Whether you plan to celebrate with a bae or bestie, Valentine’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a manicure. If you’re someone who doesn’t frequent the salon too often, we highly recommend going all out with nail art worthy of a mani-gram later. And the one thing you’ll need to ensure that it doesn’t chip away by day’s end is a seriously strong top coat.
According to pro nail artist Arlene Hinckson, the best ones “boast long lasting, high shine and easy application with a great brush.” As for drying time between your color and top coat, she says most colors require at least a minute.
“I like for the color to still be a bit tacky. So, when I apply the top coat, they stick together and create a tight cap at the tip of the free edge,” she says. “With satin/pearlized colors, it’s best to wait until they’re dry. Adding a top while still wet will cause streaks.” There’s a bevy of options out there and while it would be easy to blindly choose one, we’d rather spend our pretty pennies on something the experts swear by. Ahead, Hinckson shares the top coat formulas she uses in the salon and behind the runway.
MORE: How to Care for Your Nails in Between Salon Appointments

 
 
Essie Speed Setter Top Coat
“The fluidity is maintained throughout the entire usage of the product. You can drag the brush on the bottom of the bottle and still have the same pr...