Do You Really Need A Base & Top Coat? Nail Pros Explain

Though choosing a colorful polish is the most exciting part of doing your nails, it’s not the only bottle you should be using. But do base and top coats work? Although they’re transparent and you can’t really see what either are doing, experts say both products are key to a better manicure. There’s a reason why salon technicians always use both a base and top coat on your nails — each special polish plays a specific role. The main purpose of both is basically to protect your nails, although they each do so in different ways. “You should always use both,” says Dr. Dana Stern, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in nail health. “Base coats are formulated to adhere to the nail plate as well as to hold onto the polish. Top coats are an entirely different formula and tend to contain more nitrocellulose and plasticizers for gloss, flexibility, and scratch resistance.”According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kavita Mariwalla, M.D., it’s more important to wear a base co...