Want a Salon-Quality Mani for Less? These Are the Best Base Coats to Prep Your Nails for Polish (2024)

Doing your nails can feel like a tedious task—between filing, manicuring your cuticles, and waiting for your polish to dry, you may be tempted to cut some corners to speed things up. While a base coat might seem like something you can skip when painting your nails at home, we spoke to some experts who say it's a must.

"A base coat is the foundation of any manicure application; it creates a sticky layer for your nail lacquer to adhere to," explains nail artist Christine Doan of Gloss House. But that's not all. Nadine Abramcyk, nailcare expert and the co-founder of Ten Over Ten, tells Byrdie: "A base coat provides a smooth canvas for a salon-worthy manicure from home. It also helps keep your polish durable and prevents it from peeling or chipping."

Clearly, there’s a lot to look into when picking out the best base coat. So we conducted hours of research, evaluating them on price, benefits, reviews, and overall value. After consulting with our experts and considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated choices for your next touch-up.

Our Top Picks

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What We Like

  • Hardening

  • Nourishing

  • Prevents breakage

What to Consider

  • Product takes a little while to dry

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our number one pick is NailKale from Nails Inc. As the name suggests, it contains kale—yep, the leafy green superfood—and keratin to strengthen brittle nails and prevent breakage.

The all-star formula is a great option for people with short, brittle nails looking for a boost in growth and strength. This product also promises to harden, hydrate, and nourish your nail beds, leaving nails brighter and healthier-looking with a brilliantly glossy finish. Your nails will look so good that it's almost a shame this base coat will be covered with regular lacquer.

What We Like

  • Budget-friendly

  • Dries quickly

  • Doubles as top coat

What to Consider

  • Has a thick formula

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No

If you're on a budget and are the ultimate multitasker, go with this affordable two-in-one formula from Sally Hansen. It doubles as a base coat and top coat, smooths your nail beds, dries quickly, and provides a hardening effect. You'll even be able to forgo touch-ups because the formula is so long-lasting.

What We Like

  • Primes nail beds for long-lasting polish

  • Hydrating

  • Budget-friendly

What to Consider

  • Consistency changes quickly

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No

Essie's cheekily named First Base is a go-to for low-maintenance individuals who prefer a well-kempt mani. The rubberized formula primes your nail beds, adheres to nail polish, and helps your DIY mani last as long as possible for a no-fuss manicure. Formulated with hydrating argan oil, this base coat also doubles as a high-gloss top coat. Regardless of how you choose to use it, your mani will look and feel stronger with each application.

What We Like

  • Luxuriously primes nail beds

  • Long-lasting

  • Light-protected bottle

What to Consider

  • Unavailable in major retailers


Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Translucent white | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The price tag on this base coat is a bit high, but if you like the high-end stuff, you won't be disappointed. This vanity-worthy bottle is filled with a smoothing, protective formula that promises to extend the life of your manicure—and the translucent white finish is pretty on its own.

What We Like

  • Fills in ridges

  • Expert-recommended

  • Prevents discoloration

What to Consider

  • Can be drying

Size: 0.4 oz | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This base coat is a standout. Not only does it boast a matte finish, but it also layers on a protective shield that helps fill in ridges and prevent nail stains. "Ridge fillers can help even out the texture of your nails," says Doan, who's partial to Butter London. "The brand is clean, which is especially good since the base coat is the closest to your nail beds." We recommend this pick to people who prioritize a base coat that is 10-free (made without 10 of the most common chemicals).

What We Like

  • Hardens nails

  • Primes nail beds

  • Prevents chipping

What to Consider

  • Takes a while to dry

Size: 0.4 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We also love Londontown Kur. Formulated with weak, brittle nails in mind, this hardening base coat helps create a durable canvas that bonds to the lacquer, extends its wear time, and prevents breakage. Amazon reviewers can’t get enough of this base coat, with many sharing that it keeps their manicure as fresh and chip-free as the first day of application.

What We Like

  • Strengthens nails while preventing cracks

  • Prevents cracks

  • Smoothes ridges

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For some consumers, the idea of all-natural, vegan nail polish may sound less than effective. But this strengthening base coat from Tenoverten proves the naysayers wrong thanks to its shiny, ridge-filling benefits. "The Foundation is a great everyday base coat," says Abramcyk. "It's perfect for prolonging your polish and preventing cracks and ridges." This muted-pink pick looks great on its own but works well as a strengthening base too.

What We Like

  • Primes nail beds with hydrating ingredients

  • Color-correcting

  • Strengthening

What to Consider

  • Bottle is unprotected from light

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When your nails crave nourishment, reach for Deborah Lippmann's All About That Base. This color-correcting formula conceals blemishes, then hydrates, strengthens, and primes your nail beds so they're ready for polish. You can thank the formula's hydrating complex with panthenol for these benefits. For those who prefer a matte finish over a shiny one, this base coat is for you.

What We Like

  • Long-lasting because it bonds to polish

  • Prevents chipping

  • Dries tacky

What to Consider

  • Some reviewers note it yellowed their nails

Size: 0.6 oz | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Formulated with rubberized resin, this base coat bonds to your polish to give it the best shot at longevity. It dries a bit tacky, but this is what gives the nail lacquer something to hold on to. People who struggle with keeping their mani chip-free will fall in love with this pick, which customers report helps their polish stay flawless for at least a week.

