I know that I included fast drying topcoats in my "how did I ever live without them?!" list, but that doesn't mean they're all I ever use to finish off a paint job. Using the right tools for any task is critical when it comes to achieving the best possible end result, and sometimes the right tool simply isn't a topcoat that dries in double quick time.
It's worth knowing the limitations of any product, I reckon, so here's my take on what's good, what's bad, and what's indifferent about quick drying and common-or-garden topcoats, and the lowdown on when you should be choosing one over the other.
QUICK DRYING
Use for: 'Curing' thick layers of nail polish, sealing nail art (thicker formulas pool rather than dragging across designs), smoothing over the rough texture of glitter, finishing a manicure when time is of the essence.
- Pros: Sets quickly to a hard finish that's impervious to dinges and dents as well as hatchmarks from your bedsheets, most are self levelling.
- Cons: Shrinkage, tip wear, more prone to chipping, initially shiny finish can dull down quite quickly.
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I've had one or all of these issues with all the quick drying topcoats I've tried, including Seche Vite, Poshe, Revlon, Nails Inc, and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.
To be clear, I'm not saying for a minute that their shortcomings mean dry fast topcoats should be tossed. In fact, I think the right one (Seche Vite and Sally Hansen get my vote) makes an invaluable addition to any manicure kit. Get thee a bottle with the quickness if the palaver around waiting for your nail polish to dry puts you right off bothering to paint your talons.
ORNERY
Use for: Giving longevity to a solid colour paint job where two thin layers of colour have been applied.
- Pros: Harder wearing (resists tip wear and chipping, no shrinkage issues), longer-lasting high shine finish.
- Cons: Can take absolutely bloody aaages to totally dry. As in hours on end, and don't plan on being able to use paws at all in the interim: going to the loo before starting on your nails is a must with these. Your best bet is to use 'em during a movie marathon or while getting stuck in to a box set of Mad Men or True Blood or whatever you're having yourself. Just go easy on the liquid consumption...
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Essie Super Duper is my personal ornery topcoat of choice, FYI, and it's the one I pitted against its quick drying cousins mentioned above to test and compare performance.
