Best nail polish base coat according to redditors

Proper prep is key.

Buff your nail, then use rubbing alcohol to dry it out. Apply a nail primer. Apply a base coat or builder gel. Now apply polish.

The prep takes more time than application for me, but my nails never pop off anymore.

My primer of choice: https://www.amazon.com/No-Lift-Nails-NA-Primer/dp/B004D8QUWC/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501514348&sr=8-6&keywords=Nail+primer

So satisfying! And totally safe for your nails if you use a peel-off basecoat, whether DIY or from OPI :)

I use the cheap UV/LED light from Amazon. You can also find them on ebay. I purchased this one a year and a half ago and it's still working great. For polish, I'm a huge fan of Aimeili on Amazon. Base Coat/Top cost is a must and one of my favorite colors. It's just like painting with polish - thin base coat, color (x2 or 3 if needed), top coat. I dry in between each with 60 seconds under the light. For me, it's quicker and easier than polish. No need to worry if it's actually dry - once you're done you're good to go.

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ETA: I purchase base coat/top coat July 2017 and I'm still working on it! I use it an average of once every 7-10 days. Some weeks I'll let my nails breathe.

I'm not a tech, but you might try a good primer. I don't see why you couldn't use it directly under gel polish. I do know it works fabulously on me and I never get any lift using soak off or hard builder gels. Polygel will sometimes still lift but I think that's because my nail forms don't put the apex in quite the right spot for my nail bed.

This is the one I use.

No Lift Nails Primer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D8QUWC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EZDbBbN5P8B64

I do my own gel manicures. I used to have that problem, but this product is a game changer. I apply it immediately before my gel base coat. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVZGO3W/

I recently got into gel too a few months ago. You'll need a base coat too. I don't normally bother with one with normal polish, but I've found that without one, gel just peels right off my nails. Natural oils interfering with it, maybe? I don't know. But I like this set. And this is a pretty good remover but strong. Make sure you have a silicone mat to work with because it ate right through the varnish on my desk when I dripped it.

This - from Amazon 😊 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00PF9Q5EG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_8NE4MFTnLV1Uh

http://www.amazon.co.uk/OPI-GLITTER-PEELABLE-BASE-COAT/dp/B002D4J3VI

I use an LED lamp with gel polish too! Easily lasts 2 weeks without chipping. My favorite brand of polish right now is Aimeili. Their top coat is awesome, because you don't have to wipe it with alcohol when it's done drying. They have tons of colors and although it's not technically peel-off, I still do it and I don't have any lasting damage to my nails. And for a lamp, get one like this with multiple bulbs (in case one goes out) and a mirrored interior (helps bounce the light around all angles). I've been using gel polish for over 6 years now and I'll never go back to regular polish!

I'm a really big fan of Mia Secrets products if we want an inexpensive expensive medium setting traditional system. I have their acrylics, gels, preps, and primers and I honestly haven't had a dud from them yet. They have this little intro kit if you want super small sizes of the bare essentials to try before committing, but I'll also show you everything I use to do a set of new nails with their system. If you go with the kit, the brush isn't the greatest...but it's better than most other kits in this price range.

• I dehydrate the nail using Mia Secrets Nail Prep.
  
• I apply my nail tip of choice and make sure it's straight.
  
• I brush Mia Secrets No Lines over the smile line of the tip and allow it to dry.
  
• I prime the nail using Mia Secrets [XTrabond]
  (https://www.amazon.com/Mia-Secret-Burn-Primer-Acrylic/dp/B00JVZGO3W/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1466043934&sr=1-5&keywords=Mia+Secret).
  
• I fill my dappen dish with Mia Secrets Liquid Monomer, ensuring there is enough liquid in the dish to submerge my brush from tip to ferrule.
  
• I drain my brush as needed to make the correct size bead then dip it into Mia Secrets Clear Acrylic Powder 3 times.
  
• I shape and buff the nail.
  
• I apply Mia Secrets Icegel top coat if my client does not want polish, alternatively I either polish the nails as normal, or use Mia Secrets UV Finish Gel if the client has paid extra for a UV top coat. (Sorry about the non Amazon link! It's not available on Amazon currently.)
  
  I PROMISE I AM NOT ENDORSED OR AFFILIATED WITH MIA SECRETS OR NAILITE WHATSOEVER. I just happen to use and love a lot of their products.
  
  
  I can also suggest Nailite's OMEGA system if you're a problem lifter. It's comparable to using CND's Retention+ liquid in my opinion.
  They sell a small kit and a large kit. I bought the large and it's an amazing value with a high quality brush to boot! I follow a similar system with it to Mia Secrets, but I'll outline the steps again.
  
  
• I dehydrate the nail with Nailite's Nail Prep.
  
