Distinguishing Between Top Coat & Base Coat

Nail polish is a popular makeup accessory used by women worldwide to color their nails. Many women feel more confident and attractive with their nails properly colored to match their outfits. Expert makeup artists and manicurists recommend applying a base coat before finishing with a top coat.

Key Takeaways

• A base coat is applied before the nail color to create a protective layer for the nails and promote better adhesion of the nail polish.
• A top coat is applied after the nail color to seal in the color, making it last longer and preventing chipping and cracking.
• Both base coat and top coat serve different purposes and are essential for a long-lasting and high-quality manicure.

Base Coat

A base coat is usually a gel containing calcium to strengthen the nails. It helps the nail polish adhere to the nails while protecting the nail plates from the harmful effects of the nail polish. The base coat acts as a barrier between the nail plate and the nail polish, preventing damage or staining from the nail polish. Applying a base coat ensures a more even application of the nail polish. Various base coats are available, with some containing vitamins, proteins, and calcium to prevent splitting and breaking of the nails.

Top Coat

A top coat is a layer applied to seal in the color of the nail polish after the application of the base coat and color. This coat seals the color, making it last longer on your nails and strengthens them. The purpose of a top coat is to prevent nail color from cracking and chipping, providing a long-lasting shine.

Difference between Top Coat and Base Coat

• Base coat is applied before applying the nail color, whereas the top coat is applied after applying the nail polish.
• Base coat acts as a barrier between the nail bed and the nail polish, while the top coat seals in the nail color.
• Base coat helps prevent staining of the nail bed from nail color and prevents damage from the chemicals in the nail polish.
• Base coat contains vitamins, minerals, and calcium to strengthen the nail bed.
• Base coat prevents chapping of nails, whereas top coat prevents capping of nail polish and keeps the color intact for a long time.