Which does nail strengthener go first – base coat or nail polish? And which is the most effective for strengthening and lengthening healthy, strong nails? Best Nail Strengthener & Base Coat. The secret to long, healthy, strong nails is a combination of nail strengthener & nail polish – a super nail protectant!
We all have natural nail growth and bumps that occur over time. These are called “nails curls” and are actually tiny, often invisible, fibers that grow out of our natural nail beds (keratin).
These curls are actually a protein – keratin is a major component of nails and is responsible for their strength, hardness, and thickness. Our nails are protected by a thin layer of nacre (nails glue) and a thin layer of acrylics (clear coating).
When exposed to heat, chemicals, water, and air, the acrylics break down and start to look fuzzy, and cupped – sort of like an onion with its layers getting crumbly and softer.
What is a Nail Strengthener the Same As a Base Coat?
To understand whether a nail strengthener is the same as a base coat, you need to understand what the purpose of nail polish is. Nail polish is designed to protect your nails from becoming dull and discolored. It also acts to make the nails stronger, by adding extra bonding agent.
The nail polish you buy has a base coat, as well as several layers of thinner and thicker coats of nail polish in various thicknesses. The thicker coats of nail polish are necessary because they prevent the base coat from cracking under pressure, which could damage the nail and chip it.
The way in which a nail strengthener helps your nails to look better depends largely on whether it contains acrylic or nitric oxide. Acrylic nail strengtheners often have tiny beads within them, which are supposed to pull the discolored spots away from the nail’s surface.
Some products also include resins that create a “base” coat on the nails, while the nail polish helps the nails stay looking their best. When buying a nail strengthener, be sure to purchase one that contains both acrylic and nitric oxide.
When you apply the nail strengthener, it will go on much like a nail polish. However, since it is thinner and doesn’t contain any additives, it is easier for the product to adhere to nails without clumping.
Once the product has been applied, it will take about 20 minutes before it becomes fully absorbed into the nail. After this time, your nails should be clearer and you will be able to see the product’s effect.
Can You Use Nail Strengthener As A Base Coat?
You may be wondering if you can use nail polish as a base coat for your nails. Before we answer that question, let’s first discuss why you should not use nail polish to strengthen your nails. First of all, there are two types of nail polish: those that are oil-based and those that are water-based.
When you use nail polish that is oil-based, it will stick onto your nails and you will need to constantly re-apply them to keep them looking clean and shiny.
On the other hand, when you use nail polish that is water-based, it will wipe right off your nails and you won’t have to worry about reapplying it.
So if you decide that you don’t want to apply the nail polish as a base coat, what can you do instead? You can apply a natural nail pigment to your nails. This is usually made from acrylic paint or liquid acrylic.
The only problem with this type of natural nail pigment is that it tends to change colors, especially when exposed to air. So if you decide to use acrylic paint as a way to paint your nails, make sure to put it on a coat only after it has cured completely.
So that you can see if oil-based or water-based nail polish will work for your nails, you can apply nail strengthener to both sides of your nails. To make your nails stronger, just rub nail strengthener between your nail tips before putting on your base coat.
How Do I Prepare My Nails For Basing Coat?
If you are like me, you are always asking yourself, “How do I prepare my nails for base coat? I am going to paint my nails but the polish on my nails looks terrible.
Can I just wear some regular nail polish to help them look good before painting?” Believe me, I know what your thinking because most people who are painting their nails will not even consider getting a base coat of any kind.
Painting your nails for the first time and base coat is actually quite easy. If you are having an oil based nail varnish applied to your nails, you will have no problems applying a base coat of polish.
You can purchase nail polish at a local nail salon or even pharmacy stores. When applying the nail polish, use the same circular motion you would use when you paint your nails.
It is a good idea to let your nails dry for at least 24 hours prior to painting your nails. During this time, your nails will dry up and look much nicer.
The longer you allow your nails to dry, the better they will look. Your nails will be much nicer and your painted nails will last longer with a properly prepared base coat.
Is Nail Strengthener Better Than Base Coat?
Are you asking the question “is nail strengthener better than base coat”? There is a big debate about whether a nail strengthener is needed if you have strong nails already.
It is true that when you have very long nails and just want them to become stronger, applying a nail strengthener such as acrylic one will definitely help.
However, if you are like me and your nails are already pretty much long and brittle then applying a base coat to them might be a better idea. You will still be able to enjoy the beauty of your nails, but your nails will not get damaged by the harsh treatment of a nail strengthener.
Nail protectors can also be used to make nails stronger, although I prefer natural products to prevent damage to my nails without damaging my cuticles. For example, one of the best products out there to strengthen nails is called Manuka honey.
It has been used for hundreds of years to strengthen hair and to make skin stronger, without breaking the fibers. Nowadays, this product can be applied without damaging nails and it will remain effective even if your nails become weaker due to frequent washing.
Some people would also ask is nail polish remover safer than other products? Well, I have to say that while it might seem safer because it does not cause damage to cuticles and to the nails themselves, you should still use the proper cleaning techniques before applying it.
The best nail strengtheners will either be used alone as a protection layer for your nail polish or as a base coat to your nail polish, which will strengthen your nails and you can still party with those glittery nails as well.
Does Nail Strengthener Go Before Base Coat?
A lot of people are wondering does nail strengthener go before the base coat. This is a good question and the answer is yes. The base coat actually goes on before your nail polish because the glue that is used when painting the nails will seal the base coat which helps to keep it strong.
You need to be very careful when applying the glue because you do not want any glue on your nails. When you apply the glue, allow it to dry completely on your nails then you can use nail polish to cover it.
If you are using acrylic nails, you need to make sure that the glue is allowed to dry thoroughly as well because if it is not then it will create bubbles under your nails and this is very unattractive.
You can find nail strengthener in the salon and you can also find many different brands and types. Some of them will work better than others and some of them have stronger glue which means they will work better.
Conclusion
In the end it really depends on what type of nails you have. For example, if you have thick, coarse nails then probably nail strengthener isn’t for you because it will take quite a while to get the effect of the glue under the nail and it will make your nails brittle.
However, if your nails are short and you have medium length nails then you may want to give it a try. If you have thin, delicate nails then I wouldn’t recommend it because it will damage the nail and it will also take a long time to dry so it won’t provide any protection.