• I apply my nail tip of choice and make sure it's straight.
  
• I blend the nail tip into the natural nail ensuring there are no ridges.
  
• I prime the nail with Nailite's Something Wonderful Protein Bonder.
  
• I fill my dappen dish with Nailite's Omega Liquid Monomer, ensuring there is enough liquid in the dish to submerge my brush from tip to ferrule.
  
• I drain my brush as needed to make the correct size bead then dip it into Nailite's Omega Powder 1 time and hold it there for 3 seconds.
  
• I shape and buff the nail.
  
• I apply Nailite's Wet Look Top Coat if my client does not want polish, alternatively I either polish the nails as normal or use Nailite's High Gloss Tackless Sealer if the client has paid extra for a UV top coat.
  
  If you have any questions at all about any products you may come across, tips on technique, or would like more product suggestions, etc.... I encourage you to PM me at anytime. :)

I think the info links on this su Reddit has a great info about base and top coats.

I do gel tips at home and use Ameili.

https://www.amazon.com/AIMEILI-Soak-Off-Nail-Polish/dp/B00PF9Q5EG

Base and top coat
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PF9Q5EG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1559046903&sr=1-2

Nail polish:

CLAVUZ Gel Polish Soak Off UV Led Gel Nail Polish Set New Starter Kits Nail Art Manicure Nail Lacquers 6pcs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HRSH406/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HVs7CbMM50ENC

I will note the nail polish set has low and some bad reviews. I haven’t bought it in like two years but I’m really happy with the formula I purchased then. This could be a new formula.

I do! I have medium to long length nails and even though some people say gel weakens them, I actually find that they make my nails stronger. I have pretty healthy nails to begin with, though. I use my hands heavily for work (constantly brushing up against metal, cutting things and operating machinery) and gel is a godsend.

I am also super frugal though so I do them myself. It's very easy and it doesn't take that long after you get the hang of it. I usually put on a tv show or movie while I do it, it's very relaxing.

I've tried out a few different lamps but so far my favorite has been this one (I prefer LED):

https://www.amazon.com/MelodySusie-12W-LED-Nail-Dryer/dp/B00AXSQCGK/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497569940&sr=8-1&keywords=melodysusie+gel+lamp

I have had great luck with this brand of polish (they make a glitter red that is ammmmaaazing – I had a trainer at the gym stop me when I was lifting to tell me my nails were the best he'd ever seen haha):

https://www.amazon.com/AIMEILI-Soak-Off-Nail-Polish/dp/B00PF9Q5EG/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1497569972&sr=1-4&keywords=gel+nail+polish

And I use these clippy things to remove the polish when I'm ready to change it. No tin foil for me!

https://www.amazon.com/HIGHROCK-Acrylic-Remover-Cleaner-Superior/dp/B00OWZ0TVE/ref=sr_1_28_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1497569972&sr=1-28&keywords=gel+nail+polish

(I just happened to be reordering some polish today so I had some of these links open already :p )

Here's what I do:

Buff the nail completely with a 180 file removing the cuticle and the surface shine from the nail. I have a nail drill, so I just do it like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbjiCXlOiQ&t=26s

Wipe with a mix of 5/6 90%+ alcohol + 1/6 100% acetone (alcohol to disinfect, acetone to remove the oils).

Allow to air dry. Do not introduce more oils to the nail (like touching with your other hand after!)

Buy some primer: https://www.amazon.com/Mia-Secret-Burn-Primer-Acrylic/dp/B00JVZGO3W

I wear hard gel extensions, but this works for soft gel as well.

After you buff and remove the oils + sanitize, apply some primer. Primer makes the nail accept and hold on to gel better. I can keep my extensions on for 3 weeks to a month with minimal to no lifting even using them as tools (opening soda cans, removing keys off of key rings -- how do you think I am typing this lmao).

Anyways, you want to find a nice tacky soak off base coat. I personally just use what Born Pretty has to offer. It is extremely sticky when it dries. Do not wipe the sticky layer.

So now we have buffed, cleaned nails with some primer (do not wipe), and a base coat (do not wipe!)

Then you want to put on your color. Start with a nice thin layer pointing the nail down while doing it. Cure this layer for a minute or whatever the gel says. Do not wipe!

If you wipe, you must buff this layer gently so the gel can stick. Wipe this layer with the cleaning solution you made above if you made this mistake D:

Put on a second coat. Do not wipe!

Put on as many coats as you need to do get the intensity you want. Just remember, it will look thicker the more you do.

Still, do not wipe.

Put on a no wipe top coat for shine if you want to do that.

I personally like matte, but I don't use a matte top coat: I just take a buffing block and make it matte.

