I’ve been having a hard time not getting my nail art to not streak when adding top coat 🙁 I wait about 15 minutes after doing the nail art and I add a nice gloop of topcoat and try to float it on the nail but it always ends up streaking. Advice appreciated!
Products used:
Holo taco: one coat black, smoothing base, long lasting base, not milky white, glossy taco
Sally Hanson: insta dry top coat
Essie: not red-y for bed
by myleftcroc
10 Comments
I still struggle with this, but some tips I’ve learned here include:
-be sure the lacquer is completely dry before adding a top coat–absolutely bone dry
– “float” the topcoat by using an ample amount of topcoat, and gently apply the coat without really pressing the bristles of the brush into the nail. Try to use a minimum number of strokes with no overlap.
The floating technique is something I still struggle with, but the idea is to try to minimize any friction between the top layer of lacquer and the topcoat you’re applying.
Smudge free top coat! I use “Smear not” by Clear Jelly Stamper. When using these type of products, you need to add a coat of a regular top coat on top though 😊
My heart hurts for you. I know what it’s like to spend time on nail art and then see a streak from the topcoat. <3
Cute nail art, sorry to see it got messed up!
I recommend a water based top coat after your nail art and before your normal top coat. The water based tc creates a barrier that prevents the normal tc from rewetting and smudging the art. For nail art I use Apipila’s Smudge Free or DRK Seal Glaze. These are also useful for preventing magnetic effects from dispersing!
Glisten & Glow top coat doesn’t smear for me! And Mooncat Speed Demon if I’m careful. However I use these for post nail stamping, which dries notoriously fast. If your nail art is thick I would give it extra time to dry. But yeah top coat formula matters!
in all fairness, can we just acknowledge the streaking adds to the clown face though? XD Like it adds to the scary horror vibe. O_O;; unless…you weren’t going for scary clown. >_>;; but it looks intentional to me at least!
I hope you find a way to get them to not streak for the future. I don’t have any advice in that area, I just wanted to say the clown is cool. >_>;;;
Water based top – Maniology and other stamping brands sell them! I know it’s not the intended effect but I love your clown anyway – the melt made it creepy!
I use the nail art topcoat from Lights Lacquer (downvote me idc) and it works great! Anything similar will work just as well. You can also use a peel off base coat as well.
DRK seal glaze! i use it for my magnetics and it works great
Smudge free top coat. Lots of brands who do stamping sell them. The easiest to get in the states are from Uberchic or from Born Pretty. The born pretty one calls it a smudge free oil but it’s a top coat. In Canada I know ClearJellyStamper has their top coat. If you shop from the [Little Box of Horrors](https://lbofhorrors.com/) preorder shop ( live now) then the Apipila smudge free top coat if available there and you’ll get it in a month. DRK also has their Seal Glaze that will work as well