A manicure with a beautiful highlight is the dream of any fashionista. You can achieve this effect using a top coat of gel polish. In addition to the aesthetic effect, it copes with the function of protecting the manicure from damage. However, when choosing a top, you need to take into account not only the design idea, but also its characteristics. Only a high-quality coating will keep your manicure in its original form for a long time. Together with an expert, we figure out how to choose the best top coat for gel polish in 2022.
Gel polish with reflective particles
Reflective gel polish is new for 2022. Its popularity is only gaining momentum. And no wonder - this shine cannot leave any girl indifferent! Be one of the first to get this type of coverage for yourself. From this article you will learn about the types of gel polish with reflective particles, how to apply it correctly, and also see what designs artists are already offering using it.
The composition of reflective gel polish includes special particles that give an incredible sticky glow, BUT only under artificial lighting: under a lamp or with the flash of a phone and camera. It’s better to know about this right away so as not to be disappointed when the coating doesn’t look the same as in the photo on the Internet. Know that all this shine is only possible under artificial light. Don't be upset: at home in the evenings you definitely won't be able to take your eyes off your nails!
In daylight, this gel polish gives the effect of fine holographic sand, which shines quite normally. All the magic happens when your nails are exposed to light or sun. I'm sure it will be a hit this summer!
For comparison, this is what gel polish looks like in daylight and in artificial light:
The choice of reflective gel polishes, unfortunately, is not yet so large, but I think that other manufacturers will soon catch up, and by summer we will definitely have plenty to choose from to create radiant magic on our nails!
And also a little life hack on how you can expand the color palette of shimmering gel polishes: use a colored base! Since glitter gel polishes themselves are translucent, when applied to colored gel polish they acquire its shade. So it will be enough for you to buy 1-2 bottles of glowing gel polish and use a base of a different color under it.
The best tops without drugs (no wipe)
Tops without dispersion appeared not so long ago, but they became quite popular due to their qualities. BLS tops are suitable for strong and healthy nails. Let's look at the tops and their manufacturers:
- Bluesky Rubber Top (China). Glossy and matte topcoats are available, the price is reasonable, the quality is good, it can be combined with different gel polishes;
- TNL Rubber Top (Korea). Rubber fixer for gel polish, a wide selection of matte and glossy topcoats with a convenient brush, allows you to apply the entire composition in one motion;
- Grattol (Germany), top rubber Rubber Top Good protection against damage, dries quickly, average prices. There is a finish from the Crystal collection with a cat's eye effect, from the Galaxy collection with a chic chameleon effect;
- Irisk (Russia) top rubber, Rubber Budget top for creating spectacular decors with neon and holographic effects. The thick finish is easy to apply with a convenient wide brush;
- Patrisa Nail (Russia) Silicone Top. A large selection of tops with a “cat’s eye” effect that aligns the plates well due to the elasticity of the composition;
- Rio Profi (Russia) Super Robust Silicon Thick silicone top, suitable for slider design, does not spread, dries quickly, has an impressive glossy shine;
- Uno (Hong Kong) Super Shine or Matte There is a choice of matte and glossy topcoats, long service life. Chic glossy shine, easy to apply, there is a top with an interesting gradient and fashionable colors;
- Runail professional Indi laque (Russia). An inexpensive finish with a convenient brush that does not fade and protects against damage. Very durable, with a glossy shine, does not flake, inexpensive, economical.
Important. After drying in a lamp, BLS topcoats immediately acquire a glossy shine and are free of stickiness.
How to properly apply reflective gel polish
In general, this gel polish in terms of the coating creation technique is not much different from applying any other colored gel polish. It does not require special substrates or magnets. Therefore, we work according to the scheme:
Next, we’ll look at what types of reflective gel polish there are.
1 – Reflective cat eye
Some manufacturers have gone further and have already developed a magnetic reflective coating. Although, in my opinion, in the picture the differences between them are barely perceptible. But when applying it, you still need to magnetize it and some of the shine will be lost.
2 – Reflective pigments
Last year there was an attempt to create a similar effect using pigments that included reflective particles. These pigments also create shine under light. But they are a little difficult to apply, which is why they have not gained the popularity that glowing gel polishes have already gained. To achieve a shimmer effect using pigments:
3 – Or you can do it yourself
A similar effect can be achieved by mixing glitter powder, fine shimmer or reflective pigment with top coat or colored gel polish. Try it if you can’t find such gel polishes for sale in your city, and the wait is long from the online store.
Note. Reflective gel polish and one that glows in the dark are not the same thing. The second contains fluorescent particles.
Pros of tops with LS
However, experts prefer drug tops with an adhesive layer; let’s consider their advantages:
- elastic, suitable for thin, brittle nails;
- a thick finish with a sticky layer effectively eliminates defects and unevenness of the nail plate;
- any complex design, various decorations that occupy a large area of the plate are securely fixed with an adhesive layer, and chips and cracks are prevented;
- rhinestones and voluminous decorations also require a finish with a sticky layer to firmly adhere to the surface. Moreover, it is simply impossible to remove the sticky film among such decorations.
Design with reflective gel polish
Most of the time, such a bright shine on the nails is enough to amaze everyone with a shining effect. But masters can’t just pass by without coming up with ideas for using it in design. Let's see what's already popular on Instagram.
Haven't you run out to buy it yet? I have already:)
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Source
⑤BORN PRETTY AXP42869
Rating: 4.8 Price: from 46.63 rub.
up to
208.83 rub.