So tldr:

1. Buff entire nail
   
2. Wipe with 5/6 90%+ alcohol + 1/6 acetone solution to remove dust and remove oils
   
3. Apply primer. Do not wipe.
   
4. Apply soak off base coat. Do not wipe.
   
5. Apply color in a thin layer. Cure. Do not wipe.
   
6. Apply second coat in a thin layer. Cure. Do not wipe.
   
7. Apply third coat if needed in a thin layer. Do not wipe.
   
8. Apply no wipe top coat
   
9. If the top coat is sticky or not shiny enough, buff the combination, wipe, and top coat again.

You can get started with gel polish manicures for less than $40!

2 years ago or so I bought these polishes off from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PC7YG88/ and https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PF9Q5EG/ and got a cheap $15 LED lamp which I see is no longer listed on Amazon but this one has good reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01JGG5CH4/

After I did my first gel manicure I never looked back. My gel manicures survive heavy lifting with metal weights in the gym, washing dishes on a daily basis, heavy labor outside such as moving rocks, yard work, etc. It used to take me at least an hour to do my nails with non gel polish and then I'd sometimes ruin them with sheet marks or other marks or smudges 😥 but with gel polish that isn't an issue anymore.

I only use regular polish now for stamping or for applying foil. I've since amassed quite a gel polish collection spanning across many brands. I mostly buy online from Amazon or eBay since that is cheaper (polish price per oz) than buying Gelish, ASP, Red Carpet Manicure, etc. in stores locally. My favorite online brands are Aimeili (which I linked to) and Lechat. I think price per oz Lechat might be the cheapest. I think it also has the best formula out of all brands I own.

The only downside is removing the gel polish takes me at least 45 minutes. And you must remove gel polish by first lightly filing the polish and then soaking it off in acetone, NEVER peel gel polish off. You may think you can get away with it but I can tell you from experience, as someone who has thick ass strong nails who thought others just had inferior nails, you cannot get away with it.

Edit: I was going to type out instructions for how to do a gel manicure but it's probably better if you just watch some YouTube videos on it. One tip that I didn't see in any videos I watched was that you want thin coats when you do gel polish. I notice when I get coats that are too thick my nail beds felt really hot when I was curing them under the light. (The heat went away after it was done curing) When you do thin layers that doesn't happen.

3 cents off : /

EDIT:
Closest added before today

Ummm, I mean I dunno. I fangirl on OPI.

Try this:

Base

My current goto red

Top

1 base, 2 color, 1 top, then in the mornings reapply top - make sure to round tips and backsides.

It's nice to have an alternative to super expensive lamps for sure! I have this base coat and top coat which come together, and this red polish by the same brand. So far so good, they look really good! I also ordered this colour shift one which I haven't got yet, so can't vouch for but it was cheap so why not!

Sure thing!

• LED light. You can get cheaper florescent style lights. I went with the LED version because it's quicker. I'm a red head and try and avoid excessive UV. I even put sunscreen on my hands before doing my nails.
  
  
• I like the Aimeile Top/Base costs and colors. They're super cheap and last. I especially like their color changing polishes.
  
  
• You might also want to gets some nail clamps for removal so you're not wrapping your fingers in aluminum foil.
  
  
• And maybe invest in some ph Bond. This helps dry out the nail bed and helps the nails last longer.

1: prepare nails using nail drill, cuticle cutters, and nail file.
2: use professional bonder: Mia Secret No Burn Acid Free... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVZGO3W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This coats the nail and helps the polish stick better.
3: apply base coat
4: dry under lamp.
5: apply coat of base color 044, dry under lamp. Repeat x3.
6: apply matte top coat and dry under lamp.
7: use small ball point tip of toolset and draw desired designs on accent nails with golden polish. I utilized striping tape in various directions for the middle fingers. Dry under lamp.
8: disinfect tools. Put cutical oil on cuticles.. utilize cuticle oil frequently....

I DO do it myself! :)

So far so good with doing a "gelly sandwich" -- base coat gel, cure, regular polish left to dry completely (takes some testing, best to dry overnight), top coat cured!

I got this:

AIMEILI Gel Nail Polish No Wipe Top and Base Coat Set Soak Off UV LED Gel Nail Lacquer - 2 x 10ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PF9Q5EG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3VmxDb5J1P9GV

Only complaint is that the top coat looks purple/blue and weird, like blacklight or something, in direct sunlight. Otherwise the one nail looks great!! :)

http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Glitter-Peel-Able-Base-Ounce/dp/B002D4J3VI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Use this...http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D8QUWC/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B003B6K01O&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0PSFZWF48DHS1CSKY2YY and just make sure to not touch it to your skin.

I polished /u/unlodgical a few days ago. Here's the link.

This is under $7. Thanks for hosting! :)

i heard of this base coat for glitter polishes that seems awesome and i'm dying to try! because how awesome is that?