For an ideal manicure, it is not enough to apply the polish beautifully or design it - it is equally important to be able to prolong its original appearance as much as possible. For this purpose, at the final stage, a finishing coating is used, which is responsible for the durability of the manicure.
Nail top is a fixative varnish that performs several important functions:
- protects the colored layer from chips, cracks, fading, exposure to aggressive external environments (detergents, sunlight, chlorinated water, mechanical damage, etc.),
- bonds previous layers of varnish and ensures the durability of the manicure, gives strength to the composition,
- gives a visual effect (glossy, matte, neon),
- protects against yellowing,
- used to secure decorative and design elements.
Content
- How does a rubber top differ from a regular top?
- Which is better: with or without a sticky layer?
- How to properly apply rubber topcoat
- Review of rubber-based tops
- Flexible Top Gel In'Garden Ideal Nails
- Rubber top Premiere
- Bluesky Rubber top
- Patrisa-Nail Kautchuk Top
It is not surprising that progress does not stand still here, satisfying the most demanding demands of craftswomen. One of the latest discoveries was the rubber top (rubber top or kautschuk top) , which quickly gained popularity due to its unique properties. And here I propose to understand how a rubber-based topcoat differs from a regular one, how to apply it correctly to level the surface, and which topcoat is better - with or without a sticky layer. Well, at the end I’ll do a short review of my rubber finishes and tell you which ones I liked the most. Read a similar review about rubber bases for gel polish here.
How does a rubber top differ from a regular top?
The main difference is the presence of a rubber component in the composition of the top, which gives the material a thicker consistency and viscosity. Actually, this provides the key advantages of the finish:
- Easy to apply. In order to make an even coating, now even without experience you will not need much effort.
- Self-leveling . Beautiful and even highlights are much easier to achieve thanks to the thick base of the rubber topcoat.
- Does not turn yellow over time . This problem was typical for some top coats on white gel polish. The top with rubber does not give off yellowness over time.
- Durability and durability . Due to its elasticity and viscosity, the rubber top is less prone to cracking and chipping while wearing gel polish. Therefore, the coating lasts longer compared to a covered regular top.
- Bright shine . Over time, the shine does not fade and the coating always looks like new.
Among the disadvantages, we can note a slightly longer polymerization time in the lamp than a regular topcoat: for LED it is usually from 30 seconds to a minute, and for ultraviolet it is from 2 to 3 minutes. Well, their cost is also a little higher than the usual finish.
Best lists
We present to you some more great top options for your perfect manicure:
We will talk about each of them in the material below.
Glossy – Artex Artylac Top gel
Long-lasting finishing coat with ultra-bright shine. The gel perfectly preserves the integrity of all layers of the coating due to good adhesion and ensures long-lasting manicure wear.
| Volume (ml) | 15 |
| Sticky layer | No |
| Coating | gloss |
| Manufacturer country | Italy |
Price: 850 rub.
Velvet – ROXY Nail Collection, Velvet Top Coat
Apply a thin layer onto colored gel polish. The coating becomes matte (velvet) effect for up to 3-4 weeks. Protects against scratches and chips. It has a thick viscosity, fits perfectly in one layer, and goes with any colors.
| Volume (ml) | 10 |
| Sticky layer | No |
| Type of coverage | matte, corduroy |
| A country | Russia |
Price tag: 550 rub.
Matt – Lianail matte effect A Top 4-10
Gives the effect of a fantastically soft powdery coating on the nails. The consistency is slightly thicker than usual matte finishes, the texture is creamy, cloudy, self-leveling, suitable for creating designs. The brush is wide. No problems were noticed in wearing.
| Volume (ml) | 10 |
| Dispersion layer | There is |
| Coating | matte |
| Manufacturer | Russia |
Price range: 500 rub.
Which is better: with or without a sticky layer?
There is a lot of controversy about the effect of stickiness on the durability of a coating. In fact, the choice should be based on the condition of the nails and the materials used in the design. For example:
- If you are lucky and your nails are strong enough without any additional procedures, then you can save money and use a topcoat without a sticky layer: it will not chip or crack.
- If your nails are brittle, then a sticky top is recommended: it is more elastic and softer, and therefore more resistant to mechanical stress.
- When using rhinestones, bouillons, Pixie crystals and other small details in nail decoration, it is better to give preference to a topcoat without dispersion, since the sticky layer will be difficult to remove with a napkin without leaving lint on them.
