We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Style Nails The 9 Top Coat Nail Polishes We Love The Most Get a salon-style manicure at home with these polishes. By Lauren Finney Harden Lauren Finney Harden Lauren Finney Harden is a lifestyle journalist and writer. She has been published on InStyle.com, Insider.com, and other publications. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 9, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Tips for Choosing Questions and Answers Why Trust Southern Living Southern Living / Brian Kopinski For some, heading to a nail salon for a manicure might be too time-consuming, but an at-home manicure might seem overwhelming, However, it can be more achievable than you think, especially if you have the right top coat nail polish. Linda Vo says that a top coat is necessary to achieve a professional-looking manicure that lasts. She prefers a glossy top coat polish that’s quick drying. “That way, our guests can be on their way,” she says. Meet The Expert Linda Vo is the owner of Les Mains Nail Bar and La Belle Nail Bar in Atlanta. To determine the best top coat nail polishes for your at-home manicure, we consulted Vo as an expert and compared the capabilities, size, and finish of each top coat nail polish. Here are the best to consider. Our Top Picks Best Overall: OPI Top Coat at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best Budget: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat at Amazon ($5) Jump to Review Best Quick-Drying: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat at Amazon ($8) Jump to Review Best Chip-Resistant: Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat at Target ($11) Jump to Review Best Matte: OPI Matte Top Coat at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best Glossy: Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat at Walmart ($9) Jump to Review Best Strengthening: Revlon Multicare Base + Top Coat at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Gel-Like: CND Vinylux Long Wear Shine Top Coat at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Best Natural: Sally Hansen Nail Polish Top Coat at Amazon ($8) Jump to Review Best Overall OPI Top Coat Amazon View On Amazon $12 View On Walmart $10 View On Ulta $12 What’s Great About It Seals in regular nail polish color Extends the life of your manicure Non-yellowing formula What Could Be Better Might need more drying time than other formulas Lasts an average of 7 days For a regular, non-gel manicure at home, it’s hard to beat OPI’s Top Coat. It gives off a super high-gloss shine akin to a gel manicure, doesn’t smudge, seals in the colored polish, and protects your nails from wear and tear and chipping for up to seven days. At 0.5 fluid ounces, a bottle of OPI’s Top Coat can last for many manicures. We love that it has a thick enough consistency to paint it on with confidence, but doesn’t tend to clump. It also provides a gel-like finish without all the extra steps of applying gel nail polish. However, depending on your daily habits or lifestyle and your nail health, it may only last a few days before chipping. Size: 0.5 fluid ounces | Finish: High gloss Best Budget Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat Amazon View On Amazon $5 View On Ulta $6 View On CVS $8 What’s Great About It Covers in one coat Takes 30 seconds to dry Lasts up to 10 days What Could Be Better Can dent easily May turn yellow, depending on the polish color you choose At just around $6, Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat is a budget-friendly winner. It covers in one coat easily thanks to a brush that contours to each nail’s shape. The formaldehyde-free formula can dry down in as little as 30 seconds making it a good choice for those on the go. It can provide shine and strength for up to 10 days and visibly harder nails. The polish also includes double UV filters to help protect your nails from sun damage. The application is easy: Wait two full minutes between applying nail polish and this top coat for the best results. After applying the top coat, your nails should be dry, smudge-proof, and shiny within 30 seconds. Size: 0.45 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Quick-Drying Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat JcPenny View On Amazon $8 View On Walmart $9 View On Target $10 What’s Great About It Patented formula fuses together the base coat, polish, and top coat for stronger nails Quick drying Budget friendly Chip and smudge-resistant Self-leveling for smoother nails What Could Be Better If you apply too much at once it can peel Vo’s favorite—and the top coat of choice in her salons—is Seche Vite’s Quick Dry Top Nail Coat. It promises to resist chipping longer than other formulas because it penetrates through to the base coat, fusing all three layers for a stronger, more durable nail that won’t chip or peel. The polish is cruelty- and alcohol-free and vegan. Part of