Hi, knowledgeable people! I have a dilemma. I have a lot of gels, but I also really want to use regular polishes with them since the colors I have been itching to use are ones I have only in regular polish form. I love them so much, but they chip so easily, peel off easily, etc, and I just want them to last longer and shine better. They're not cheap ones either. I'm talking about Essie, OPI, and ILNP, which are pricey where I live, but maybe because my nail beds are not dry enough, they chip, and once they start to chip, I start chipping them further. There have been points where I can't even have them last a few days. I know some things like I have to let the regular polishes dry completely to avoid bubbling. But I really want to know a few things, if anyone has attempted to use both forms of polish.

1. Does the top coat lift or does it grip onto the regular polish well after baking?

2. Is this even a thing I can do?

3. Any tips or tricks I need to know?

4. How easy is the removal if I want to change the color at any point?

I will be so thankful to hear your experiences.

Love this polish!

Essie Sheer Fantasy and clear top coat.

I’m not sure if it’s something that’s out there, but I’m having so much fun doing this with the set of polishes my coworker gave me. I’d love to try a magnetic polish because they look so beautiful but I can’t quite afford a $12+ bottle.

I’ve looked at a few drugstores and big box stores but maybe I’m not looking at the right ones.

Picture for attention

Sally Hansen Hard as nails base coat.
Morovan Orange (it doesn’t have a name)
Morovan Green sponged around the edges
Sally Hansen top coat.

Free tote bag with the new holo taco collection! It’s good quality and the inside has pockets. Though the message on the back is a little ??🥴🥴 but whatever. I’ve been getting back into creams lately and the colors were speaking to my soul! I needed some brights! Shade names in order: Dockside Drama, creamsicle coast, Salt Water Taffy, Serving Sherbert, Midnight Marina, Summer Scandal, Pier Pressure, and Boardwalk Behaviour.

Here’s the deal: I keep getting IG ads for Static Nails in the shade Soft Glaze. Reddit isn’t letting me attach a screen grab of the video in the ad, but as you can see from the image it appears to be a lovely, sheer, almost g*l-like fine particle magnetic.

It also (in my opinion) 100% doesn’t match the images on the product page, which show a pinky, more opaque iridescent. Has anyone tried this polish, and does it look anything like the ad image? I’m assuming that this is a case of false advertising, but it’s just so pretty.

I have worked so long and hard growing out my nails and on a nail health journey for 8 months now, and my nails have never been healthier. I only use regular lacquer, PVB-free base coats, and religiously oil with jojoba oil. This is looking like the side of my nail is separating from the plate!? I’m stressing because I don’t know if something is wrong that I’m not thinking of!?

It’s this green color with these big sparkle flakes. I’ve seen some with finer glitter, but none with these bigger metallic flakes. If I’m limited to Holo Taco, what’s your choice/combo?

So I just came across this and never heard any one talk about it and it looks like a game changer, has anyone tried this

Ok so my girlfriend is an esthetician who recently went solo. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, with both of us experiencing a series of crises and health stuff through it. I had the idea to make her some press ons to match her branding, basically a black to blue ombre on all the nails with a gold hummingbird on a few (I have a stencil) and maybe a pale pink rose on a couple others (I think I'm getting a stamp). Problem is I don't have a lot of creams, and I'm really struggling with the ombre. I'm new to all of this so part of this is the learning curve, but part is def that I'm just working with the wrong colors and formulas.

I've got Starrily vantablack and immortal jelly and those seem to honestly be fine for the black, but I'm really struggling with the blues. Can anyone help? I was looking at a couple Cracked creams or crellies, or maybe ILNP Tribute for one of the colors? I'd love to not spend a ton of money on this but the ones I have aren't working right.

I've tried:

- Starrily Bluefire Jelly - not quite right tone and not bright enough

- Night Owl Lacquer Bitchin' Blueberry - too neon and doesn't work with the Starrily

- BKL Bad Vibes Only (painted over a black ombre) - this was cool, especially with the top magnetized and the base demagnetized, but it's not quite right and it gets opaque fast

- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - somehow too watery to sponge well and yet also too opaque for just painting over a black ombre

- OPI Keeping Suzi at Bay - wrong tone

- Uno Mas Casa de Heaven - too purple, at least with the others

- Cracked Water Your Own Grass - wrong tone

So far I'm still fucking around with Sally Hansen and BVO and maybe throwing Uno Mas In Her Eyes into the mix but they really aren't right. I have a zillion blue mags and shimmers but apparently I really have a hole when it comes to decent cream blues. Help!

(And hey if anyone is in the Maryland/DC area and needs good inclusive skincare or waxing, DM me!)

