Now on the shelves of cosmetic stores you can find dozens of a wide variety of nail bases from a variety of manufacturers. It is on the transparent base that the colored varnish is applied, and then the topcoat. It protects the nail plate from the harmful effects of the polymer material, smoothes and strengthens it, and also saves it from staining and yellowing. It also ensures strong adhesion of the nail to the artificial material, which avoids chipping and cracking.
The base is applied to a thoroughly cleaned and degreased surface in a thin, even layer. Thanks to its self-leveling property, the high-quality coating will automatically distribute itself over the surface of the nail plate without bubbles or streaks. Together with an expert, we have compiled a rating of the best nail bases for 2022.
Expert's choice
BANDI base coat ULTRA CURE
BANDI Photo: BANDI
The camouflage base coat ULTRA CURE from the professional Korean nail brand BANDI solves three problems at once - it strengthens the nail plate, at the same time it is both a reliable base and a colored coating (the range includes a lighter shade of CC Nude and a darker BB Cover). The base not only smoothes and protects nails, but also moisturizes and strengthens them due to the content of sunflower seed oils, tea tree leaves, rosemary, brown algae and horse chestnut extract, as well as wheat proteins and vitamins. The durability of the coating without chips or cracks is up to three weeks; due to the nude shade, the nails look natural, healthy and shiny. This base is ideal for covering French.
Advantages and disadvantages
natural composition, base and color at the same time, durability up to 3 weeks without chipping
small selection of colors
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Rating of the top 10 best nail bases according to KP
ARTEX base coat Make-up Corrector Rubber
ARTEX Photo: ARTEX
Make-up Corrector Rubber from ARTEX is ideal for strengthening and smoothing the nail plate, filling all cracks and irregularities. The base is suitable for working with thin, brittle, short nails under gel polish or gel paint. Many masters use it to create nail architecture and to increase length.
The base coat of Make-up Corrector Rubber does not chip or peel, is easy to apply and level, and does not bake in the lamp. Due to the perfect camouflage nude shades, it does not require an additional color layer and is not noticeable as the nail grows. When removing the coating, it does not require preliminary washing of the surface and is easily removed with liquid within 5-10 minutes, so it is suitable for express manicure. The base coat is available in two volumes - 15 and 50 ml.
Advantages and disadvantages
suitable for brittle and problematic nails, invisible when growing, easy to remove
incompatible with other gel polishes
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Cosmoprofi Base Coat
Cosmoprofi Photo: Cosmoprofi
Cosmoprofi rubber transparent nail base eliminates all unevenness of the nail plate and creates a smooth and durable base for applying gel polish. Despite its fairly liquid consistency, the base is easy to apply and level, creates a medium-hard frame without excess volume, and protects nails from yellowing, delamination and coloring pigments. The base is mainly used on strong, undeformed nails; it does not burn when polymerized in a lamp. Polymerization in an LED lamp takes only a minute, in a UV lamp - 2 minutes. The base does not chip or crack for at least 3 weeks.
Advantages and disadvantages
does not bake in the lamp, self-levels, prevents splitting and yellowing of nails
not suitable for problematic or weakened nails
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KLIO Professional Rubber Base Extra
KLIO Photo: KLIO
The extra-thick rubber base Rubber Base Extra from KLIO Professional is ideal for problematic nails - thin, flaky, prone to brittleness. Despite the thick consistency, the base is easy to apply, it does not flow and evens out perfectly, while the nail plate looks natural, without excess volume. At the same time, the consumption of the product itself is minimal.
Rubber Base Extra is great for repairing, extending and leveling the nail plate, as well as for attaching rhinestones - even large ones. Separately, it is worth noting the comfortable brush - short, flat with evenly trimmed dense bristles.
