- \n
- Nina Ultra Pro\u2122 Basecoat & Ridge Filler<\/strong> (durable, covers grooves well\u2014but chalk white and needs polish on top)<\/li>\n
- Wet \u2018n Wild Megalast\u00ae The Saving Base<\/strong> (budget-friendly, long-lasting, but \u26a0\ufe0f newer version may stain\u2014check your ingredients!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meh performers:<\/strong>
Sally Hansen\u00ae Nail Rehab\u2122, Orly\u00ae, Finger Paints, and American Classics all had durability issues or didn\u2019t cover grooves as well.<\/p>\nThat said, it\u2019s important to remember: base coats, polishes, and top coats all perform differently depending on your body chemistry and daily habits<\/strong>. The only real way to know what works for you<\/em> is to try a few and pay attention to what lasts.<\/p>\n
![\"nailcarehq](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Decorative-Line-Black-PNG-HD.png\")
<\/p>\nOne of the worst things you can do is buff the ridges off your nail plate. Buffing weakens your nails <\/a>by filing the thickest part to match the thinnest part!<\/p>\n
This is why I always recommend using a ridge filler basecoat. I’ve had many people ask me which ridge filling basecoat is my favorite. I haven’t had a favorite.<\/p>\n
But I do now!<\/strong><\/p>\n
In this article, I will cover:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Why you need<\/strong> to use basecoat<\/li>\n
- Why I tested<\/strong> several popular ridge filler base coats<\/li>\n
- My criteria<\/strong> to help you make an educated decision<\/li>\n
- And who were the winners<\/strong>\u2014they might surprise you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Do We Really Need Basecoat?<\/h2>\n
Many people don’t know that basecoats are formulated to bond to the nail plate. <\/strong><\/p>\n
Polish<\/strong> is formulated to bond to basecoat\u2014not the nail plate<\/strong>. Topcoat is formulated to bond to basecoat or polish.<\/p>\n
Why Ridge Filler?<\/h2>\n
This is one of my pet peeves\u2014you can’t fill ridges. You fill the grooves between the ridges.<\/p>\n
Technically speaking, these basecoats should all be called Groove Fillers. But they probably wouldn’t sell very well because people obsess about dealing with their ridges.<\/p>\n
We all want a smooth, glossy manicure. This is how ridge filling basecoats help us achieve the look we want.<\/p>\n
The Contenders<\/h2>\n
I usually get this question at least once per week; “What is your favorite ridge filler basecoat?”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
Since I am always testing<\/strong> things and turning myself into my own guinea pig on your behalf, I decided to test six<\/em> ridge filler basecoats<\/strong> that I could find in the stores where I live in the USA. <\/span><\/p>\n
I was shocked<\/strong> to discover that many of the big-name brands do not offer a ridge filler\u00a0<\/span>basecoat. In my opinion, that’s a disservice to the nail community.<\/span><\/p>\n
I was able to find several ridge filling basecoats at Sally’s Beauty Supply in the US, and a couple in the drugstores (like Walgreen\u2019s and CVS Pharmacy.)<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: I know there are many other brands around the globe who do offer a ridge filler but sadly, I wasn’t able to get my hands on all of them. Perhaps you can take my favorites and compare them with a different brand that you have.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a list of the ridge filling basecoats I tested:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Nina Ultra Pro\u2122 Basecoat & Ridge Filler<\/span><\/li>\n
- American Classics Bridge the Ridge\u00ae <\/span><\/li>\n
- Finger Paints Smooth Over Ridge Filler<\/span><\/li>\n
- Orly\u00ae Ridge Filler<\/span><\/li>\n
- Sally Hansen\u00ae Nail Rehab\u2122<\/span><\/li>\n
- Wet \u2018n Wild Megalast\u00ae The Saving Base<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When I decided to do this test, my first criteria was to test for durability<\/strong> and number of days of wear. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
What I <\/span>didn’t<\/span><\/i> realize was that in order to perform an accurate test<\/strong>, I would have to essentially wear the same manicure for over two months!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
To get more accurate results from a test like this, it\u2019s important to reduce different variables<\/strong> that may affect the outcome of the test. <\/span><\/p>\n
I know that some polish wears longer or shorter than other brands. Sometimes even the color can change the durability. I didn\u2019t want a different brand, color or top coat to affect the results of my tests.<\/span><\/p>\n
That meant I had to use the exact same polish and the exact same topcoat for each basecoat I tested. <\/span><\/p>\n
It’s a good thing I love purple!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Here are the polishes and top coat I used:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Polish<\/strong>: Color Club Holographic \u201cEternal Beauty\u201d (primary color), OPI Liquid Sand \u201cCan\u2019t Let Go\u201d (accent nails)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Topcoat<\/strong>: Sally Hansen\u00ae Insta-Dri\u2122 Anti-Chip Top Coat<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/the-manicure.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Nina-Pro.png\")
Test 1: Nina Ultra Pro\u2122 Base Coat & Ridge Filler<\/b><\/h2>\nI started with Nina Ultra Pro\u2122 Base Coat & Ridge Filler. When applied, it was\u00a0white and streaky, which I didn\u2019t care for. With two coats it covered the grooves in my nails nicely. Surprisingly, my manicure lasted 11 days before it started to chip.<\/span><\/p>\n
Price: about $5<\/b><\/p>\n
Likes:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Covered ridges in my nails nicely with two coats<\/span><\/li>\n
- Awesome durability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dislikes:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- White, streaky color that could affect the way polish looks, depending on the color you paint over the basecoat. This made it impossible to wear on its own.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Manicure Durability:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- 11 days before chipping<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/bridge-the-ridge.png\")
Test 2: American Classics – Bridge the Ridge\u00ae<\/b><\/h2>\nThe next test was\u00a0<\/span>American Classics Bridge the Ridge\u00ae<\/b>. It dried quickly, and within two coats. It covered almost all of the grooves on my nails. And, it had a nice matte finish.<\/span><\/p>\n
- 11 days before chipping<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Awesome durability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Topcoat<\/strong>: Sally Hansen\u00ae Insta-Dri\u2122 Anti-Chip Top Coat<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- American Classics Bridge the Ridge\u00ae <\/span><\/li>\n
- Why I tested<\/strong> several popular ridge filler base coats<\/li>\n
- Wet \u2018n Wild Megalast\u00ae The Saving Base<\/strong> (budget-friendly, long-lasting, but \u26a0\ufe0f newer version may stain\u2014check your ingredients!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Finger-Paints-Smooth-Over-Ridge-Filler.png\")
Test 3: Finger Paints – Smooth Over Ridge Filler<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Orly-Ridge-Riller.png\")
Test 4: Orly\u00ae Ridge Filler<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Sally-Hansen-Nail-Rehab.png\")
Test 5: Sally Hansen\u00ae Nail Rehab\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nailcareheadquarters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/wet-n-wild-mega-last-the-saving-base.png\")
Test 6: Wet \u2018n Wild Megalast\u00ae \u00a0The Saving Base <\/b><\/h2>\n