
• Nail polish remover with acetone. Should not contain oils. They create a greasy film on the surface of the nail, which will become an obstacle to the high-quality adhesion of the plate and the gel coating.

You can also use cologne with a high alcohol content instead of a primer.

Features of the top layer

The top (or it is also called the finish) is applied at the very end of the manicure. This component provides the following:

• the final layer maintains the gloss of the manicure for the entire period of wear;
• manicure does not chip or crack;
• the color layer does not fade;
• provides protection to manicure from exposure to aggressive chemicals or water;
• allows you to apply decorative elements without compromising the durability of the manicure.

In order for the nail design to please the eye for as long as possible, the base and finish are also applied to the end of the nail plate. If you are not sure about the compatibility of base, gel polish and top coat from different brands, then buy all components from one manufacturer. This will reduce possible unpleasant outcomes after creating the gel polish coating (chips, peeling, cracks, etc.).

All about top gel

The final stage of manicure (but before applying caring oils) is usually the application and drying of the top.

Top gel (top, finish, finish-gel) is intended for:

• Protecting a layer of colored varnish from an aggressive external environment (detergents, sun, acidic solutions).
• For protection against mechanical damage, scratches, cuts;
• This is a transparent shield that shows all the hits while the nail itself and color remain untouched.
• The top gives a characteristic shine;
• The top can have a shimmering effect, so you can add an interesting twist to your manicure;
• The top secures decorative elements and design. If you have a voluminous work of art on your nails, you can apply 2 layers of top gel.

Top coating also has features and clear rules:

1. We apply it to a sticky layer of colored coating.
2. The top gel layer should be thicker than the base primer. But do not overdo it so that it does not float to one side.
3. Seal the nail with top coat using a wrung-out brush.

4. The entire nail should be coated and sticky, even hard-to-reach areas near the cuticles.
5. It is advisable to cover the perimeter of the colored coating.
6. Then we dry the top for 2 minutes or 30 seconds in an LED lamp. If the top is not dried enough, the manicure will quickly lose its shine, abrasions and scratches will be imprinted on it, and chips on the free edge are guaranteed within a few days.
7. Remove the sticky layer with a cleaner or, as we already mentioned, nail polish remover. Very carefully, from all sides and end.
8. We don’t draw anything on the top, don’t sprinkle it, don’t glue it. Sometimes the finish can serve as a sticky base for rhinestones, but only if the stone is not covered with anything (for example, so as not to smear the shade of the stone).
9. After removing the sticky layer, we apply a caring agent that slows down the growth of the cuticle.

If you adhere to technology and consistency during application and drying, then the manicure will last until the nail grows, and there will be no need to correct it for purely aesthetic reasons. In addition, the natural nail plate will be reliably protected, which means you will feel another important advantage of shellac.

Both of these substances are clear or slightly cloudy and have a slightly viscous consistency. Drying times may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Note that about 5 years ago a colored top gel without a dispersion (sticky) layer was introduced on the market. However, modern single-phase gel polishes themselves, after being placed in a UV lamp, are endowed with the same functions. In this case, the topcoat can be neglected.

The base and top are a protective shell that properly securely encloses and protects the decor or full shellac coating, closing the circle at the tip of the nail.

What is base alignment? Problems that may arise during alignment

As mentioned above, the base not only provides reliable adhesion of the natural nail to the artificial material, but also allows you to level the nail plate.

Alignment is the hiding of defects in the nail plate (irregularities, tubercles). Thanks to alignment, we get a perfectly shaped nail.

How is leveling done?

In most cases, alignment is done as follows:

1. The first thin layer of base is applied, which is essentially a primer.
2. Apply a second layer of base, which is evenly distributed over the nail, fading away in the area of ​​the side ridges and cuticle, forming an ideal shape.

But in some cases, craftsmen perform leveling without applying the first thin layer.

What is shellac

Shellac has become very popular because it looks natural and neat on the hands. A coating that combines the advantages of varnish and gel is cheaper and easier to apply to nails than to build up the same acrylic. Shellac dries quickly and lasts a long time without replacement or adjustment. When doing homework, you don’t have to worry about its integrity; the nail plate itself is strengthened by the components that make up the gel polish.

The color range of shellac is varied: several hundred shades, every girl can choose the right one for herself.

Another advantage of shellac coating is that it is quite easy and quick to remove - you don’t have to cut anything down. The substance for removing it from nails does not contain harmful components, so the nails do not need to “rest”; you can almost immediately apply a new gel polish coating.

The nail plate under a layer of shellac does not peel off, becomes stronger and breaks less often. When layers of gel polish are applied, they do not roll off, so any design within the imagination of the master becomes possible, including a moonlit jacket and a variety of multi-color patterns. The shine of nails under shellac does not decrease after exposure to the sun and aquatic environments.

Important! This nail product does not contain allergens or other harmful substances, which makes it suitable for pregnant women.

The downside is the need to use an ice lamp; correction, as a rule, is carried out only in the salon.

Shellac coating is an excellent solution for those who need well-groomed nails, but do not need unnecessary trips to the salon. If you don’t get bored with the same color for several weeks, wearing gel polish is a pleasure; for weak nails, it’s a good way to strengthen them without much effort.

Properties of nail bases and gels

Considering the different purposes of these products, they also have different properties from each other:

• The gel for nail extensions has a viscous, dense consistency, which allows you to form a beautiful shape of the extended nail in layers of different thicknesses. After polymerization, the material becomes hard, which allows you to avoid chips and cracks while wearing artificial nails;
• The base also contains a gel component, but it is applied in a thin layer and serves to ensure strong adhesion of the artificial coating to the natural nail plate. A more liquid consistency allows the material to flow into all the irregularities of the nail when applied, ensuring maximum adherence to the surface. After drying in a lamp, the layer retains its elasticity.

It is worth considering one more nuance: if the issue of replacing the base for gel polish is being decided, then you will have to adjust the method of removing it. In the case of gel, it will not be possible to use liquid; all that remains is to remove the coating by sawing it off with a router or file.

Why does the base bake in the lamp when drying?

In the bottle, the material is in a liquid state, its molecules are in chaos. But when exposed to UV/LED radiation, the molecules line up, forming a crystal lattice, and the material polymerizes, in other words, hardens. At this moment, an exothermic chemical reaction occurs, i.e. reaction that releases heat.

Photoinitiators contained in the base are responsible for hardening. The more photoinitiators, the faster the material polymerizes. And the faster it polymerizes, the more heat is released!

What else does it depend on?

• Color

Most often, craftsmen use a transparent base. The rays penetrate through it very quickly, since pigment does not interfere with them. Accordingly, the reaction occurs faster and more heat is released!

• Condition of the nail plate

The thinner the nail plate, the more the base bakes. The nail plate itself is not sensitive, but under it, in the nail bed, there are sensitive capillaries and nerve endings. Through a thin nail, heat quickly passes to them, and we feel a burning sensation.

• Quantity of material

The larger the layer of material, the more photoinitiators we place on the nail plate, and the more heat is generated.

• Lamp power

The higher the lamp power, the faster polymerization occurs, and the more heat is generated.

• Sensitivity

Some people have increased sensitivity in the morning, others in the evening. For some today, for others tomorrow. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

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What to do if the base bakes too much?

• Reduce the power of the lamp if it has a power reduction button.
• Take your hand out, turn the material down so it doesn’t spread, and press the pad of your finger against the table. This simple technique will help relieve pain!
• Instead of one thick layer, apply 2 thinner layers of base.
• Use camouflage bases. The presence of pigment prevents the penetration of rays and less heat is generated.

REMEMBER! The insanely strong burning sensation cannot be tolerated!

Which to choose

• Kodi - this manufacturer considers the best glossy finish without a sticky layer. The material has a thick consistency, smoothes the nails and protects them from external mechanical influences.
• RuNail is a Russian-made top coat without a sticky layer. Thanks to the convenient brush, the coating applies perfectly the first time. It has a yellowish tint, which is unacceptable for light-colored varnishes.
• Bluesky is a Chinese version of the topcoat. Despite the rather low cost, it is of high quality. It is very popular among beginners and nail art professionals.
• CND is a world-famous leader in the manicure market. The products are quite expensive, but the quality is also high. It is durable and economical in consumption. One of the few options that can be combined with coatings from other manufacturers. By the way, not so long ago they launched a 2 in 1 product that functions as a base and top.

We got acquainted with base and top coatings. We found out which is the best brand of top and base gel polish to choose. As it turns out, a full manicure is not possible without them. When purchasing, you should not take into account only the price - there are good products in the mid-price category. The main thing is that the varnish, base and top are from the same manufacturer, even when ordering on Aliexpress from little-known companies. Then a good result is guaranteed.