Advantages and disadvantages
Levels well, strengthens nails, economical consumption, does not leak
bakes in a lamp, especially if applied in several layers to level the nail plate
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Lianail Factor Base
Lianail Photo: Lianail
The instant base for a thin coating from the Latvian brand Lianail has a fairly liquid consistency, making it easy to apply, but does not spread or weigh down the nail plate, and also levels out perfectly. There is also a base option with a thicker consistency. Suitable as a base for gel, acrylic and acrylic.
The thin coating is suitable for nails that do not require leveling. But the thick rubber base is suitable for both leveling and building up. The black matte bottle with the product itself looks very stylish and expensive, but gets dirty easily. The brush has a standard shape, the bristles are soft, the hairs are cut evenly, and it paints well near the cuticle and side ridges.
Advantages and disadvantages
comfortable brush, does not spread and does not weigh down the nail plate
small volume (only 10 ml)
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Imen base coat Rubber base
Rubber base Photo: Rubber base
The Rubber base from the famous Russian brand Imen has a medium (closer to thick) consistency, which allows even beginners to easily and evenly distribute the coating over the nail plate, without drips or staining of the cuticle and side ridges. The base is self-leveling, suitable for all types of nails, including thin and weakened ones. The polymerization time in an LED lamp is at least 30 seconds, in a UV lamp - 60 seconds (professionals recommend using a combined LED/UV lamp).
The durability of the coating with the base is excellent - at least 2-3 weeks without chipping, does not conflict with color coatings of other brands, and can also be easily removed with liquid (after cutting off the top layer).
Advantages and disadvantages
does not conflict with color coatings of other brands, easy and economical to apply, durability 3 weeks
may sag on long nails
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Luxio gel Base Natural
Luxio Photo: Luxio
Luxio gel Base Natural Camouflage Base is a classic base coat from the Canadian brand Luxio. The manufacturer describes the base as “a 100% gel that provides a durable, long-lasting, beautiful coating, protects the nail from external damage and gives a bright glossy shine.” The base has a fairly liquid consistency, is easy to apply and spread, does not have a strong chemical odor, does not cause allergic reactions, and is easily and quickly removed with liquid (Akzentz Soak Off). Separately, it is worth noting the original and very comfortable brush - narrow, short, tightly packed, with a perfect cut. This brush easily applies the material even under the cuticle and paints all corners well, without streaking. The durability of the coating with Luxio gel Base Natural is about 2-3 weeks, without chipping or peeling, and you can only count on light leveling, but building up and building the nail architecture is excluded.
Advantages and disadvantages
comfortable brush, easy to apply without smudges, lasts at least 2-3 weeks without chipping or peeling
high price, not suitable for extensions, sag on long nails
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Vogue Nails base coat Rubber
Vogue Nails Photo: Vogue Nails
Rubber base coat from the Russian brand Vogue Nails is a thick, elastic rubber base suitable for strengthening thin, soft and weakened nails, as well as for smoothing the nail plate. The line includes 12 nude translucent shades from soft pink to peach, and therefore the base can be used simultaneously as a color coating, suitable for a French jacket. Any gel polish also fits perfectly on it, does not spread, does not form bubbles and does not shrink. The coating is durable and resistant - no peeling, chipping or scratching for at least 2-3 weeks. The base is polymerized in both UV and LED lamps. The recommended polymerization time is 3 and 1 minute respectively
First of all, the original design of the bottle attracts attention - the cap is made in the form of a half-opened pink bud. The brush is quite thick, you need to try not to stain the cuticle and side rollers.
Advantages and disadvantages
compatible with gel polishes from other companies, suitable for soft and weak nails
not a very comfortable brush
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Lovely Nails Rubber Base
Lovely Nails Photo: Lovely Nails
The rubber base for nails Rubber Base from Lovely Nails has a fairly thick consistency, so even when applied in one layer it evens out all the unevenness and defects of the nail plate, strengthening and protecting against yellowing and pigmentation, and is also very economical in consumption. And if you buy a 50 ml tube, it will definitely last for a long time. Camouflage base: available in nude pale pink, beige and translucent white shades, can be used without a colored layer for a jacket - just apply the base in two layers.
