9.”Base Coat Is Optional”
The belief that base coat is optional in the manicure process reflects a basic ignorance of nail care chemistry and the need of appropriate product layering. Multiple important purposes of base coats directly affect the appearance and health of natural nails. These specialised products create a necessary barrier between the natural nail plate and coloured lacquer, so preventing staining and discolouration and also giving a smooth surface for application of polish. Expert nail artists stress that base coats have special adhesion enhancers and protective elements absent from ordinary polish. Pigments from coloured polish can penetrate and permanently stain the nail plate without a suitable base coat, causing fading and discolouration that might take months to fade off. Furthermore included in base coats are strengthening elements like calcium, vitamin E, and protein compounds meant to nourish and maintain the natural nails. By reducing chipping and peeling, which can damage the natural nail when they occur, base coat adhesive qualities can greatly extend the lifetime of manicues.