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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
While a base coat might seem like something you can skip when painting your nails at home, we spoke to a couple of experts who say it's a must. "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.
Meet the Expert
Christine Doan, formerly a nuclear engineer, is a California-based nail artist, licensed cosmetologist, and the owner of Gloss House.
But that's not all. "A base coat provides a smooth canvas for a salon-worthy manicure from home," nail care expert Nadine Abramcyk tells Byrdie. "It also helps keep your polish durable and prevents it from peeling or chipping."
Meet the Expert
Nadine Abramcyk is a nail expert and co-founder of Tenoverten, a conscious nail care brand.
When shopping around, you'll find everything from adhesives and hardeners to ridge fillers and anti-yellowing formulas. In addition to helping your lacquer last longer, Abramcyk says, "The right one can work to repair, moisturize, and strengthen your nails."
Scroll down to check out the best base coats on the market.
Best Overall
Nails Inc. Nailkale Superfood Base Coat
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Courtesy of Sephora
Hardening
Nourishing
Prevents breakage
Pricey
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 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 up with regular lacquer.
Price at time of publish: $15
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Dries quickly
Doubles as top coat
Not long-lasting
If you're on a budget, go with this 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.
Price at time of publish: $5
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore
Essie First Base Coat
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Courtesy of Ulta
Primes nail beds
Long-lasting
Budget-friendly
Consistency changes quickly
Essie's cheekily named First Base is our favorite drugstore option. The rubberized formula primes your nail beds, adheres to nail polish, and helps your DIY mani last as long as possible.
Price at time of publish: $13
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge
Hermès Les Mains Hermès Enamel Base Coat
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Saks
Primes nail beds
Long-lasting
Light-protected bottle
Pricey
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.
Price at time of publish: $45
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Translucent white | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Adhesive
Triple O Polish Sticky Base Coat
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Triple O Polish
Long-lasting
Prevents chipping
Not fast-drying
This base coat has a sticky consistency—but that's the point. It's designed to adhere to your polish so that it grips your nail beds, and your manicure lasts longer without chipping.
Price at time of publish: $12
Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Ridge Filler
Butter London Nail Foundation Priming Base Coat
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Amazon
Prevents discoloration
Expert-recommended
Pricey
"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."
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 0.4 ounces | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Nail-Hardener
Londontown Kur Nail Hardener & Base Coat
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Amazon
Primes nail beds
Strengthening
Prevents chipping
Pricey
We're also loving 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.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 0.4 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Strengthening
Tenoverten The Foundation Base Coat
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Courtesy of Net-a-Porter
Smooths ridges
Prevents cracks
Pricey
"The Foundation is a great everyday base coat," says Abramcyk. "It's perfect for prolonging your polish and preventing cracks and ridges."
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Nourishing
Deborah Lippmann All About that Base CC Base Coat
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Color-correcting
Primes nail beds
Strengthening
Pricey
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.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Bonding
Orly Bonder Base Coat
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Courtesy of Amazon
Long-lasting
Prevents chipping
Dries tacky
Some reviewers note it yellowed their nails
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.
Price at time of publish: $13
Size: 0.6 ounces | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Anti-Yellowing
OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
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Courtesy of Amazon
Prevents discoloration
Protective
Long-lasting
Brush sometimes pops out
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.
Price at time of publish: $11
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Chip-Resistant
Smith & Cult Basis of Everything Base Coat
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Courtesy of Dermstore
Prevents peeling
Long-lasting
Chic packaging
Pricey
This base coat is more than just a pretty bottle. The adhesive formula creates a smooth surface, clings to your nail polish, and works to prevent chipping, peeling, and cracking for a week or more.
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Long-Lasting
Cirque Colors Get Ready Base Coat
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Etsy
Long-lasting
Prevents chipping
Not quick drying
If the goal is a longer-lasting manicure, Cirque's Get Ready Base Coat won't let you down. The anchoring formula bonds to lacquer so that it doesn't peel, crack, chip, or budge until you're ready to take it off.
Price at time of publish: $13
Size: 0.4 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Brittle Nails
Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic + Vegan Nail Polish Base
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Safe & Chic
Supports nail growth
Gel-like formula
Toluene- and formaldehyde-free
Pricey
This base coat from the eco-friendly brand Habit Cosmetics contains strengthening myrrh extract to support healthy nail growth. The clear, glossy formula is also vegan, cruelty-free, and made without toluene, parabens, or formaldehyde.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 0.3 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Damaged Nails
Côte Resurface and Repair Base Coat
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Côte
Primes nail beds
Strengthening
Prevents breakage
Pricey
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.
Price at time of publish: $21
Size: 0.4 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Breathable
Sundays B.01 Hydrating Base Coat
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Amazon
Permeable
Long-lasting
Pricey
Breathable nail polish? Yeah, it's a thing. Sundays B.01 creates a permeable base, meaning air can pass through while adhering to the lacquer, so it lasts longer.
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 0.5 ounces | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Brush
Dior Crème Abricot Base Coat
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Nordstrom
Wide brush
Primes nail beds
Long-lasting
Pricey
If you ask us, a good brush is just as important as the formula—but Dior Crème Abricot excels in both categories. Thanks to the wide bristles, one swipe of this smoothing, hardening base coat is all you need to prime your nail beds and create a smooth canvas for painting. The sheer peachy hue is pretty on its own, too.
Price at time of publish: $13
Size: 0.3 ounces | Finish: Peachy sheer | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
The best base coat overall is Nails Inc. NailKale, a strengthening formula infused with kale and keratin that works to brighten and smooth your nail beds. However, if you're looking for something a little more affordable, you can't go wrong with Essie First Base, an adhesive base coat that bonds to polish and helps lacquer last as long as possible.
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 out for things like keratin, vitamin E, soy protein, calcium, bamboo, and castor oil.
2-in-1 Formulas
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 colored 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.
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.
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