The main advantages of the base: easy to apply, quickly distributed, provides strong adhesion of the gel polish to the nail plate, long-lasting and durable coating without chipping or peeling for up to 3-4 weeks (or even longer if correction was not required due to nail growth) . A convenient wide, tightly packed brush, as well as the absence of a pungent chemical odor, makes application easy and convenient even for a beginner at home.
Advantages and disadvantages
incredible durability of the coating, economical consumption, strengthens the nail plate, suitable for French
bakes strongly in the lamp, can only be removed by sawing it off
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UNO LED/UV Rubber Base
UNO Photo: UNO
Another popular nail base for both professionals and home use is Rubber Base from the UNO brand. A couple of years ago, this base was one of the five most popular products for nail services and has not yet lost its popularity. UNO Base Strong has a medium-thick consistency, is perfectly leveled, does not shrink on long nails and does not bake in a lamp. Due to its dense texture, it is well suited for flexible, soft and brittle nails, strengthening them and smoothing the surface. Thanks to its fairly thick consistency, it does not flow onto the cuticle or onto the side rollers, but is quite easy to apply and distribute. It is worth noting the comfortable elastic brush with an even cut, as well as the fact that the base is easily soaked and removed with gel polish remover. Does not contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor, which has a positive effect on the health of the nail plate.
Advantages and disadvantages
safe composition, does not burn in the lamp, suitable for all types of nails
The price is quite high, there is a risk of running into a fake
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Polygel nail extension: step by step
Despite the fact that polygel appeared in the manicure field relatively recently, and not all salons have it, many girls use it for home manicure, which they do well.
After choosing the polygel itself, pay attention to the consumables and tools that you will need in your work:
- File;
- Remover;
- Orange stick or pusher;
- Nail scissors or clippers;
- Bafik;
- Degreaser;
- Primer;
- Forms for extensions;
- Putty knife;
- Brush.
It is necessary to dry the polygel in a lamp, since it requires polymerization. The type of device is not important - you can use an ultraviolet, LED or hybrid lamp. Even with a slow drying rate, the work will not deteriorate or begin to leak.
To make a decorative coating after extensions, you will additionally need:
- Base;
- Colored gel polishes;
- Decor (optional);
- Top;
- Lint-free wipes;
- Klinser.
All instruments are pre-treated with an antiseptic so that in case of accidental damage to the periungual area, they do not introduce dirt/infection into the body.
Before starting work, you can perform a steaming bath for your hands for 10-15 minutes with the addition of sea salt or essential oils. This will soften the nail plate and cuticle, and it will be more convenient for you to work.
The extension begins with basic nail treatment:
- The nail file is used to correct the shape of the nail. To fix the cardboard backing, you need to leave a free edge length of 1-2 mm.
- Remover is applied to the cuticle. After a minute, it is moved away with a pusher or an orange stick and cut off.
- Use a buff to buff the nail, removing the glossy layer.
- Degrease the surface and then apply primer, letting it dry a little. There is no need to dry both layers in a lamp.
- Cut the cardboard mold to the desired length and then secure it to your nail. The ends can be fastened with a stapler.
- Squeeze a little polygel onto a spatula and transfer it to the central part of the nail.
- If desired, wet the brush with anti-stick liquid and then begin spreading the polygel. First you need to apply it to the side lines, then cover the central part, and finally level the cuticle line.
- Dry the layer in a lamp for 1.5-2 minutes.
- If you are using colored polygel, you can apply another thin layer to consolidate the result. If you apply gel polish, one layer will be enough, at this stage you can remove the mold.
- Adjust the shape of the free edge of the nail. If there are uneven surfaces left after drying, you can use a sanding buffer that will gently smooth the surface.
- Apply base, colored gel polish in two layers, top coat.
