What are the best Essie Care Products for your Nail Type?

Ok obsessies, humor us: after picking out your favorite color at the nail salon for that well-deserved mani/pedi, have you ever paid attention to what base and top coats your nail tech uses on you before & after polish? If the answer is no, this post is to convince you that choosing the right base and top coat for your nails is just as important as choosing the right products for your hair & skin; different nail types have different needs. So we broke down the 4 basic nail types and paired each one with the perfect essie care products, so you can take them with you and wow your manicurist at your next salon visit! Which type are you?

1. NORMAL NAILS:  if you’ve got normal nails, you likely have smooth nail beds that resist chipping, bend slightly under pressure without snapping, and grow easily. This nail type still needs protection from stains and a longwearing glossy manicure, so reach for here to stay  basecoat to get that perfect, smooth base that still ensures lengthy wear. To top it off, invest in a fashion week favorite, the speed.setter  top coat, for a high-gloss shine that dries in less than a minute.

2. RIDGED NAILS: we’ve all seen ridged nails - those irritating little grooves that appear on nails for any reason-environmental stress, damage, genetics (sigh), or most commonly, age (no sighing here, celebrate it!) As we age, our nails thicken and retain less moisture, which causes re-growth with ridges. While we can’t reverse this, there are ways to conceal ridges and prevent future ones. The very best base coat for this? smooth-e. It fills in ridges, and also contains ceramide, proven to hydrate and prevent moisture loss. Pair this with the speed.setter  top coat, a slightly thicker top coat formula that helps smooth over any remaining ridges on the nails to finish with a glass like shine.

3. DRY NAILS: dry nails are slightly chalky, and may potentially have a few white spots. Their structure is brittle, and quick to snap at the tip. The causes for a nail like this can be overuse or abuse of nail enhancement products like acrylics, environmental triggers like cold weather, or genetics (double sigh). For these thirsty nails, the best treatment would be a moisturizing polish like all-in-one which is a base AND top coat. This little guy is infused with argan oil, and is a double whammy that you apply before and after your color.

4. WEAK NAILS: beyond just bending way too easily, weak nails peel, and are sometimes sensitive to touch or temperature. If this sounds like your nails, then strong start base coat is the solution. Formulated with strengthening biotin, all in one is a color adhesive and fortifier in one.

And every obsessie knows the absolute holy-grail care product for all nail types is the apricot cuticle oil, which instantly conditions & moisturizes for nourished cuticles and strengthened nails. Remember: whether normal, ridged, dry, or weak, all nails deserve love & polish. Obsess with ours!