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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Do I need a base for gel nail extensions? Technology of applying gel polish to extended nails
It is not advisable to steam your nails; it is better to apply a special cuticle remover and push back or trim the cuticles.
- Use a special file for extended nails to file the free edge.
- Artificial nails do not need to be coated with primer, but degreasing the nail plate is essential.
- Some people recommend using a base. It is needed so that the gel polish adheres to the surface of the extended nails. When applied to natural nails, a base coat is necessary: it protects against negative effects and ensures adhesion of the layers. Covering artificial nails with a base is not critical.
Note! Extended nail plates must be impeccably smooth - only then will the gel polish look presentable. It is recommended to polish the surface of the nails before applying base.
- The base must be dried under a UV lamp for two minutes.
- Apply the first layer of gel polish without streaking to the side ridges and cuticle, sealing the free edge, and then polymerize. If a streak has formed, it can be removed with an orange stick (before drying in the lamp). Sealing is necessary to make nails aesthetically pleasing by hiding their thickness.
- If necessary, apply the thinnest possible second layer of gel polish and also dry.
Cover your nails with the finishing topcoat and place under the lamp for two minutes. Which top is better to use? There are two options:
- finishing top with a sticky layer for gel polish - will provide a high-quality coating without chips;
- finishing top with a sticky layer for hard gels (for extended nails) - perfect for such a coating and will last until correction.
A finish without a sticky layer will not work, as it will not preserve the integrity of the gel polish on artificial nails.
- Dry the top under the lamp.
- If desired, make the design with rhinestones. Without removing the sticky layer, apply a single-phase transparent gel to the coating in the places where the rhinestones will be located. Place the rhinestones and outline with a thin brush with gel. If the rhinestones are small, you can apply them directly to the top before drying.
- Dry in a UV lamp.
- Remove the dispersion layer.
- Care for extended nails with gel polish
Girls, chasing fashion and practicality, sometimes forget that under layers of gel, real nails suffer from a lack of useful components and oxygen. On damaged nail plates, no extended nails or gel polishes will stick firmly and look aesthetically pleasing, which means that care is necessary.
Firstly, it is necessary to exclude any mechanical impact on the artificial nail plate. Simply put, stop mercilessly using your nails as a household tool. Gel is a very fragile material, which in case of unexpected destruction can ruin the natural nail.
For at least a couple of days after applying gel polish, it is recommended to do housework with gloves.
Secondly, making nail baths is not advisable, but rubbing valuable oils and vitamins into the cuticle is what you need. The nutrition of nails comes from the cuticle, which means that all useful components must get there.
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.
What you need for nail extensions with gel polish.
With the advent of gel polish in the arsenal of manicurists, other means and materials faded into the background. Now fashionistas decorate their nails with beautiful helium polish. If you want to make the nail plates longer and of the correct shape, use extension technology using the same material. As practice shows, it is not difficult to extend nails with gel polish at home. There is a special technology that allows any girl to master the technique.
Extended nails
Extension methods
To extend nail plates, you need to prepare one of two devices:
- Permanent ready-made nails made of polymer.
- Removable template forms.
When using permanent plates, ready-made synthetic overlays in the form of a nail are glued to natural nails. Before fixing, they can be given the desired shape or left in the factory version. Templates are used for nail extensions along the outer or inner edge. To attach the tips you will need high-quality manicure glue. Experts recommend using a colorless, odorless composition.
Nail extension procedure
Nail preparation
To begin the creative part of the work, you need to prepare the nail plates. This step is important in the step-by-step implementation of the technology, since the duration of wearing artificial plates depends on the quality of natural nails. First, we give the plates the desired shape, carefully trim and file each of them. We cut off the cuticles and treat the nails with a buff. What is this tool? Buff is a fine-grained file that removes the top oily layer from the nails.
Preparing nails for extensions
At the last stage of preparation, the nails are treated with a degreasing agent. This is necessary to remove small particles of dust, grease and give the surface an ideal cleanliness.
Attaching the forms
For girls who don’t know whether it’s possible to extend their nails with gel polish at home, the masters say that it is possible. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of professionals. The next step of the step-by-step technology is attaching forms for extensions. First you need to prepare glue and tips that will be attached to the nails. We simultaneously apply glue to both the forms and natural nails. Masters advise that so that the glue does not have time to dry, it is better to cover one nail and tip with it.
