With a lot of words going on about using gel top coat on regular nail polish there might be a lot of confusion in the air and I am here to clear all of that.
In this blog post I am going to be explaining what happens when you use gel top coat on regular nail polish and also how to apply gel top coat on regular nail polish using two different methods.
Having a full gel manicure always gives off a glossy finish even though gel manicure is more expensive and has less colour range don’t you think you can hack it by using a regular nail polish and then a gel top coat because that way you get a glossy look, an expensive looking finish, a variety of colour for cheaper.
What is a Gel Top Coat?
Gel top coat is a very resistant type of top coat, they cannot be damaged easily which makes them durable and hard to chip or peel. Gel top coat helps your manicure last longer, a regular nail polish will last about two to three days but with a gel top coat they last longer for about two weeks. They also help to protect your nails. They help to prevent chips and scratches on whatever nail polish you have on.
How to Use Regular Nail Polish With Top Coat
- Remove any old nail polish from your nails.
- Prep, clean, trim, file and buff nails.
- Apply a base coat (optional).
- Apply regular nail polish to your nails. You can double coat depending on your preference.
- Allow your regular nail polish to dry completely by waiting for four to six hours. Once you are sure the regular nail polish is completely dry, you can apply your gel top coat.
- Put your hands under a UV light to let it cure.
- Be sure to clean off any tacky bits of the process.
It is important to note that if you apply your top gel coat without your regular nail polish drying completely, there is a high probability that your nail polish will shrink or peel off.
Another method you can use is called gelly sandwich or gel sandwich. A gelly sandwich us simply when you apply a regular nail polish in between a gel base coat and a gel top coat, it is a longer process compared to the first method explained above. You can use this method in the following steps;
- Remove any old nail polish from your nails.
- Prep, clean, trim, file and buff nails to remove excess oil and shine.
- Apply a layer of gel polish to act as a base coat.
- Cure under a UV light.
- Clean off any tacky layers.
- Apply one or two layers of regular nail polish (as desired).
- Allow your regular nail polish to dry completely by waiting for four to six hours, if you used a fast drying nail polish then you could just wait for about 30 minutes for your regular nail polish to dry.
- Add a layer of gel coat once you are sure your regular nail polish has completely dried.
- Put your hands under a UV light to let it cure.
- You can apply another layer of top coat and cure under a UV light for extra strength.
- Wipe off any tacky layer with alcoholic wipes for a seamless finish.
Both methods are pretty straight forward, they just require patience. If you are an impatient person and do not like to wait, I will not recommend applying gel top coat to a regular nail polish because you need patience to be able to wait for your regular nail polish to dry.
Why You Should Use A Gel Top Coat On Your Regular Nail Polish
- Durability.
- Glossy finish.
Some Draw Back For Using Gel Top Coat Includes
- Gel top coat are more expensive than regular nail polish.
- They don’t have a wide range of colour options.
If you are using a gel top coat with a regular nail polish you will only have to worry about its expense.
What Happens When You Use Gel Top Coat On Regular Nail Polish
This process helps to elongate the life of a regular nail polish but it still does not last as long as a full gel manicure will.
How to Remove Gel Top Coat From A Regular Nail Polish
A gel top coat can be removed from a regular nail polish by filing it off, by soaking nails in acetone, or by simply using a regular nail polish remover. It is quicker to file off a gel top coat than soaking it into acetone, so I recommend filing off a gel top coat and when you have hit your natural nails switch to buffing till it is completely off.
Conclusion
By way of concluding, yes you can use regular nail polish with gel top coat. It just needs extra time and precaution so if you are patient and if you follow all the steps explained in this blog post you will get it right. Please let me know in the comment section if you are going to try applying gel top coat on your regular nail polish. See you in the next blog post.