As any nail tech worth their salt will tell you, the secret to achieving the best results for your clients is preparation, preparation, preparation. Get the basics right and your client’s mani will both look fantastic and be long-lasting. Out of all those basics, there’s one in particular that will help you achieve this – using a quality base coat.
Read on to discover Salon Direct’s recommendations for the best base coats for all nail techs.
The importance of using a good base coat
Softening and trimming the cuticles, lightly buffing the nail bed, shaping the top of the nail, these are all important elements in achieving the best manicure for your client. A good base coat is the ‘cherry on top’ of this preparation process. But, what exactly is a base coat? And what benefits will applying one provide? Keep reading to find out…
What is a base coat?
At a quick glance, a base coat helps the gel polish to stick to your client’s nails; without this crucial step the gel polish system won’t work. But, taking a more in-depth look, a base coat does much more. A base coat also creates a barrier that helps protect your client’s nails from the potentially damaging effects of nail polish. Staining and peeling are just some of the things that can be avoided if you use a good base coat.
Not only can base coats protect nails, but they can nourish them too. Many base coats on the market are fortified with substances such as protein, calcium and vitamin E. These help to keep nails healthy and prevent breaking and splitting.
Base coats can be used for any type of manicure, but they are particularly good for those manis where you’re going to be applying dark, bright, glittery or generally very pigmented nail varnish.
So, it certainly pays to invest in quality base coats. Your clients will thank you for it!
What types of base coats are there?
There are two main types of base coat available – basic base coats which simply provide a base for the nail polish, and ridge-filler base coats which fill in any lines, ridges and grooves to give your client’s nails a smoother looking appearance. Think of ridge-filler base coats as a kind of ‘foundation’ for nails.
Note – If you have any clients who have allergies or sensitivities towards nail polish, you should be careful about using a base coat on their nails. This is because base coats tend to have a higher resin content (which is what causes irritation) than regular nail polish.
What are base coats made of?
As the point above highlights, some of your clients may want to know what formulation the base coat contains (especially if they have a history of allergies).
The exact formulation will vary depending on what base coat you buy, but in general a base coat will contain a mixture of chemicals including solvents, plasticizers, cellulose chemicals, resin, as well as substances that will nourish the nail such as protein, vitamin E and calcium.
As you will see in our list below, there are base coats available which have been specially formulated to avoid solvents, plasticizers and other similar ingredients.
Are base coats the same as top coats?
No! Base coats have a completely different formulation than top coats and are designed for very different purposes.
As we’ve discussed above, base coats are meant as a ‘primer’ or adhesive on which nail polish is then applied, whereas top coats are used to create a shiny, hard surface to protect the nail polish. It pays to invest in both base costs and top coats to include in your mani kit.
Now that we’ve covered what base coats are and the benefits of using them, let’s take a look at five of the best base coats for all nail techs that are available at Salon Direct right now.
NSI Essentials Base Coat 15ml
Nail Systems International (NSI) has been producing nail products for over half a century – and it shows!
Their Essentials Base Coat is a staple in many salons, and for good reason. Containing a LED and UV curable gel base, NSI’s Essentials Base Coat can be cured in any full hand LED and UV lamp, eliminating long dry times. Perfect for when you’re looking to increase the number of bookings you’re able to make throughout the day.
This base coat also offers exceptional adhesion, covalently bonding to the natural nail and the product. So, it’s a fantastic base coat for when you’re doing a particularly ambitious manicure.
(Pictured: NSI Essentials Base Coat 15ml).
Gellux Cover Pink Base Coat 15ml
The Gellux Cover Pink Base Coat is a brilliant all-rounder, able to add strength to nails, conceal damaged or discoloured nails, and fill ridges in nail beds. If you’re looking for a base coat that can do it all, then you’ve just found it.
As well as being able to repair and protect, the Gellux Cover Pink Base Coat can even be worn on its own for those days when your client would rather have a natural look to their nails.
(Pictured: Gellux Cover Pink Base Coat 15ml).
Gelover Under Cover Base Coat Gel Polish 15ml
For when you have a client who’s passionate about the environment, there’s the Gelover Under Cover Base Coat Gel Polish. It’s produced by The Edge Nails who go beyond the call of beauty to create nail products that are environmentally and animal friendly.Completely solvent free, this base coat is not just kinder on the environment, but is also great for encouraging strong and healthy nail growth. The Gelover Under Cover Base Coat Gel Polish is also notable for what it doesn’t include. You’ll not find Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalatae, or Camphor in this base coat!
(Pictured: Gelover Under Cover Base Coat Gel Polish 15ml).
Halo Gel Polish Base Coat 8ml
Vegan, cruelty free, fast curing, chip-resistant, Halo’s Gel Polish Base Coat ticks all the boxes.
Halo have specially designed this base coat for nail techs, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Delivering chip-resistant results that last for up to 14 days, this base coat can be UV and LED cured and is also removed easily, causing zero damage to the natural nail.
(Pictured: Halo Gel Polish Base Coat 8ml).
Glossify Basic Base Coat 15ml Gel Polish
A rapidly growing brand, Glossify has taken the nail and beauty worlds by storm, creating beautiful, well-thought out nail products.
Glossify’s strapline is ‘For nail techs, by nail techs’ which is why products like their Basic Base Coat are becoming a mainstay in salons across the UK and beyond. This base coat is vegan friendly, cruelty free, LED and UV curable, with each bottle able to achieve up to 65 sets. So, it’s great value as well as being high quality.
(Pictured: Glossify Basic Base Coat 15ml Gel Polish).
Those are five of our favourite base coats for all nail techs at Salon Direct. But these are just the highlights of our collection….
Shop the complete range of base coats at Salons Direct with FREE delivery on orders over £75.
Keep reading on the Salons Direct blog…
Do Acrylics Damage Nails? The Signs to Look Out For In Your Clients
How Much Do You Know About Builder Gels?
The Best Gel Nail Polish Removal Products for Salons
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