Can You Use Regular Nail Polish With Gel Top Coat? [Best Guide]

There is no doubt that gel manicures are glossier and more durable than regular nail polish. But can you use regular nail polish with gel top coat?

The short answer is no. There is just too much risk in combining the two and your nails may suffer as a result.

The purpose of this article is to explain why you shouldn’t use a gel top coat over your regular nail polish.

This article covers the following topics:

Can You Use a Gel Topcoat Over Regular Nail Polish?
Why Do People Use a Gel Topcoat with Regular Nail Polish?

Can You Use Gel Topcoat Over Regular Nail Polish?

It takes about 24 hours for regular nail varnish to dry completely. You might be able to touch your nail polish before that time, but it will still be susceptible to dents and creasing until then.

While gel polish takes 30-60 seconds to dry, regular polish takes much longer. As gel polish dries, it becomes much harder.

Your nail varnish might seem like a great idea at first, but you are actually confining moisture to your nail bed. As a result, fungi can thrive.

In order to avoid moisture buildup, you should know how long you should wait between coats.

Gel nail polish has its own protocol, which is why professionals advise against mixing regular lacquer with gel varnish. It is still important to be careful, even if your regular nail polish is marketed as having a “quick-drying” time.

In any case, you should always use a good quality fast-drying nail polish top coat.

This is why you should never apply a gel top coat over regular nail polish, since it can damage your nails.

Combining Regular Nail Polish with Gel

After your regular varnish has dried, seal it with a gel top coat if you’re still set on combining the two. Therefore, you should apply the gel topcoat 24 hours after applying the gel base coat.

It is also possible to apply a gel base coat layer underneath the nail polish, and then seal it with a gel topcoat.

You should be clear about how many coats of nail polish you need.

The nail polish will shrink and wrinkle if you do not dry it before applying the gel top coat.

Why Do People Use A Gel Topcoat With Regular Nail Polish?

Gel top coats make regular nail polish last longer, and give it a glossy appearance and smoother texture than regular nail polish.

The great thing about gel polishes is that they look glossy, and they last for a long time without chipping or peeling. In contrast to regular nail polish, gel polish can be more expensive.

It’s for this reason that many beauty enthusiasts prefer gel top coats over regular nail polish. In addition to saving money, they want the durability and glossiness of gel nail polish. This is why the “Gelly sandwich” has become so popular.

Be sure to know how to use top coat nail polish before you begin.

The “Gelly Sandwich”

In this technique, you seal regular nail polish between a gel base coat and a gel top coat. The result is a squishy inside and a colorful exterior. You should look for the best matte nail polish brands if you’re looking for colorful varnishes.

Is this technique effective?

Using the “gelly sandwich” will result in a manicure that lasts only a couple of days before peeling off.

It is due to the gel base coat.

What About a Gel Base Coat with Regular Nail Lacquer?

In the same way that you should not use a UV gel top coat with regular nail lacquer, you should not use a UV gel base coat. Gel base coats don’t adhere very well to regular nail polishes.

The purpose of a base coat is to anchor nail polish to the nail plate. Gel base coats have a different chemical composition than regular nail lacquers. This causes the nail polish to not bond properly with the gel base coat.

It will be easier for your nail polish to peel and flake if it does not anchor properly to the nail plate.

It is still important to invest in a good base coat. You can find out why base coat nail polish is important for your manicure here.

The Takeaway

Gel top coats will trap moisture under the top coat if applied to regular nail polish, since regular nail polish takes a long time to dry.

It is recommended that you use a regular base coat and top coat when painting your nails.