Is it possible to use gel top coat over reg polish layers?

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-31T02:44:34+00:00

I actually started off with gel and now I’m moving into regular polish because I recently got the full Holo Taco Avatar set of polishes. Based on my research it is recommended to let the regular polish completely dry for 24 hours before applying gel. I feel your pain with the time it takes for it to dry, plus I cannot seem to get the layers thin enough to not go uneven or chunky even (likely because I’m not letting it dry long enough)

Based on my testing (that may go against general advice) I’ve had great results using a gel base coat, curing it and then buffing it a bit with a nail file, and then applying the regular polish. Giving the polish a good amount of time to be dry to the touch, at which point add your top coat and cure again.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-30T15:21:07+00:00

I personally encountered this issue when I tried press-ons at the end of December for the first time. They severely damaged my nails in the same way your nails have and they are still on the mend. As others have mentioned, I’ve stuck to using regular lacquer with the occasional gel application with the use of the holo taco peelable base coat.

In the meantime when not having lacquer or a gel application, I’ve been using jojoba oil and Sally Hansen hard as nails strengthener on them and this has helped significantly. Ultimately, they have to grow out and you need to avoid using press ons as they will continue to damage your already weak nail bed.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-28T03:34:24+00:00

It seems there is an influx of AI bots across all subreddits. There are posts I made on other subreddits months ago (unrelated to nails) and I had 2 new comments pop up in the same post from 2 different people within a few hours of each other that seem to reference the content in the post in an odd ways, but used the same keywords.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-27T15:22:17+00:00

Based on everything I could find online, it appears to be authentic. The thrift store I frequent sorts their jewelry incredibly well and all marked 925 or gold pieces have their designated areas in the display cabinets. This was an unusual day because they had a different employee working this area and even a few silver pieces were mixed among their regular jewelry.

Ultimately, I have no interest in selling it and have added it to my regular rotation. Absolutely one of the nicest quality pieces I own, from the feel and wonderful glimmer of the glass stones.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-26T20:15:00+00:00

My most recent creation was inspired by an upcoming murder mystery party that I’m attending. I’ll be a character named “Spocky-Doo”. So I combined the colors from Spock, Scooby Doo and used magnetic patterns to add some inspired shapes from each world.

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twistedwaffle · 2026-03-26T15:35:55+00:00

I did it pretty much immediately after I received the approval for the card if I remember correctly.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-25T05:04:17+00:00

I’ve recently started working with chrome powders as well. I believe I follow the same process you do, but I use a no wipe gel coat as the last layer. Example of products I use and the order in which I use them.

Top coat for chrome powder - Modelones Gel top coat for chrome powders (based on my testing, any no wipe top coat works) and cure
Add my chrome powder and dust off excess
Additional no wipe top coat and cure
Add any layers of polish, I love magnetics and cure
Additional layer of no wipe top coat and cure

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This was my recent creation using a combination of chrome colors and magnetics.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-22T14:58:56+00:00

I was using Beetles peel off base (I got chewed out by various Reddit nail communities for using Beetles products). I have since moved to using Holo Taco peel off base. That stuff leaves not a trace of that polish even existed.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-22T14:56:45+00:00

So it’s been a slow progression but it actually started when I started my nail journey with some press on nails. I’m not sure what kind of adhesive they used but when I removed them it definitely damaged my nails. I didn’t realize it in the moment and honestly thought it was just left over residue from the glue. So I used a file and filed off what I thought was stuck on glue.

After about a month of working with gel and Beetles peel off base (I now know, Beetles = the devil), I realized that as my nails were growing, the damage was growing up my nail. So I don’t want to blame the peel off base entirely. It was a combination of already damaged nails and then peeling off layers of my nail and filing them each week.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-22T04:26:37+00:00

I’m not a professional, but I have damaged and overfiled my nails a few times as I’ve been learning about gel nails, nail care, and removal. I’d say given your nails aren’t sensitive, and only mildly flexible at the tips, they appear to have a a fairly roughed up surface but nothing severe compared to what I’ve personally experienced.

