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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Applying a coat of clear polish is an essential step in painting your nails or toes. And for those who like a natural look, it's the only step. A top coat creates a shiny (or sometimes matte) finish, but its work goes beyond aesthetics.
According to nail care expert Nadine Abramcyk, the clear coating is just as important as the colored lacquer. "Top coats help seal your polish, prevent the color from fading, and protect from chipping," she tells Byrdie.
Needless to say, if you paint your nails regularly—or even once in a while—you'll want to have a good top coat on hand. As with all beauty products, there's an overwhelming amount of options. You have your glossies and your mattes, plus quick-dry, long-wear, and chip-resistant formulas.
To help you narrow it down, we rounded up the best top coats below.
Meet the Expert
Nadine Abramcyk, nail care expert and co-founder of Tenoverten.
Christine Doan is a former nuclear engineer turned licensed cosmetologist and content creator. Her brand, Gloss House, features nail art and design services in the San Diego area.
Best Overall: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
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Courtesy of Amazon
Dries quickly
Long-lasting
Resists yellowing
Expert-recommended
Contains toluene
When it comes to clear nail polish, Seche Vite is a shining star. This quick-dry top coat has a well-deserved following among both the DIY and professional crowds. Swipe it on for an ultra-glossy, crystal-clear effect that lasts several days without chipping, peeling, or yellowing.
"This formula acts like a gel without the difficulties of removing gels by yourself," says nail artist Christine Doan of Gloss House. "I like to do two coats of this one. I've gotten close to three weeks' wear with it!"
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
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Budget-friendly
Dries quickly
Bubble-free finish
Not long-lasting
If drugstore nail polish had a queen, it would be Sally Hansen. The brand's Insta-Dri Top Coat glides smoothly and precisely over your nails, leaving a bubble-free finish that's dry to the touch within 30 seconds and entirely hardened within minutes.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Drugstore: Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat
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Walmart
Dries quickly
Unique satin finish
Resists yellowing
Not long-lasting
Revlon also makes a great quick-drying top coat. This clear lacquer sets in 30 seconds with a chic satin finish, plus it resists yellowing and prevents your color from fading.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Satin | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge: Hermès Les Mains Hermès Top Coat
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Saks
Mirror finish
Light optimizers
Light-protected bottle
Pricey
Yes, Hermès nail polish is undoubtedly a novelty. But if you can swing the price, this fancy French top coat might be worth a splurge. It promises a mirror-like finish with light optimizers that give your nails a curved, full-depth effect.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Chip-Resistant: China Glaze No Chip Top Coat
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Long-lasting
Strengthening
Takes 30 minutes to harden
This pro-level top coat sets quickly and hardens completely within 30 minutes, and it offers a glossy finish while protecting any nail polish underneath. More to the point, the formula resists chipping, cracked polish, and peeling for several days.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Protective: OPI Brilliant High-Shine Top Coat
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Resists chipping
Dries quickly
Can dry a little streaky
OPI is another salon-level brand with lots of standout products. The Brilliant High-Shine Top Coat protects your nails and any layers of nail polish underneath from chipping and breaking. For best results, apply two coats, making sure to swipe the brush over the tips of your nails and slightly underneath.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Quick-Dry: Essie Good to Go Top Coat
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Courtesy of Essie
Penetrates fresh polish
Dries quickly
Resists yellowing
Not long-lasting
Short on time? Reach for Essie Good to Go. The exceptionally quick-drying formula penetrates through wet nail polish and hardens in minutes, leaving a high-gloss shine and a non-yellowing finish in its wake.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Long-Wear: Tenoverten The Shield
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Violet Grey
Dries quickly
Protective
Long-lasting
Pricey
"My favorite top coat is The Shield," says Abramcyk. "It's quick-drying, provides shine to your color, and acts as a protective guard."
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Strengthening: Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic + Vegan Nail Polish in Top
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Courtesy of Habit Cosmetics
Supports nail growth
Gel-like formula
Toluene- and formaldehyde-free
Pricey
This top coat from the eco-friendly brand Habit Cosmetics contains cuticle-strengthening myrrh extract to promote healthy nail growth. The gel-like formula is also vegan and free of toluene, formaldehyde, and parabens.
