Best Non Toxic Nail Salon in Houston

A recent self-directed study from Global Nail Inc. found that on average, a woman spends upwards of 4 hours per manicure. These hours and thousands of dollars go to establishing a base coat, which is a coat that is applied throughout the manicure to prevent damage caused by polish peeling or chipping. And while some may argue that a base coat is only worth the time, it’s important to know that just because a polish has a base coat on, it doesn’t mean it will last. A base coat isn’t an item that anyone can just pick up and start using as their everyday manicure.

The base coat is a 3- to 4-minute job, and it happens at a minimum before you use your top coat, says Melanie Costa, a professional manicurist with Schwarzkopf NailCare for Cuticle Beauty. By applying it, you’re applying armor to your manicure. The base coat will strengthen the base and polish itself, making you more confident when you walk out of the salon.

While some say that a base coat can only be used in NailTechs and like to start with Essie Nail Lacquer Base Coat ($8.25) — a base coat that costs $3.94 at the salon — in order to protect your manicure, you’ll want to use a complementary base coat to help hold the polish, like NANOPRO. It’s relatively cheap, as well, costing only $1.49 at the salon.

However, in the event that you’re creating a mark on your manicure, such as the the permanent skin mark left on many women by polishes (especially stilettos), it’s important to follow any instructions given by your manicurist. “Since the color will be fading quicker with the use of polish remover, it’s preferable to apply the base coat while you’re still in the salon or after your manicure has dried to the bare metal surface,” writes Marie Siby, owner of Le Petit Faubourg nail salon in London.

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And while you’re at it, let your manicurist know what kind of nail polish is used in your manicure, as some salon manicurists have their own preferences and brands, and everyone likes the same thing.

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