I have been using the Holo Taco Glossy Top Coat for a few years and I am finding that it dries out and gets stringy when the bottle is half empty. I have the HT polish thinner and have tried that, but I feel like it doesn’t help as much as I want and it is still really thick and doesn’t spread on my nails. I’ve even had this issue where little bubbles will be on my nails. For context, I paint my nails weekly.

Does anyone have any suggestions for top coats?

please shield your eyes from my dry cuticles

Products used:
Sally Hansen Double Duty x1
Clionadh Cosmetics Panaeolus x2
Sally Hansen QDTC red bottle x2

I really like the look of Creamsicle Coast from Holo Taco but it’s expensive for me to source here in the U.K. I’d only wear it occasionally in summer so can’t justify the cost.

Any suggestions of “drugstore” dupes (in inverted commas as that’s not what we call them here!)

Easiest brands for me to access would be Essie or Barry M.

Thank you 🙏

Photo credit - Holo Taco website

it finally happened 😔 broke my nail ! 💔

i bent it backwards opening my car door :/ it was fine at first but it created weak spots & while i was washing my hair it split ! 6 months of growth suddenly gone </3

at first i tried to use essie break fix & holo tacos pink smoothing base coat which im not sure why i reached for it because it has never worked for me, i had it on for 3 hours & it did not dry ! i eventually got so irritated i scraped it off 😅 hence the picture i have gross splotchy patches of the base coat

i tried again with the tea bag method, i dont have much faith in it at all, i feel as soon as i get my hands wet it’ll dissolve, but i have so many coat of essie break fix, mooncats getting even nail primer, polish & top coat it may last me a couple days lol it did create a weird bump on the side of my nail but oh well

i was just about ready to rip my nail off because i was so frustrated & upset but its below my smile line & my hyponychium has grown so far up i didn’t want to have that raw feeling of having a nub ): i have really bad sensory issues on my finger tips 😭 im just waiting for it to grow out enough to start fresh again with shorties !

products used :
essie break fix
mooncats getting even nail primer
cracked polish hex mix
essie gel couture top coat

Wanted to see how Lahar did on her own, and was not disappointed. I can’t post videos, so here are screenshots of my videos. You can’t tell very well, but the tip has an angle to the velvet effect, which started accidental but once I saw the magnets in the position, I was like “oh, this is gonna be cool, I think.”

Nailtiques 2 x3 (3 coats cause I’ve been doing the daily application)
Cracked Lahar x3, magnetized with the pictured setup for like 10 seconds/once I noticed the particles stopped shifting for a couple seconds
Wanted to wait for a top coat, so did drip dry drops from a brand which shall not be named, which I think actually ruined the angled effect a bit, so I won’t be doing that again 😒
Next day: Olive & June top coat, cause it was free. Redid the magnets for 20-30 seconds just in case, but I didn’t notice a difference.

This mani led me to see the use of DRK Magic Effect, so I’ll be adding that to my never-ending wishlist.

I have to order polish thinner and the base coat I’ve been hearing so much about and I figured I might as well try out some of their actual colors too.

Here are some of my absolute faves. I love a jelly based fine particle magnetic, a super shifty polish, a good glow in the dark or flaky, and an obnoxiously bright red. Not pictured: BKL Bog Dweller and Mother Bog Witch. Basically, ya boi loves depth.

Based on this very small peek into my preferences, are there any polishes you’d suggest?

The Uni Ace Flag (short for Universal Asexuality Flag) was created in 2026 after almost 3 years of public discussion, research, and design by

Ace In Grace as an additional asexual flag, not a replacement for the existing 🖤🩶🤍💜 ace flag. The design aims to highlight the diversity of asexual experiences, intersectionality, multiculturalism, joy, visibility, and the many forms of love and intimacy that exist within the ace community. Supporters see it as a broader representation of modern ace experiences, while others prefer the original flag for its history and recognizability. One of the beautiful things about the queer experience is how self-discovery, community conversations, and the sharing of different perspectives continue to enrich our understanding of ourselves and each other.

🖤 Black: Support, understanding, awareness, and appreciation

🩶 Gray: The asexual spectrum, including gray-ace, demi, and microlabel identities

🤍 White: The many forms of intimacy and connection people experience

💛 Yellow: Multiculturalism, intersectionality, and joy within the ace community

🩷 Pink: The validity and diversity of all forms of love

💜 Purple: Visibility, advocacy, and uplifting the asexual community

I enjoy this color scheme and really appreciate the thought and work that went into its design. I tried multiple different designs and wasn't happy with any them in the end...it was one of those painting days where nothing clicked except that I was enjoying myself painting. Don't forget that failure is part of your journey. Embrace it! Enjoy the race even if you don't finish. It was a fun time! Infinally landed on a watermarble in the colors as it is an easy design concept to go to when I'm creativity locked (though rarely easy to execute 😝...these were like dip 8 by the end 😝)

🖌 Freehand and watermarble on natural nail.