- If you are making a three-dimensional design, then apply a topcoat with a sticky layer before creating a 3D design - this way it will stick better. Whether to cover the volume itself or not is all at your own peril and risk, but if you do this, then use a very thin layer and also finish with a dispersion layer.
In some cases, when removing the stickiness, the top may slightly lose its shine - pay attention to this when choosing a brand.
How to properly apply rubber topcoat
There are not many differences in applying a leveling top and a regular one:
- Upon completion of the procedure of covering the nails with gel polish and, if desired, design, apply a thin layer of the finish. Don't forget to seal the nail from the end.
- In some cases, it is better to apply two such layers of topcoat, for example, when rubbing in pigment or flakes.
- When applying, place the brush parallel to the nail and move from the middle, distributing the material to the cuticle and side ridges. Next, leave the top in the air for a while so that it can level out. Then we check whether the highlight is even, and if necessary, use the tip of the brush to pull the material to the right place. You can turn the nail over and look at the arch in profile. When everything is perfect, we send it to dry.
- The rubber top is quite thick, so it rarely drips, but if this does happen, we remove the drips before drying using an orange stick.
- Do not apply the top coat too thickly - in this case it will flow and bake in the lamp, and may not dry out.
Rubber base Fiore
Bottle volume – 8 ml.
My latest purchase, which deserves all 5 stars. The consistency of the base is medium thick. You can apply it to two nails at the same time before drying (and if you practice, then all four), and it will not spread during this time. The base is plastic and can be safely used to straighten nails before applying gel polish. Then you should apply it in two layers: one thin, the second slightly thicker - leveling.
The Fiore base brush is of medium width, flat and long, conveniently opening into a fan at the cuticle.
This is the highlight I get with this rubber base on my nails without additional leveling:
As for wearability, I can easily wear it for two weeks, and after that I don’t wear gel polish, since there are always a lot of new products waiting for their turn to review!
As you can see, all the bases give a fairly even highlight. However, it is worth considering that my nails do not have large uneven spots, so I do not need much effort to straighten them.
That's all, if you have used another rubber base company, write your reviews and observations in the comments. I'd be glad to hear your opinion. Bye bye!
Bases can be purchased in stores:
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Source
Review of rubber-based tops
I have four rubber topcoats that I have used in my work: In'Garden Ideal Nails, Premiere, Bluesky and Patrisa-Nail - I propose to consider them further.
Flexible Top Gel In'Garden Ideal Nails
Leveling top for gel polish “Perfect nails”. I have a large 30 ml jar, like bases - it’s economical, but not very convenient: you need to select a brush and often the material remains on the neck of the bottle and dries out, so I just pour it into an empty bottle from a used top coat, the brush of which I’m already used to using.
The top is very thick, so it spreads a little tight even on the nail, but it self-levels well, so you need to leave it in the air a little before drying. However, I do this with all tops.
Polymerizes in an ultraviolet lamp for 2 minutes, in an LED lamp for 60 seconds. Result of application over gel polish:
Rubber top Premiere
Bottle volume – 8 ml.
This is a budget brand (my review of gel polishes), and, accordingly, the top one too. However, I consider its quality to be quite worthy: it is viscous and elastic, moderately thick, with a comfortable flat brush of medium thickness - everything that an ordinary user needs to create a long-term coating at home. Only the label keeps coming off the bottle - very annoying!
And here’s the highlight the top coat of gel polish gives:
Bluesky Rubber top
Volume – 10ml
This is one of the most beloved and popular brands among gel polishes. However, in my collection of rubber tops it is an outsider. Firstly, due to the lack of information about the manufacturer, expiration date and composition on the bottle (Premiere, although the label barely holds on, has all this), which I consider a very important indicator of quality.
Well, secondly, it is the most liquid of these four top coats. The brush is good: medium width and flat, just a little thicker than Premiere. Result of application over gel polish:
Rubber base Premiere
Bottle volume – 8 ml.
I have written a lot about this brand. It is distinguished by its budget price, because of this, some may feel that the quality suffers. Yes, the label on the bottle tends to peel off, but I don’t think that because of this it’s not worthy of attention.
The base here is the thinnest of all in this review, but it is still a little thicker than usual. The brush is flat, synthetic and long. I liked it the most when applying it.
Since I have had this base for a long time, I noticed that it curls up a little and thickens on the brush. Apparently my bottle was not tightly closed. Therefore, take care of your materials and handle them carefully!