- Remove the sticky layer from the finish coat with a cleaner.
Most often, due to the fact that the girl does not have to spend a lot of time evenly distributing the polygel base over her nails, the work takes much less time than using the classic options. Even at home, many girls can grow their nails in 2-2.5 hours.
It is recommended to carry out the correction in a timely manner. Despite the safety of the product, its prolonged wear increases the risk zone in which the plate can break. The optimal time for correction is 3-3.5 weeks.
It is recommended to remove such extensions only by chemical means, since the girl will not be able to competently use the device to cut off a thick coating on her own, due to the high probability of damage to the upper stratum corneum of a natural manicure. Remover reduces this risk by gradually softening the hardened polygel.
How to choose a nail base
When choosing a suitable base for nails, first of all, it is necessary to assess the condition of the nail plate, whether it requires additional strengthening, and which layer - dorsal (keratin), intermediate (soft keratin) or ventral (keratin of the nail bed) will have to be worked with. Thus, plastic soft bases cause significant shrinkage and do not strengthen the nails. Medium-hard bases provide little shrinkage and good adhesion of the material to the natural nail, and such bases can also strengthen weakened and soft nails. Hard bases do not shrink and strengthen nails well, but the quality of adhesion leaves much to be desired, and detachments may appear.
The best gel nail polishes
A flawless, chip-free manicure that lasts on your nails for at least two weeks.
Solid gel or polygel
This is already a story from modeling. It consists in the fact that the master lays the material on a prepared nail or a substrate made of a flexible rubber base (depending on the nails), dries it, files it to the required shape and architecture, and most importantly, cuts out the free edge of the nail from the inside with a special cutter. If you leave your nail, especially a long one, inside, detachments will occur with a 50% guarantee. We get something like an extended nail, only the base is not a substitute form, but our own nail plate.
To whom? For lovers of extreme lengths, those on whom “nothing sticks” (especially with eternal detachments at the ends), who do a lot of housework with their hands and, in principle, use their nails harshly. This option works great on nails of any shape.
And if an embarrassment does occur, see How to survive until a manicure if your nail is broken: the master answers.
Do you use reinforcement under the coating?
What types of nail bases are there?
Nail bases are divided into several types. The first criterion is hardness - bases can be hard, medium hard and elastic. After polymerization, solid bases provide a rigid, stationary coating, hold their shape well, and do not bend or crack. Hard bases are good for long nails because they strengthen the “stress zone” and also help level the nail plate.
Medium-hard nail bases partially retain the mobility of the nail, but may crack. These bases are well suited for short and strong nails.
Elastic nail bases form a flexible layer, ideal for weak, soft and thin nails, as well as for leveling the nail plate.
Nail bases are also divided into transparent and camouflage. Transparent bases do not contain any pigment and are suitable for any color coating. Camouflage bases have color (as a rule, neutral shades - milky, soft pink, beige, peach), so they do not require a mandatory color coating and are ideal for French and nude-style manicures.
The best nail polishes
Natural natural fashion is replacing long extended nails
Tips and tricks
It is necessary to apply the material to the nails so that the modeled one is as similar as possible to the natural one - not flat, but convex, with a regular apex and an even smile line. It is quite difficult to achieve this the first time, so masters spend a lot of time training.
And many still wonder how to properly extend nails with gel. First of all, you need to choose good material. One that will not spread, but will easily stretch over the surface. Secondly, it is advisable to keep the nails at an angle so that the excess gel is pulled towards the free edge and not towards the cuticle. And, of course, the material should not get on the skin, otherwise there will be detachments and air “pockets” where there is fertile ground for the development of bacteria.
It is advisable, before extending gel nails, to take courses from a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of causing injury to the natural plates.
Extended nails square shape
Popular questions and answers
Nail artist Anastasia Garanina will tell you why the base can chip or whether it is possible to use a top instead of a base .