Go to the store The main feature of this product is the matte nude shades of gel polishes. The brand is known in the market and is available in 40 colors. Available in small 6 ml bottles. The top and base are of good quality, the manicure lasts a long time without chipping or damage. After application, the varnish can be dried in an ultraviolet, LED lamp or mixed type lamp.
Advantages:
- low cost;
- bright saturated colors;
- good pigmentation;
- large palette of shades;
- persistent;
- convenient to apply.
Flaws:
- When drying in a lamp, the varnish layer may be damaged.
Buy on AliExpress.com
Reflective gel polish: what is it?
Manicure fashion has taken another turn, showing us a new product for 2021 - reflective gel polish. In fact, the coating, the popularity and demand of which is rapidly gaining momentum, is already familiar to the fair half of humanity. Most recently, nail service specialists shared step-by-step technology for handling reflective pigments. Shellac with similar characteristics has become a more convenient, easier, faster and more spectacular way to create a manicure, the multifaceted beauty of which captivates hearts and eyes both in daylight and in artificial light.
The incredible popularity of coatings with a light reflection effect among artists and their clients is due to the multifunctional nature of these gel polishes. What does the concept of “reflective gel polish” mean? This durable polymer material is based on the unity of a translucent, colored stained glass base and reflective particles. Therefore, depending on the pigment saturation, gel polish can be used as a decorative top, as an independent coating and as a product for painting nails. The uniqueness of this shellac is that, unlike pigment and glitter, the brightness of the glow is not dulled when the design is covered with a correctly chosen topcoat. Reflective gel polishes are often confused with luminescent and mirror ones. However, the nature of all these products is completely different.
Colored pigments, rubs and iridescent gel polishes with luminescent properties glow only under ultraviolet rays and have acidic, saturated colors. In everyday life, they are simply bright bulk or liquid decor. Mirror gel polish (or dust), if you know how to use it correctly, impresses with the fantastic extra-gloss characteristic of liquid amalgam. Laser, or as it is also called, hanbi gel varnish, has completely different properties, characteristics and principle of operation. A breathtaking glitter gel that leaves no manicure fairy indifferent, in natural light and bright sun it looks like an ordinary medium-density shimmer gel polish, the color of which seems to be dusted with ash. Such elegant, dusty shades with a twist beautifully shimmer with the scattered holography of fine shiny sand, making them look very organic on the hands both in an office look and in a more sophisticated manicure. Comparative photos of what gel polish looks like in daylight and in artificial light suggest that you are looking at two completely different products.
Photo by: @inga_nogtik
To understand how reflective gel nail polish works, you need to know what exactly brings out its brilliant shine. The texture of the coating contains special glass hemispherical particles with many edges, which refract bright direct light several times and return it at the same angle. Reflected and amplified light is the basis of the glow principle of a new type of shellac. A camera flash, a phone flashlight, a bright artificial lamp are the source of the magical charm of reflective nails manicure and pedicure. The glow will be more dazzling and powerful the darker it is around the marigolds themselves. Therefore, nail art with reflective gel polishes is simply created to sparkle on the dance floor under the rays of a strobe light or become your diamonds on your hands on a summer night! There are a lot of ways to create shining magic for nails, both for experienced pros and for beginners. Which one to choose and prefer depends only on the amount of time you have and the effect (or several effects) that your model wants to show off on her nails. Let's take a closer look at the types of dry and liquid reflective artificial diamonds.
Photo by: @alenahoncharova
① Rosalind Nail Gel
Rating: 4.8 Price: 65.02 rub.
Go to store An excellent budget option for those who prefer to do manicures at home. Packaged in a small white opaque jar with a volume of 7 ml. The basic color gel comes with a base and top coat without a sticky coating. This type of top has a liquid texture and is suitable for those with strong, unbreakable nails. A wide range of gel polish colors is represented by 29 shades. Can be dried with both UV and LED lamps.
Advantages:
- low price;
- saturated color;
- wide range of shades;
- lasts at least two weeks;
- dries quickly;
- top
Flaws:
- the actual volume is less than the declared 7 ml.
- small, inconvenient brush for application.
Buy on AliExpress.com
How to apply reflective gel polish correctly and why doesn’t it glow?
The technology for using this material depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations and is determined by the degree of saturation of the original product. Reflective varnishes do not require ideal nail architecture. But for everyday wear, they still look more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing when the nail plate has no defects or flaws (corrected with medicinal, reinforcing, camouflage bases or with the help of polygels). Otherwise, the step-by-step technique for performing a manicure or pedicure with their participation is practically no different from the classic gel polish. The only point worth paying attention to is that when laying out, you need to try to apply both the gel polish and the top coat in one layer of optimal thickness. With two coats of paint, the effect may no longer be so expressive, bright and sensitive to the contrast of artificial light and dark surroundings.
What to do if the work technique is fully followed, but the reflective gel polish does not sparkle? As a rule, the reasons lie either in the wrong choice of top or in its application in principle. It is not recommended to cover sparkling new items with a matte top, as they absorb the shine and shine of even the brightest and most glitter-rich gel polishes. If you have chosen shellac, which already includes a top coat, you should not use an additional fixer. The finish may distort or completely “eat” the reflective effect.
Photo by: @yanna_rahimova/@alenahoncharova
Why choose tops without drugs?
Advantages of the BLS top without a sticky layer:
- convenient to apply;
- saves time;
- material consumption is reduced;
- The drug is easily removed if necessary.
Considering such advantages, it is possible - why do we need tops with a sticky layer, because there are strict requirements for use.
Shellac CND Top Coat (USA)