Types of nail extensions
Having fixed the artificial plate on the natural one, we immediately send the finger to a UV lamp for drying. You need to polymerize the adhesive gel carefully so that it evenly fixes the elements of the future manicure. After gluing all the forms and polymerization, we proceed to the final processing:
- give the nail plates the desired final shape,
- remove any remaining glue.
Ways to use forms for nail extensions
To properly extend nails at home with gel polish, at this step of the step-by-step work, the plates are coated with topcoat and dried in a UV lamp. The next step is the decorative design of the manicure.
Nail extension mold
Special nuances
Girls often wonder if nails that are affected by fungus can be extended with gel polish? Masters categorically do not recommend extending nails damaged by a fungal infection. It is also prohibited to carry out the procedure if there are unhealed wounds on the fingers. To extend nail plates with gel polish, hands must be clean, healthy, and without any damage.
Summer manicure
If sanitary conditions are met, and the plates are properly prepared, artificial extensions will hide defects, change the shape and make natural nails strong.
We learn about the correct extension technology from
How to improve your nails
The period of wearing extended nails ranges from 2 to 5 weeks. It all depends on the girl’s lifestyle, the frequency of washing dishes and hands using chemical detergents. After removing the nail plates, the masters advise carrying out wellness procedures to help natural nails.
The most effective procedures include:
- Taking vitamin complexes.
- Regular treatment of nails with Vaseline and iodine.
- Using gloves when washing dishes and floors.
- Increasing the time between extension procedures.
- Eating large amounts of milk, cottage cheese and other dairy products.
Nail design with gel polish
To prevent the nail plates from becoming thinner and to have time to recover, it is extremely important to extend them no more than once every two to three months. Considering that on average artificial plates last a month. The next couple of months should be allowed for natural nails to recover.
To summarize the above
Learning how to do nail extensions step by step is not difficult. It is more difficult to follow advice on wearing artificial beauty, as well as in the period after removal. When you decide to get plate extensions, don’t forget that the ideal manicure is beautiful, healthy natural nails. Therefore, it is worth introducing vitamins and dairy products into your diet. When doing homework, do not forget to protect your hands with rubber gloves.
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
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.
Do I need to apply a base under the extension gel? How to extend nails with gel?
How to extend nails with gel?
Gel nail extensions - step by step! What are the differences between single-phase and three-phase extension systems? How to grow your nails yourself?
How to choose a gel for extensions?
Single-phase units are usually preferred by beginning craftsmen. But some remain faithful to them over many years of work. Grattol gels have a viscous structure and are convenient to distribute over the surface of tips or molds. The pink opaque InGarden gel is perfect for a nude manicure; it is quite dense and does not show through. Beige single-phase from Vogue Nails is also a great option for nude; it self-levels and perfectly models the nail.
With experience, masters, as a rule, switch to a three-phase extension system. The widest palette of construction (modeling, sculpting) gels is perhaps from RuNail: the company has classic nude shades, and bright raspberry, blue, green and purple. As a base you can choose, for example, Kodi, and for the finish - Grattol with a sticky layer or Lianail, which is applied like a top coat and does not turn yellow after drying, which allows you to preserve the main color of the extended nails.
Gel nail extensions step by step
The technology for gel nail extensions in single-phase and three-phase systems is absolutely the same, only the gels themselves differ. Either you use a single phase gel for all three steps, or three different gels.
- We carefully treat our hands with an antiseptic, paying special attention to the fingers and nail bed.
- We do a manicure in the usual way and polish the nail plates with a buff.
- We degrease the nails, then apply a bonder (dehydrator) and primer.
- We prepare tips or forms. We cut the tips to the required length with a tip cutter and sand them with a buff to get rid of the smooth surface, then glue them onto the nails. We secure the forms firmly under the nails; they should not move during the work.
- Apply the first base layer of gel. In a single-phase system it can be immediately colored, in a three-phase system it is usually transparent. We distribute using a brush into tips or shapes, creating the correct oval/rectangle, depending on the desired shape of artificial nails. Dry the layer in a lamp.
- Apply a modeling layer of gel. It should not be too thick and lumpy, you should strive for an even distribution. Dry it again in the lamp.
- We grind the surface of artificial nail plates, giving them the desired shape, length and arch. Remove dust with a nail brush or napkin.
- Then we apply the finishing gel and seal the ends of the nails. The last layer is also polymerized in a hybrid lamp.
Now you can complete the gel polish coating and design. If you decide to do without coating and nail art, you can apply softening oil to the cuticle.
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.