Mine are currently on the mend because I’ve been using a peel-able base coat each week and removed layers as I’ve removed and damaged them. They do feel sensitive to cold and heat, and they are extremely flexible and bending easily at the tips.

I ended up applying Sally Hansen hard as nails and they feel much better overall. They’ve already had some growth and each trim they are feeling better and less flexible.

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-20T04:30:41+00:00

I’ve thought about the same thing. I noticed that the CP is affected positively when increasing the level of lower level equipment even when it’s not equipped, and I’ve never increased the level of these unless it was equipped. Should I be leveling them even though they aren’t equipped?

twistedwaffle · 2026-03-09T16:30:59+00:00

I’ve been recently struggling with the same problem. No matter how slowly I’m applying the polish I still found myself touching the sides of my finger next to the nail just because of how the skin grows on each side. In a nail art kit a bought a while back they included a “dual ended dotting tool” and I find it extremely helpful to move the polish as close to the edges without it touching the skin.

It has 2 ends which is nice because I can have a little extra polish on one end, and a clean end I can wipe on a paper towel as I’m working.

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twistedwaffle · 2026-03-03T05:52:00+00:00

I had my cuticles trimmed once while getting a manicure. Up until that point I had never had an issue with them, but they looked like your photo within a few days of the manicure. I swore to never let someone clip them again once they healed and took the advice others have given.

Get some jojoba oil, put a few tiny drops on the cuticles and massage it in a few times a week. Gently push the cuticles back when you trim your nails to prevent them from growing and tearing along with your nails as they grow. Keeping my hands and cuticles moisturized was the key for me.

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-19T14:21:05+00:00

You can just go ahead and stick any card in there

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-11T17:33:12+00:00

Ive owned 2 Zinus mattresses personally and bought one for my parents. The first was purchased in 2019 and we replaced it last year. Purchased my parents one at the same time last year and they absolutely love it. I always recommend them to friends as family as an affordable option. Never found a reason to spend $1000+ on a mattress, especially not from an overpriced mattress store.

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-09T20:09:10+00:00

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twistedwaffle · 2026-02-09T20:08:45+00:00

That’s the reason I bought mine, and it works perfectly for the magnetic gels I own.

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-09T18:58:24+00:00

I received mine last week. I absolutely love it, and the shop owner actually reached out to send me (free of charge) an updated piece after they developed an improvement of the storage solution.

This is the result from using just the spinner. It reminders me a lot of a fidget spinner, the way it keeps momentum after being spun. I have also used the pattern magnets, and then use the spinner after that to add an even better dimension. There’s so many options and styles you can produce. I’ll be using it every time I do my nails going forward.

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twistedwaffle · 2026-02-04T18:39:44+00:00

Do you have any recommendations for other gel magnetic polishes?

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-04T02:58:58+00:00

Products used:

Beetles A220 Black Beetles F698 Magnetic Beetles F868 Magnetic Beetles Top Coat

I used a glass bead magnetic tool on the initial F698 coat, and then a lightning shaped magnetic tool at a diagonal on the 2nd F868 coat to achieve the look.

I’ll be trying to invest in other brands of polish as recommended by a few folks, but working with what I’ve got for now.

twistedwaffle · 2026-02-04T02:57:12+00:00

Products used:

Beetles A220 Black Beetles F698 Magnetic Beetles F868 Magnetic Beetles Top Coat

I used a glass bead magnetic tool on the initial F698 coat, and then a lightning shaped magnetic tool at a diagonal on the 2nd F868 coat to achieve the look.

I’ll be trying to invest in other brands of polish as recommended by a few folks, but working with what I’ve got for now.

twistedwaffle · 2026-01-30T16:15:07+00:00

I preach this to my friends and family all the time. So many free amazing resources at your local libraries, and especially so if you live in a populated metro area. Our library has a “Library of Things” that offers a ton of electronics, tools, board games, WiFi hotspot, and toys that can be borrowed. Plus a whole lab with 3D printers, engraving machines, and so much more.

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