What We Like

  • Prevents discoloration

  • Protective

  • Long-lasting

What to Consider

  • Brush sometimes pops out

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

To keep that dreaded yellow tint at bay, go with OPI. This base coat is designed to prevent highly pigmented colors from staining your nail beds while providing an adhesive foundation for your polish. When it comes to classics, this pick from OPI is hard to beat due to its quick dry time and anti-yellowing results. It’s the perfect base coat for people with stained nail beds.

Best for Damaged Nails

Côte Base Coat

Want a Salon-Quality Mani for Less? These Are the Best Base Coats to Prep Your Nails for Polish (11)

What We Like

  • Strengthens and prevents breakage

  • Smoothing

  • Primes nail beds

What to Consider

  • Bottle is unprotected from light

Size: 0.4 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Damaged nails? Côte is your best bet. After smoothing your nail beds, this reparative base coat calls on calcium to strengthen, protect, and prevent future breakage. This essential is a mani mainstay for those who put “strength and repair” at the top of their wish list.

What We Like

  • Two-for-one

  • Dries fast

  • Fills ridges and creates even base

What to Consider

  • Can be thick

Size: 0.45 oz | Finish: Soft | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Looking for the perfect combo to help you achieve flawless nails at home every time? This set from Ella + Mila works in tandem to create a nice, smooth surface for polish. All you have to do is apply one coat of the fast-drying base coat, apply your polish, and then finish everything off with the top coat.Healthier, stronger nails are the name of the game—and this duo is the winner.

What We Like

  • Lengthens the life of a gel manicure

  • Strengthening

  • Goes on smoothly

What to Consider

  • Consistency changes quickly

Size: 0.51 oz | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This base gel from Beetles is made with an acid-free formula that helps improve coloring, prevents peeling, and smooths the nail surface. The brand claims its base coat, which is best described as tacky, helps gel manicures last around three weeks. This pick is for those who prefer gel manis over natural nails. It’s as easy as brushing on the base coat and turning on your UV nail lamp to lock in the mattifying effect, pre-lacquer.

What We Like

  • Dries quickly

  • Creates a smooth surface

  • Long-lasting

What to Consider

  • Can get clumpy

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: High shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nobody likes chipped nail polish—and luckily, this pick from Revlon helps avoid that altogether. This base coat is not only long-lasting (it can help maintain your mani for up to a week) but is also free of ingredients such as formaldehyde, toluene, and more.

What We Like

  • No harmful chemicals

  • Prevents yellowing

  • Long-lasting

What to Consider

  • Not ideal if you prefer your base and top coats separately

Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Matte or Shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This 100% nontoxic, vegan, formaldehyde-free pick from Kapa Nui Nails provides your nail polish color with two to three times more chip resistance for a long-lasting look you can feel good about—both when it comes to your nail health and the environment. This two-in-one base and top coat work overtime, making it the perfect pick for those looking to repair their nails after years of exposing them to toxic formulas.

What to Look for When Buying a Base Coat

  • Ingredients: The main feature to look out for when buying a base coat is the nail-caring ingredients it contains. If you have weak, brittle, or peeling nails or are coming off of many gel polish manicures, look for a base coat with ingredients, such as keratin, vitamin E, soy protein, calcium, bamboo, and castor oil.
  • Type of formula: For those who prefer a one-and-done nail product, be sure to reach for a dual top and base coat. These are formulated specifically to prep the nail and seal in a colored mani.
  • What you are applying afterward: Are you going in with a classic colored nail polish or hoping to keep the nail bare? This should guide your base coat product choice. If you’re keeping things bare, go for a milky, slightly opaque option to give the nail an even, healthy appearance.

FAQ

  • Why use a base coat with regular polish?

    According to Australian-based mobile manicure service Purely Polished, a base coat is an essential step in any DIY or professional normal polish manicure because it smooths the nail, provides nourishment, and protects against staining. In some instances, base coats act as a primer, too, giving the polish something to hold on to.

  • Can you use a base coat as a top coat?

    Some base coats are designed to simply prime and nourish the nail, in which case, a separate long-wearing, high gloss top coat should probably be used. But there are a lot of two-in-one formulas on the market that are ideal for both prepping the nail and sealing in color.

  • Can you use a base coat with dip powder?

    According to the team at Purely Polished, dip powder should be used in conjunction with the specific matching bonding agent. These are slightly different from regular base coats as they give the powder something to grip.

  • Do you need a base coat for gel polish?

    Similar to the above, gel polish should also be used with a specific gel base coat. If you apply a separate base coat to the bare nail, you risk your gel peeling or not adhering properly.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a commerce beauty writer. She spoke to two experts for this story, including a nail artist and a nail care specialist, compiling their product recommendations and expertise on formulations. As a life-long DIY manicurist, she'd tried several of the base coats on this list, including OPI, Essie, Butter London, Orly, and Sally Hansen. Theresa writes about color cosmetics, skincare, and haircare at Byrdie.

Grace Gavilanes is a freelance writer-editor who has covered a wide range of topics—from celebrity news and beauty to food, wellness, and travel—for close to a decade.

To ensure we're recommending the best of the best, we spoke to a few experts, including:

  • Christine Doan, formerly a nuclear engineer, is a California-based nail artist, licensed cosmetologist, and the owner of Gloss House.
  • Nadine Abramcyk is a nail expert and co-founder of Ten Over Ten, a conscious nailcare brand.
  • Purely Polished is an Australian-based mobile manicure service.

According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough base coats from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses. If you know of any we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the brand ASAP.

Want a Salon-Quality Mani for Less? These Are the Best Base Coats to Prep Your Nails for Polish (2024)
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