Is it possible to apply gel polish without first applying a base?
- This option is only possible when using single-phase or two-phase gel polish, otherwise all the colored pigment will go into the nail plate, and the coating itself will not last very long - chips and detachments will appear in a few days.
Can I use a top instead of a base?
— Top is a finishing coat that protects the brightness of the color from fading and also adds shine. That is, the top and base have completely different tasks; the top cannot help but strengthen the nail plate, level it, or protect it from pigment penetration. So you won't be able to use it instead of a base.
Is it possible to increase the length with a base?
— You won’t be able to fully extend your nails with a simple nail base; there are special materials for this. But you can slightly lengthen the nail or its corner using an elastic base.
Why does the base bake in the lamp when drying?
— During polymerization, a chemical reaction occurs in the lamp with the release of heat - hence the feeling of pronounced heat or even burning. Whether the base will bake (gel polishes and top coats do not suffer from this) depends on several factors. For example, the more photoinitiators in the base that are responsible for its hardening, the larger the oven will be. That is, the faster the base polymerizes, the more heat is released. The master may apply a thicker layer of material than required, or the nail may be too thin and weak - all this also affects the intensity of the sensations. Therefore, it is important not to endure unpleasant sensations, but to immediately inform the specialist about it in order to avoid burns. Also, instead of one thick layer of base, it is better to apply two thin layers, and also reduce the lamp power if it begins to burn noticeably.
Why does the base chip?
— Almost all professional bases provide high-quality adhesion of gel polish to the natural nail, so you don’t have to worry about detachments and chips for several weeks. However, in some cases, chips may still appear. For example, if the technique of applying the base is broken, or the nail plate is too thin and very soft (in this case, pre-strengthening the nails with acrylic powder will help). If you often work with water and household chemicals - for example, you actively wash dishes every day or carry out wet cleaning without gloves, the base may also last less.
What is base alignment?
- Not everyone can boast of perfectly straight nails - there are often bumps, dents, and depressed areas. Using a nail base, you can level the surface of the nail plate, making the coating more durable. For leveling, a base of thick or medium consistency is suitable (liquid will spread), which is applied in 2 thin layers and polymerized in a lamp.
Strengthening nails at home with acrylic gel polish
Not so long ago, nail strengthening was performed using ordinary acrylic and monomer. However, technology does not stand still, and manufacturers of nail service products are developing. The procedure for strengthening with acrylic is quite simple.
Instructions:
- It is necessary to moisten the brush in the monomer, dip it in the powder, and use an adhesive ball to distribute the resulting mass over the nail plate. This method is now rarely used, due to the fact that the monomer smells very bad and can cause allergies.
- At the same time, acrylic itself is quite difficult to saw down, it is very hard, so sawing can take a decent amount of time. Therefore, polygel, acrygel, that is, hybrids, are very popular.
- They are very easy to apply and easy to saw. Which takes a minimum of time in the process of strengthening nails. At the same time, if you have a very good command of materials, you have decent experience, then in most cases you may need very little sawdust in the area of the cuticle, side ridges, and end. This significantly saves time on correction and strengthening of nails.
Nude coating
Strengthening nails before applying gel polish is an optional procedure. But if your nails are thin, this is the only way to improve the durability of the coating.
Sources
- Marketing research of product buyers. Alexandrova V. Yu, Bolshakova Yu.S., Uskova A. A. Collection of scientific articles of the 9th International Youth Scientific Conference. Kursk, 2022, pp. 11-16.
- Features of brand promotion in the NAIL industry. M. S. Kaliev, N. P. Sokhatskaya. Bulletin of Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after. S. Utebaeva No. 1 (57) 2021.
- Analysis of criteria for choosing products for a nail salon. Alexandrova V. Yu, Bolshakova Yu.S., Uskova A. A. Collection of scientific articles of the 9th International Youth Scientific Conference. Kursk, 2021, pp. 39-43.
