This Quick-Drying Top Coat Is So Good, I Panic At The Thought Of It Ever Being Discontinued
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Posted 3 minutes ago
I will shout from the rooftops to whoever will listen: If you’re going to do your own nails at home, and you’d like to get back to your regularly scheduled programming within five minutes of your last coat of Essie’s your-nails-but-better Bodice Goddess (or whichever hue happens to be speaking to you this season), you need Seche Vite in your arsenal. It’s a thick and clear quick-drying top coat I’ve been buying on repeat for decades and I panic at the thought of it ever being sold out or discontinued.
Marissa Miller/Amazon
As someone with a toddler, another on the way, two cats and a packed schedule, I don’t have the luxury of twiddling my wet thumbs waiting for my nails to dry, let alone spend over an hour and 80 bucks at the salon every month. Here’s why this top coat is worth considering if you, too, would like to get back to your life with professional-looking nails that help you feel polished in minutes.
I first discovered Seche Vite at summer camp decades ago, 11 years after it was launched in 1991. My bunkmate handed it to me as if I was off my rocker for not knowing about it. “This stuff is the best,” she said. “It dries immediately.”
I had previously let wet clumps of nail polish run my life and schedule, only for me to inevitably smudge my polish against a random object and have to redo that nail from scratch, setting me back an hour. Here, Seche Vite uses solvents to chemically bond to and dissolve the top layer of the wet nail polish. The solvents then evaporate, revealing hardened layers of polish free of chips, smudges or bubbling.
In my experience, Seche Vite is most effective on wet (or tacky) nail polish because it needs something to bond to. Your best bet is to apply one thick layer to your nails as opposed to several thin coats, as this will help avoid painting any brush strokes into your nail polish or lifting any pigment onto your brush that can then tint the formula (mine accidentally took on a pinkish tint, but it doesn’t at all transfer onto new manicures). With Seche Vite applied to my nail polish, a manicure lasts as long as three weeks, compared to around five to seven days without it.
The top coat imparts a stunning, glossy sheen with hardening properties. I’m a sucker for the way a fresh set of professionally done nails glimmers in the light. Thanks to the inclusion of resins in its formula, Seche Vite’s glossy texture achieves just that, helping me look more prim and proper than I feel. Said resins also help smooth any inconsistencies in my DIY layer of polish, making it look professionally done.
But beyond its pretty face, it hardens my nail beds, which helps everyday life feel infinitely more comfortable. I live with an autoimmune condition called nail bed psoriasis, which has my nail beds lifting from my fingers. My nails themselves are incredibly brittle. Applying a single coat of Seche Vite atop my hue of choice helps reinforce their structure and helps them feel more affixed to my skin, allowing me to button shirts with confidence or even untie my shoes without wincing.
While Seche Vite does a solid job of hardening the nail bed, it’s a breeze to remove. I simply use an acetone-soaked cotton ball to gently smudge off the polish and top coat, and it removes as quickly as nail polish alone. Once bare, I don’t notice any new damage or weakening to my nail bed. This removal process sits in stark contrast to gel manicures that require I soak my nails in the stuff for several minutes at a time, then have my nail tech shave them off with a surgical-grade electric nail file with drill bits, only to experience noticeable nail bed thinning.
Plus, it’s so affordable it pays for itself. I think of my time as money. When I’m at the mercy of my wet nails and I can’t type on my keyboard for work or wrangle my child in and out of her car seat, for example, I am at a disadvantage and cannot use my time efficiently. Seche Vite costs around $7 per bottle when on sale at Amazon, lasts around two years a pop, and allows me to forego $80 gel manicures every two to three weeks. It’s a no-brainer spend, allowing me to make the most of my life and look good while doing it.
It turns out, I’m not the only fan. The pleased reviews below are proof Seche Vite really nailed it, and you’re going to want to grab a bottle for yourself.
“The best top coat on the market. It goes on super thick, which upon first use, seems weird, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be and it dries really quickly. Within 90 seconds, you’ll be able to touch your tails gently with no smudge. This dries hard and protects your polish better than any other top coat. It’s not like getting a gel manicure, but it’s the greatest product for regular polish. Gives the very best protection against chipping and gives a great shine. It’s the only top coat I use. You can find cheaper top coat, but why not use the best on the market?” —C.J
“Best top coat ever! Dries fast, goes on smooth. I’m buying another bottle and I’m not even finished with the first bottle. No smudging, protects the polish after painting. This stuff is awesome. I will paint my nails weekly because I’ve found what works and I don’t need to go to a nail salon. My nails look great!” —The Digital Reader
“I’ve been using this top coat for YEARS and nothing else quite compares. Every time I try another one, I somehow end up coming right back to this one because it just works. It dries fast, gives that super glossy salon-looking shine, and helps my polish last longer without instantly chipping. I also love that I’m not sitting around for three business days waiting for my nails to dry. One of my forever beauty staples at this point.” —rbp47
“This top coat dries super quick and has that deep gloss look to it. My nails look professionally done and has lasted with no chipping. I have a small crack in one of my fingernails and it coated it so thickly and I am not having any problems with it snagging. So glad I finally bought this and will keep repurchasing it and recommending it!” —CoastalKelley