what makes this top coat so appealing is that it can be used on natural nails, acrylic nails, gel polish, nail art, silk wraps, and more. We love that it’s somewhere in between a super-quick drying polish and a regular top coat: Apply a thin layer of polish to your nails, wait a few minutes, and you will be good to go without fear of damaging your nails. Size: 0.5 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Chip-Resistant Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat Target View On Target $11 View On Ulta View On CVS $12 What’s Great About It Formulated with acrylic resin to protect against peeling Helps strengthen nails What Could Be Better Takes longer to dry than other formulas Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat delivers on its name as a chip-resistant polish that seals and protects nails thanks to acrylic resin. It gives a salon-quality appearance and longevity with a glossy and smooth finish that can last up to 10 days. While it pairs best with other Essie nail polish products, it can be used on virtually any polish. We love that it has a high shine and provides an almost gel-like finish while drying quickly and protecting nails from damage. It does, however, take a little bit longer to dry than other top coats, so if patience is not a virtue, this one might make doing your nails at home difficult. Size: 0.46 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Matte OPI Matte Top Coat Amazon View On Amazon $12 View On Walmart $7 View On Target $12 What’s Great About It Provides a trendy matte finish Lasts up to 7 days Prevents smudges Makes polish color appear more saturated What Could Be Better Shows flaws more easily Could be a heavier finish than you’re used to If you like to go the unique route when it comes to your nails, then you’ll want to get on board with the matte nail trend. A matte top coat is the only way to achieve the look. It tones down a polish’s natural shine but it also enhances the polish’s color. A matte nail look can be elegant or moody, depending on the vibe you are going for. Matte nails don’t leave a lot of room for imperfections, so keep this in mind. The OPI Matte Top Coat works particularly well over the brand’s signature dark shades, like Lincoln Park After Dark, but can be used on lighter shades. Some people even like to mix a matte top coat with a glossy one for a finish that’s not as dramatic. Size: 0.53 fluid ounces | Finish: Matte Best Glossy Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat Target View On Walmart $9 View On Target $9 View On Oliveandjune.com $9 What’s Great About It Award-winning formula free from harsh ingredients Lasts up to 10 days Super shiny Removes easily What Could Be Better Shorter shelf life than other top coats Fans of Olive & June’s cruelty-free and vegan nail polish line will love the brand’s high-shine Super Glossy Top Coat. Its award-winning formula is devoid of harsh ingredients that might be found in other top coats such as formaldehyde and phthalates. The wide fan brush makes it easy to apply and the polish can last up to 10 days. The top coat achieves the plumpness and durability of gel without any of the fuss required to put on or remove gel polish. Size: 0.46 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Strengthening Revlon Multicare Base + Top Coat Revlon View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $10 What’s Great About It 2-in-1 formula Protects nails Super shiny finish What Could Be Better Not necessarily recommended for longevity For those in need of a hardworking, multi-faceted polish, Revlon’s Multicare Base and Top Coat 2-in-1 Nail Strengthener delivers. It contains both a base and top coat in one polish to help strengthen and protect your nails. The contoured brush makes the polish glide on easily as a top and base coat, and the super-shiny finish protects against chipping and peeling. It’s formulated to prevent staining, too. The polish is made without harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, resin, and camphor. To use it, swipe on two coats and let those dry before swiping on two coats of color. Let your nails dry a full five minutes before putting on two coats of the polish to seal it in. You might have to reapply it every other day to keep your nails looking fresh, but the drying time makes it an easy touch-up. Size: 0.5 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Gel-Like CND Vinylux Long Wear Shine Top Coat Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $10 View On Beyondpolish.com What’s Great About It Quick drying time Protects and strengthens as time goes on Provides 7-plus days of wear What Could Be Better Recommended for use only with other CND Vinylux products CND is a salon favorite brand, and it’s easy to get a salon-style manicure at home with its Vinylux products. Its two-step system includes long wear polish that self-adheres and an epic top coat. The entire process from