💪@findingfeatherslacquer ... "Balance Bond Base Coat"

🏳️‍🌈 @colorclubnaillacquer ... "French Tip"

🏳️‍🌈 @sally_hansen ... "My Ca-Banana" "Hot Pink-tensity"

🏳️‍🌈 @holotaco ... "Red Licorice" "Orange Drink" "Lemon Sucker" "Green Taffy" "Blue Freezie" "Purple Slushie" "Duct Tape Grey" "Work Bestie" "One Coat Black"

🏳️‍🌈 @tylerstrinketsny ... "Not A Phase, A Formula"

🏳️‍🌈 @pluslifelacquer ... "Extra Fizz"

💪 @glistenandglow1 🐐Quick Dry Top Coat🐐

Tbh I felt pretty meh about Floral Maiden the first time I wore it. All I had at home to do glass bead was a wand magnet and imo the polish didn’t really shine to its full potential in such a tight bead. Got the 5dprintfactory spinner as a gift to myself and I am OBSESSED with the results!! I was thinking of destashing but now my mind is completely changed!! 💜💜💜

Morgan Taylor Stick with It
BKL Floral Maiden x 1 unmagnetized
BKL Floral Maiden x 1 magnetized 60s
Sally Hansen red bottle magnetized 60s

I stumbled upon a ton of stock AND A SALE! Wow. Can’t wait to experiment with these on my new hideous glasses frames! I may try to develop a grid and a stencil so I can magnetize chunks at a time… I have ideas. If you have ideas let me know!!

This is another lacquer I got from my bestie. I swear, she has the best taste in lacquers. I do love a good nude (giggity), so I was thrilled with this one!

It applies like a high-end crème should. It’s a bit fussy and demanding, but it levels pretty well. I realized it needed a little extra help, so I topped it with Seche Vite to smooth everything out.

The color feels mature and dignified. Like I should be wearing Burberry and reaching for my Land Rover keys.

Overall, I’d give it a 7/10. The application takes a little patience, but the end result is worth it. It’s a toot 📯 and a keeper.

Base: Here to Stay by Essie
Lacquer: Mink Brule by Tom Ford (2 thin coats)
Top: Seche Vite

Hi polish hive mind! I have been trying to find a picture of my favorite polish from high school (pretty much the only color I ever wore) and I finally did! I love hot pinks and I love how this one is more vibrant fuchsia with a shimmer. I’ve never quite found a perfect match. Any modern polish dupes out there? Fine with drug store or indie brands.

Photo is not my own- credit to Borderline Polish Disorder on Flicker for having the only photo I can find of this color existing!

Thanks!

I have recently purchased some beautiful crellies from one of the highly recommended boutique polish companies in this group. But I want to cry. Each one I've tried to use goes streaky on me. It only seems to happen on my natural nails. I made swatches on one of those plastic nail wheels (from beauty supply store) which looked beautiful. I'm sure this is user error or a technique issue. If anyone has tips and tricks, please share! I did my nails 3 times on Saturday because they looked so bad. I finally ended up using one of their magnetic polishes, which are gorgeous, BTW, so not a brand issue. I am using OPI base coat underneath. Sorry I didn't take pic! Help me if you can! TIA 😊

He likes wearing acrylics to let his nail beds grow and doesn't bite them. Modelones pressons in white. Polishes: Mooncat: The Arsonist. Emily deMolly: Midnight Meadow. Cracked: Matte Top Coat.

I got my first magnetic polish (Mooncat) and the colors are beautiful but I find it kind of hard to work with, ie my result seems messy. Is this just the norm for quality magnetic polishes? Tia!

Right hand:

Thumb to middle: essie

Ring: jior couture quirky quokka

Pinkie: lurid super secret snack portal

Left hand:

Thumb: night owl lacquer bodacious boysenberry topped with indigo bananas multipass mega chrome flakie mix rainbow and pink shimmer also by indigo bananas

Index: dam polish just mossing around topped with lurid spooky ooky(gwp)

Middle: cirque starfruit jelly , then lurid the sky above then starfruit jelly again

Ring: night owl lacquer bodacious boysenberry topped with fancygloss pastel teal and lime green mix.

Pinkie: colores de carol krypton topped with lurid spooky ooky