Size: Not listed | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best High-Gloss: Cirque Colors Looking Glass Top Coat
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Amazon
Dries quickly
Gel-like formula
Long-lasting
Consistency changes quickly
If you want mirror-like shine, Cirque Colors Looking Glass is your best bet. This high-gloss top coat boasts a gel-like formula that dries quickly and protects your manicure for days.
Size: Not listed | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Matte: Triple O Matte Top Coat
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OOO Polish
Long-lasting
Vegan
Not fast-drying
For those partial to a shine-free finish, we recommend OOO's Matte Top Coat. It goes on smooth and dries into a satiny matte finish. While this polish doesn't set as quickly as others, it lasts longer than most glossy formulas.
Size: Not listed | Finish: Matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Pearlescent: Pleasing Pearly Tops Polish
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Pleasing
Subtle iridescence
Pretty on its own
Pricey
Yep, Harry Styles has a beauty brand now—and it's pretty good. The Pearly Tops Polish is transparent with an oh-so-subtle pearlescent sheen and a satiny matte finish. It's great over colored lacquer or on its own for a pared-down look.
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for French Manicures: People of Color Nail Polish Top Coat
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Beyond Polish
Pink tint
Versatile
Not fast-drying
This top coat from People of Color has a slight pink tint, making it the best glossy finish for DIY French manicures. It's also lovely on its own and over opaque polish colors.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Brush: Dior Top Coat Abricot
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Nordstrom
Wide brush
Dries quickly
Protective
Pricey
Sometimes, it's more about the brush than the lacquer—but Dior Abricot stands out in both categories. Thanks to the wide bristles and gel-like formula, a single sweep is all you need to coat your nails in a protective, glossy shine.
Size: 0.3 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Brittle Nails: Nails Inc. Retinol 45 Second Quick Drying Top Coat
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Courtesy of Sephora
Dries quickly
Resists chipping
Pricey
If you're working with brittle nails, go with Nails Inc. This top coat is formulated with retinol, which, according to the maker, hardens the enamel, prevents chipping, and prolongs wear time. Not only that, but it's dry to the touch in 45 seconds.
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best With UV Blockers: Butter LONDON Hardwear Shine UV Top Coat
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Resists yellowing
Prevents fading
Expert-recommended
Pricey
Doan is a fan of Butter London, and we're here for it. The brand's Hardwear top coat is formulated to prevent ultraviolet light from yellowing or fading the polish underneath.
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Gel: Londontown Kur Gel Genius Top Coat
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Ulta
No UV lamp needed
Nourishes nail beds
Resists chipping
Pricey
Unlike most gel formulas, Kur doesn't require special LED or UV lights to set. It cures in the natural sunlight while nourishing your nail beds and forming a protective barrier that resists chipping and fading.
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat is—hands down—the best top coat. The expert-recommended formula dries quickly with a high-gloss, crystal-clear finish that resists yellowing, chipping, and fading. That said, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat is a close runner-up and slightly more affordable.
What to Look for in a Top Coat
Finish
Most top coats leave your nails with a shiny finish, though some provide a more reflective, high-gloss effect. If your nails dull within a few days, you can always apply a touch-up coat to refresh the shine.
Then there's matte polish, which delivers a flat sheen. Matte top coats can be applied over regular shiny polishes to dull the finish and provide a shine-free velvety effect.
Drying Time
Many top coats are formulated to dry fast. If a product dries within a few minutes, it will usually be indicated on the label. Otherwise, you can expect most clear coats to be dry to the touch within about 10 minutes and fully hardened in roughly 30 minutes. That said, the more coats you apply, the longer the dry time.
Lacquer vs. Gel
Regular nail lacquers are similar to paint in that they air-dry. Gel nail polish, on the other hand, will only dry and cure under a special UV or LED lamp. You can get one of these lamps online or at a beauty supply store.
"When working with gel, you want to make sure that it does not have a high heat spike (the burning sensation when you're under LED lights)," says Doan. "For gel top coats, I like a long-lasting non-wipe that stays shiny for weeks to come! I like the non-wipe formulas because they allow the highest shine."
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a content creator with substantial experience covering cosmetics in the commerce space. She interviewed two experts for this piece, including a nail artist and a nail care specialist, for product recommendations and insight into formulations. As a life-long DIY manicurist, she's tried many of the products on this list, including Seche Vite, OPI, Revlon, Butter London, Pleasing, Essie, and Cirque Colors. However, Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat has been a fallback for upwards of a decade.
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