beginning to end for a CND Vinylux manicure should take less than 10 minutes, providing a glossy, gel-like finish over fingernails, toenails, and even holiday nail art. The formula is chip-resistant and has high shine. It includes ingredients that promote nail health like vitamin E, jojoba oil, and keratin. The longer you wear it, the stronger your nails become. Size: 0.5 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy Best Natural Sally Hansen Nail Polish Top Coat Amazon View On Amazon $8 View On Target $8 View On Ulta $10 What’s Great About It Plant-based formula Free of 16 harmful ingredients like formaldehyde and acetone Brush has 100% natural and plant-based bristles What Could Be Better Streaky on some nails Natural nail products can be hard to find, but Sally Hansen’s Good.Kind.Pure Vegan Nail Polish Top Coat fits the bill for a natural, long-lasting top coat polish. The formula is devoid of harsh chemicals found in traditional nail polishes like formaldehyde, phthalates, sulfates, and more, and has nourishing ingredients like sustainable bamboo and marine algae. It’s 100% vegan, down to the plant-based bristles on the brush. It works best with one of the 44 shades in Sally Hansen’s Good.Kind.Pure line, but can be used with other polishes. Size: 0.33 fluid ounces | Finish: Glossy The Bottom Line A lot of how your nails react with a top coat depends on your nail health and lifestyle choices. However, most people do well with the OPI Top Coat and Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Nail Coat. The OPI Top Coat gives a high-shine, salon-quality look similar to gel polish without any of the waiting or drying time, while Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Nail Coat gets a professional-looking job done in just minutes. Tips for Choosing the Right Top Coat Nail Polish Dry Time If you’re short on time, the dry time of your top coat nail polish will be important. It ranges from about five minutes to 15 minutes depending on the number of coats and formula. Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Nail Coat is our expert Linda Vo’s pick for the fastest drying time with the least amount of smudging. It’s what she uses in her professional nail salons. Finish Matte and glossy are the two top coat nail polish finishes. While glossy is the most popular and mimics what is often found in a salon, it’s really down to personal preference. If you want to give trendy matte nails a try, go for the OPI Matte Top Coat. Glossy top coat lovers will love the smooth finish of Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat, which also happens to be free from harsh chemicals that might be found in other nail polish top coats. Ingredients There are two main types of top coat nail polishes: traditional and natural. Natural ones, like Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat and Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure Vegan Nail Polish Top Coat, are free from harsh chemicals that can be used in more traditional top coats. Natural nail polishes are often vegan and cruelty-free, but they might not last as long in your cabinet because of the types of ingredients used. Questions and Answers Is a top coat necessary? It depends on how you like your nails to look and how long you want them to last. Some polishes have top coats or similar finishes built into them, but not all. Vo believes you should always use a top coat to protect your nails. “If you don’t use one, the nail polish won’t have the desired finish and won’t have the protection needed between the nail and nail polish to make the manicure last,” she says. Is top coat polish the same as clear nail polish? This is a misconception that Vo is happy to debunk. “Top coats have specific ingredients to get the finish you want, whereas clear polish won’t give the same effect,” she says. She also points out that top coats have specific ingredients that help produce the desired outcome that regular clear coats don’t offer. “Regular polish also tends to be a bit thinner, so it won’t protect the nail as much,” she says. Can you use a top coat polish as a base coat? Base coats and top coats are not the same thing, says Vo. A base coat is made of a tackier consistency to allow the colored polish to adhere to the nail, whereas a top coat adheres to the colored polish. “You won’t get the same results if you use a top coat first,” she says. “The formula is different, and polish would come off the nail quicker.” Why Trust Southern Living Lauren Finney Harden is a freelance writer and editor with over 15 years of experience covering general lifestyle topics for magazines, websites, and more. For this list, she researched nail polish top coats that can be used at home, comparing ingredients, drying time, longevity, and finish. She consulted nail expert Linda Vo, owner of Les Mains Nail Bar and La Belle Nail Bar in Atlanta. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit