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TL;DR
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is a quick-drying, high-shine, and chip-resistant top coat loved by Byrdie editors and nail pros alike. If you’re trying to replicate a salon-worthy gel manicure at home, we recommend the CND Shellac No Wipe Top Coat. It perfectly seals your nails with an LED lamp for a long-lasting mani.
A top coat is like a cherry on top of a sundae; it’s a finishing detail that adds decadence to your nails while still being a vital component of your nail routine. According to nail artist Erica De Los Santos, a top coat is essential because it seals in color, nail art, or enhancements, adds shine or a desired finish, and protects your mani or pedi from chipping or fading. “Top coats help your nails last longer and look freshly done,” she adds.
There’s no shortage of top coats, which can make finding the right one overwhelming. Luckily, Byrdie editors are no strangers to DIY manicures. With the help of our team and professional nail experts, we tested top coats on our own nails. Considering factors like application, formula, finish, dry time, and overall appearance, we narrowed down the top contenders to help you nail your next mani or pedi.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Seals nails and prevents chipping
High-shine, glossy finish
Quick-drying
Resists yellowing
Can become thick if overapplied
Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Byrdie editors and nail pros agree: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat reigns supreme. Not only does it seal nails with a glossy, protective layer that guards against smudges, imprints, and chips, but it also boasts an impressively fast drying time. “Your nails will be dry before you even finish polishing the last finger—it’s seriously fast,” says Santos.
Its unique formulation truly sets this top coat apart. Designed to create a solid layer, this polish penetrates through nail paint to form a single solid coating for a durable, lacquered finish. Glossy, chip-free nails that last? Yes, please. Remember to apply sparingly; as Santos notes, it can become thick if overused.
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Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor: “This is the best top coat I've ever used. It's ultra-glossy and dries quickly. It’s dry to the touch in about 45 seconds.”
Best Quick-Dry
Dazzle Dry Top Coat
Quick-drying formula
Imparts shiny finish that looks like gel
Extends longevity of a mani or pedi
Four total steps in the process
Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re in a pinch or you always seem to smudge freshly painted nails, Dazzle Dry’s polish is a game-changer. This quick-dry formula fully dries in five minutes, ensuring your newly manicured nails stay flawless. The glossy finish delivers a salon-quality sheen, and we love that it's long-lasting—no need for touch-ups just a few days later. While this polish requires you follow four specific steps using the rest of the product line (alcohol to prep, a base coat, polish, and top coat), it’s worth the extra effort. Plus, the other three steps help establish great nail care habits.
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Eden Stuart, editor: “Another beauty editor told me she uses Dazzle Dry for her pedicures, and I'm so glad I tried it! This system is great for anyone with no patience for hour-long drying. Yes, there are four steps total, but the top coat dries in a snap. You get a great, glossy finish that's totally ready to slip into your shoes in less than five minutes.”
Best Chip-Resistant
Essie Gel Couture Top Coat
Durable and prevents chipping
Looks like gel
Extends longevity of mani or pedi
Hard to determine how much product is left
Size: 0.46 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For nail enthusiasts, there’s nothing worse than a chipped nail. Luckily, Essie Gel Couture Top Coat comes to the rescue. This durable, chip-resistant formula creates a protective barrier over your nails, extending the life of your manicure and pedicure. The results are a smooth, high-gloss finish that you won’t have to worry about ruining when doing your daily tasks. (Note: It works best when used with the corresponding Essie Gel Couture Polishes, of which there are plenty of colors to choose from.) Our only complaint: The bottle is opaque, so it can be tricky to tell how much product is left.
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Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: “I am a DIY nail girlie, but I'm rough with my hands (I cook, bake, and clean a lot!). I've been using this top coat with the accompanying polish (but to be honest, I sometimes cheat and use other polishes) for years, and there's nothing else like it. It's super shiny, looks just like real UV-cured gel, and lasts forever.”
Best High-Gloss
OPI Infinite Shine Gel-Like Top Coat
Lacquered, high-gloss shine
Chip-resistant
Easy removal
Not the fastest-drying
Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
A smooth, glossy, high-shine top coat is so satisfying. This winner from OPI delivers just that: finishing your manicured nails with a silky, lustrous formula that enhances your manicure or pedicure with a seamless, almost reflective shine. Chip-resistant and long-lasting, this pick has it all down. Plus, we love that it’s easy to remove with your standard nail polish remover. Just be sure to allot enough time, as this pick isn’t the quickest drying.
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Amanda Rosenthal, writer: “It has completely changed the game for me. My nails feel stronger and look extra lacquered and glossy. Plus, it extends my regular manicures, sealing them in for the long haul. The gel-like finish gives me everything I am used to with my old gel manicures.”
Best Gel
CND Shellac No Wipe Top Coat
Long-lasting gel top coat
No wipe required
Smoothing
Requires UV light
Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No
Gel polishes require a specific top coat with a UV light to seal in the color, providing a long-lasting, durable finish. CND, a leader in gel polish, has perfected this with their no-wipe top coat, which is a standout in our books. It smooths, adds a glossy shine, and sets your nails with a beautiful, flawless finish. Unlike most gel top coats that require a wipe of isopropyl alcohol to remove any uncured layers, this finisher eliminates that step, making your mani routine that much easier.
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Shauna Beni-Hayes, senior editor: “My favorite quality of this top coat is its glossy, shiny finish. One swipe will give any nail color an ultra-shiny top finish that looks pretty and neat. I also love how small the brush applicator is; it picks up just the right amount of polish from the bottle and gives an even amount of coverage on each nail bed.”
What to Look for in Top Coats
- Finish: According to professional celebrity nail artist Tara Haye, there are a few top coat finishes. “It depends on the individual's preference for the finish of their manicure, though matte, shiny, and metallic are popular top coat finishes,” she says. “A glossy top coat is best if you prefer high gloss and shine. If you’re searching for a smooth finish without shine, a matte top is the winner.”
- Drying Time: Many top coats have a quick-dry formula, which is usually indicated on the label. Otherwise, most clear coats will be fully hardened in roughly 30 minutes. The dry time will increase if you apply multiple coats or use a thick amount.
- Lacquer vs. Gel: Similar to paint, regular nail lacquers air-dry. On the other hand, gel nail polish will only dry when used under a UV or LED lamp. Be sure to use the correct top coat with the correct nail polish. For instance, you’ll want a gel top coat with gel nail polishes and vice versa.
How We Tested Top Coats
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We believe in using the top coats we recommend just like you would—at home, in our usual nail care routines, so we prioritize testing them in real-life settings. For this story, we tapped Byrdie editors to test their go-to top coats for all their DIY mani and pedi needs.
- Methodology: We tested top coats in our own homes, using them like we would with our usual nail painting routine.
- Factors Considered: Application, finish, dry time, consistency, wear, durability, and overall appearance.
Meet Our Experts
Team Byrdie worked with the following experts for their insights on the best top coats:
- Erica De Los Santos is a professional nail artist and founder of Nailed It Beauty Lounge. She is based in New York and New Jersey.
- Tara Haye is a New York City-based professional nail artist specializing in celebrity and editorial nail painting.
Why Trust Byrdie
Amanda Rosenthal is a beauty and fashion writer who loves a DIY manicure. She has been painting her nails for years and has recently stuck to DIY regular and gel manis and pedis. She looks for top coats that give her nails that glossy, lacquered look to emulate a salon-style manicure. She also looks for formulas that extend the wear of the polish and prevent chipping.