A durable manicure made from new types of coating lasts a long time, but is it possible to apply a top coat over regular polish to achieve the same result?
After all, it is the top – the finishing layer – that protects shellac from water and washing powder, making it so strong and durable. This coating protects artificial nails from losing their bright colors. Women's hands often find themselves in an aggressive environment. The top serves as a real shield from any damage that spoils a woman’s manicure. The base provides a strong connection between the gel and the girl’s nail plate. The finishing layer, connecting at the tip of the nail with the base coat, encloses the manicure in a reliable shell to preserve beauty for a long time.
First way
One of the successful ways of combining different coatings was carried out as follows:
- the natural nail plate is degreased with a primer;
- paint your nails with regular polish;
- dry it thoroughly in the air;
- cover with top gel;
- Dry the top under an ultraviolet lamp.
This combination of coatings lasts on the nails for quite a long time, up to thirty days. No chips or cracks.
Feasibility: when the use of regular varnish over gel varnish is justified
The lockdown forced many women to learn how to perform beauty treatments on their own. In conditions where a trip to a specialist is impossible, and the coating looks worn out, ordinary varnish can help out. You can completely cover the gel coating with it or apply it only to the overgrown part of the nails near the cuticle. This is not to say that the result will be ideal, but in the absence of alternatives, such a life hack is quite justified.
To smooth out the transition, you should pre-treat your nails with a file or buff. This will not only solve the issue of aesthetics, but will also improve adhesion and the coating will last longer.
Second way
The first layer is applied the base gel. It is dried until completely hardened under a lamp. After this, colored regular varnish is applied. We wait in the open air. It dries in just 10-15 minutes. If you decide to make several layers of color coating, apply them one at a time, waiting for each individual layer to dry completely.
Only after all multi-colored coatings of regular varnish have completely dried should the top gel be applied. When applying the topcoat, be sure to make a few strokes along the edge of the nail plate. This way you will pack layers of plain varnish into shellac, creating a durable shell.
The top must be exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a certain time. It is a polymer and will not harden when exposed to air. By changing the molecular structure of the gel, UV drying ensures the strength of the composition for a long time.
Some manicurists do not recommend combining layers of simple varnish and shellac. But such combinations begin to come together like an accordion or quickly chip, only if the coating technology is violated. For example, having applied too thick a layer of simple varnish and not waiting for it to dry completely, the girls covered their nails with shellac and ruined all the beauty.
Ladybug
You can create multi-colored funny circles, imitate water bubbles, place them chaotically, or set the direction of the spiral and then increase it. There are a lot of ideas for such decor, the main thing is to have a special tool - dots. It is similar to a crochet hook, only the tip is in the form of a metal ball, the dimensions of which help to make circles of various diameters. A very simple technique is done like this:
- dip the dots in regular varnish, and then make an imprint on the ready-made helium coating;
- after the invented ornament is implemented, you need to wait for it to dry, so that this happens faster, you can put a bottle of varnish in the refrigerator before decorating;
- then cover with topcoat and cure in a UV lamp for 2-3 minutes.
For decoration, it is always better to choose contrasting colors so that the mugs stand out well against any background, use 3-5 shades or stick to 2 close ones, for example, a nude palette.
Do not throw away bottles with multi-colored coatings. A rich color palette and texture allows you to realize all your fantasies. Can gel polish be coated with regular polish? If solely for decoration, using interesting color schemes - of course. It is important not to forget to cover with a finishing topcoat. On such a strong base, and even with a protective coating, nail art will last about a week, and then you can start applying designs and ornaments again.
Familiar varnishes
Many beauties today can afford to buy a variety of colors of simple varnishes from Jean Ashley, Golden Rose and many others.
Incredibly beautiful shades of deep dark cherry, with a wine tint or blue with silver splashes of small sparkles. Black, white, green, blue. With the help of a whole rainbow of colors and the finest brushes, patient craftswomen create magnificent miniature pictures that adorn well-groomed hands. On the nails you can see small polka dots, stripes, elegant openwork patterns, curls, flowers, hieroglyphs, tints and shimmers.
It takes a lot of time to complete complex, amazingly beautiful drawings. If you lose two hours on this painstaking work and literally the next day you discover chips in the coating, of course it will be very disappointing. Those who have a large family have a lot of housework every day: they have to do laundry, clean, wash floors and dishes. Of course, you can wear rubber gloves. But not every job can be done in them. For example, knead dough for buns, bathe a child, preferably without gloves.
When the famous shellacs appeared, women's nails became much more beautiful. True, usually those with long claws are spoiled lazy people who have servants, governesses and no worries. God bless them. But what about simple girls who need to change their baby’s clothes and want beauty? Nails can be made with oval, safe length, tips and with a beautiful pattern. Therefore, young mothers began to have thoughts about how to make a beautiful manicure more durable.
Rules
Masking the overgrown parts of the nail is an idea that helps out in a hopeless situation. There is no point in making this practice permanent. A worn-out coating harms the nails, since the center of gravity shifts strongly towards the ends, which leads to injuries. Use this life hack only when necessary.
But drawings with regular varnish over gel varnish will not do any harm. The products do not react; when combined, no harmful substances are released. Therefore, experimenting with design is acceptable and safe.
About Shellac
Of course, a manicure made using polymers looks amazing: super-shine, beautiful designs, a dense coating that lasts flawlessly from three to ten weeks. Basically, until the manicurist cuts it off. This pleasure is quite expensive. But today Chinese gels have appeared, cheaper. The shellac application procedure is completed by a master within several hours. To maintain the integrity of the coating, you must not work with water for 12 hours.
Can every woman afford such luxury? In fact, dedicate the whole day just to manicure? And is it worth throwing away a lot of simple varnishes in wonderful colors? Many girls who are fond of shellac complain about the negative effects of polymers on the nail plate.
Materials
To work, you will need a set of tools and special materials. You can strengthen your nails:
- acrylic gel or powder;
- biogel;
- single-phase gel;
- basic tool.
To strengthen your nails with gel polish or other means, you will also need additional products. These include:
- silk for repairing the nail plate - can be used for deep cracking;
- liquids for degreasing and dehydration;
- primers;
- gel polishes with a sticky layer - needed for working with filed nails;
- a set of files and buffs;
- orange and glass cuticle sticks;
- remover or nippers;
- synthetic brushes for coating.
You will also need an ultraviolet lamp to dry each layer. You can buy nail hardeners for gel polish and tools in specialized stores.
Acrylic gel
Acrylic is used not only for extensions, but also allows you to protect short nails. The step-by-step application procedure looks like this:
- The nail plates are polished and cleaned of dust.
- Treat with primer, being careful not to touch the cuticle and nail folds.
- The cuticle is processed by trimming or another method.
- Apply a thin layer of base and dry in a lamp.
- Apply 1 or 2 layers of modeling acrylic gel, drying each layer.
- If necessary, file the edges of the nails, giving them the desired shape.
- Cover the nails with top coat.
- Lubricate cuticles with care oil.
If desired, you can apply a layer of color. Nails acquire a beautiful shape, do not break or flake.
Acrylic Powder
Coating with acrylic powder does not improve the structure of the nails, but it allows you to wear shellac or another type of manicure longer. The material can be transparent or camouflage. Preparation for application is standard - degreasing, removing cuticles, coating with a base. Nails are dried in a lamp for 30 seconds to 2 minutes (depending on the type of device).
Next, apply a second layer of base and immediately sprinkle with powder. Use a fan brush or pusher. After this, repeated drying is carried out. Excess powder is removed with a soft brush. If the surface is not ideal, level it with a buff.
To preserve the natural color and shine, only a topcoat is enough. If desired, you can make shellac with strengthening with acrylic powder and a decorative layer.
Biogel
Biogel can be used to strengthen nails under gel polish. It is odorless, so it is suitable for allergy sufferers and pregnant women. Application takes place in stages:
- Hands and nails are cleaned.
- Pull back the cuticle and do a manicure. You can use a cutter.
- Apply the primer without touching the skin on your fingers.
- Cover each nail with biogel using a synthetic brush. You need to apply the material from roots to ends. Finally, it is dried in a lamp.
- The sticky layer is removed with a special liquid.
- Oil is applied to the cuticle and side ridges.
This gel polish hardener will allow you to wear your manicure for a longer time.
Single phase gel
A single-phase gel includes all 3 components at once - base, modulating and top. The application method consists of several stages. They start with processing the cuticle - it is pushed back or removed with nippers. The edges of the nail plate are processed, giving them the desired shape. The surface is made slightly rough using a buff and degreased with a primer.
Apply a thin layer of hardener under the gel polish from the root of the nail towards the edge. Hands are placed in the lamp for 1-2 minutes. The sticky layer is removed, after which the shape is corrected. Next, you can apply a layer of shellac.
Strengthening nails with a base
Gel polish with a strengthening base will have a fresh, flawless look for a long time. It is best to use rubber coatings. Their viscous consistency allows you to create a perfectly smooth surface. This method is especially relevant for women with uneven, problematic nails.
This strengthening of nails with gel under gel polish allows you to avoid breaking the nail if you accidentally hit it. The rubber coating will spring back and keep the record intact. The technique for applying the material generally coincides with that for other gels.
Is it possible to apply a design under the gel with a simple varnish?
Manicurists who work with gel do not advise doing this. It is argued that the layers may not adhere to each other. Allegedly because polymers are sticky, while simple varnishes do not have a sticky film. This leads to the fact that the manicure chips and slides together like an accordion.
Some people advise covering an already made completely shellac nail with colored varnish. That is, paint over the top-finish coating. Since the top is a polymer, regular Golden Rose will stick to it more firmly than on a natural nail plate. When you get tired of the last design or color, Golden Rose can be wiped off with nail polish remover and a new design can be applied directly to the top.
However, there are such brave girls who, when asked whether it is possible to apply top coat to regular nail polish, answer yes! And apply the finishing coat of gel to the design of a simple varnish. But in order for the layers to adhere well to each other and sit firmly on the nail plate, you need to calmly wait for all layers of simple varnish to dry completely. Only then apply the finishing coat of gel. Then you will get a wonderful design from inexpensive ordinary varnishes, of which you have quite a lot of accumulated at home. The whole procedure will take a little time. Because working with regular varnish is much easier and faster. The drying procedure is shorter. And the topcoat will preserve its beauty for a long time.
When is it necessary to strengthen nails with gel?
Fingernails can weaken for various reasons - due to poor nutrition, stress, illness and metabolic disorders, exposure to aggressive external factors. The plates begin to crumble and delaminate. Manicure on them lasts no more than 2-3 days. Special materials will help protect your nails and make the coating more durable.
Strengthening nails with gel under gel polish is indicated if:
- the tips constantly crack, break, and quickly get dirty;
- the plates react to hot and cold;
- manicure with gel polish does not last more than 2-3 days;
- a woman constantly has to come into contact with chemicals;
- nails are often subject to mechanical trauma.
Strengthening materials form a stable polymer frame and improve the condition of the plates.
Contraindications
Safe hypoallergenic materials are used for protection. However, they also have restrictions on their use. Experts do not recommend applying gel under gel polish if:
- the woman has fungal, bacterial or viral diseases of the skin of the hands and nails;
- the fingers are severely injured, there are hemorrhages under the plates;
- There is individual intolerance to the gel, allergic reactions.
If the procedure is performed correctly, it does not cause side effects or complications.
