i use the opi axxium no-cleanse uv top sealer. after curing it, the topcoat starts cracking. i cure it for 2 minutes. is this too long?
784385
My first question is are you using it on natural nails? Or artificial nails?
784386
I usually stay under the UV lamp for about 5 min. But chipping really depends on the nail color and what activities you put your nails thru. Sometimes my Essie will chip in 2 days sometimes my OPI will chip in 4. Some colors will last more than others regardless of the brand too. Good Luck. Teri
784387
I am a nail technician who specializes in artificial nails and have been using this product for about 10 years. 2 min is the recommended cure time for this product. First off I have a couple of questions regarding use for troubleshooting purposes. What type of nail are you applying to? This product is for artificial nails (ie. acrylics and permanent uv gel nails) only as a acetone proof finish coating and not for use as a coating for natural nails or for use for gel manicure products. There are other products out there that are for natural nail use that are better for sealing nail polish and are made to be compatible with traditional nail polish that stay for almost 3 weeks! What type of uv lamp and bulb wattage are you using? And more important how old are the bulbs. Best uv bulb wattage is the 4- 9 watt uv lamps. Also note this isn't a product that is compatable with " at home uv lamps or LED lamps. Hope to help you. Sounds from your post you are applying to something that the product isn't made for. Cracking comes from improper use and normally comes from placing it on top of nail polish and or as a nail strengthener which it isn't made for and doesn't have the flexibility that natural nails have. Other products on the market for application as a nail polish sealer have a little more flexibility and won't crack.
317790
I found the crack sealer became hard within 48 hours with our cool nights in the 50's. But with our days in the 90's it would become somewhat pliable during the day. To apply your sealer over the top of it I wanted to make sure it was solid so I waited one week.
1547292
Ynot sure I have the large countertop sealer...but after using it a few times the bottom of the container got spider cracks and didnt keep a seal very long once the cracks started to appear.
1859252
first opi gels, apply base coat to clean nails, place under lamp0 seconds, next apply opi gel color your preference, then light for 2 minutes, every treatment color r tips have to go under the laamp finish with top coat, lamp then use alcohol 90% or higher to stop the tackiness you have to use alcohol, make sure nails are smooth when you start and this should give you a two week finish. don't mix gels with regular polish it won't work
722295
It takes 30 seconds per coat to cure. Uv lights take 2 minutes per coat. I love this light and I do my nails about once a week so it was a good investment for me. I know they have a smaller LED light kit at Walmart for about $40 that a friend of mine purchased.
1815062
File the top coat to break the seal then soak off. Some ppl don't file its up to you :):):):)
2064637
I used it on top of gel polish before thou and I noticed they cracked. If you'd like it for gel or nail polish I suggest the other IBD top coat. I don't remember the name of it BT its a white bottle.
1759353
Are you using LED or UV lamp? I used LED and it never peeled or chipped (except a broken nail while camping). On the LED lamp, I wiped nails with alcohol after filing, put on PH bond (left over from my Gelish kit), cured base coat for 45 seconds, cured first coat of color 45 seconds, cured second coat of color 45 seconds, then cured top coat for 1.5 minutes. I have not tried UV lamp because I stopped using once I got the LED one.
1297051
I can only respond to how to clean it as I am unsure about the sealer. I wash it with warm sudsy water and to make it shine I use orange oil.
1836326
Didn't apply too much; problem is that you didn't remove it all. The finish should be smooth as silk and super bright. This is a CLEANER and a polish. It takes a lot of work to remove it all. Use a very soft cloth, but you will need to rub hard, and concentrate on one small area at a time. Also, don't let it get wet for 24 hours; it has to "cure". All worth it, though.
1342800
I started with the one step compound and the Orange pad and it came out flawlessly. I'd recommend in progressive grades to be safe. Always use a wax sealer after otherwise that oxidation will come right back.
1275238
This product does not soak off, nor is it intended to be used over soak off gels and polish. It is however brilliant over acrylics and hard gels (non-soak off), this product should be used over filed (but not buffed) nail enhancements. Soak off gels and polishes are too smooth and flexible for this sealer to adhere properly and not crack.
1089092
It would take you way too long to buff out by hand an orange peel effect with this stuff, it doesn't cut down the clear coat enough to get it right. It would need a buffer with various grades of cutting compound followed by glaze to seal it in depending on how bad the peel is.
828094
The last coat will come off with Purify if it wasn't cured long enough, or possibly because it was too thick. You need to apply thin coats of color.
1173288
We use OPI for school, and it's great!!!!!!!!! ... LED is faster but UV can be used for both Gel and Axxium... whats 30 secs?! I rather have a UV light and cure it for 30 more secs than to pay for a LED light and a UV light, because LED won't cure Axxium, which is like the acrylic of gel!!
1759352
Hi Colleen, What kind of lamp are you using? I have the cheap Sensationail LED one and I only do 60 second per coat - 2 minutes seems highly unnecessary unless you're using a UV lamp (which I recommend you get rid of... UV lamps tan/age your hands, go for LED!). What brand are you using for the polish colour? If it's not OPI, that might be why you're having issues. A lot of brands aren't super compatible, especially if you're using a drugstore brand (non-pro) with OPI. I use the OPI base & top coats mostly with OPI colour and it always lasts until I remove it or it grows off. If you find yourself frequently wetting/drying your hands (e.g. a weekend spent at the beach frequently in and out of the water) you might find it starts peeling because that amount of expanding and shrinking of your nails is going to make it difficult for the polish to stay adhered. If you have naturally oily skin/nails it might just mean that gel polish isn't going to work for you. But if you've had gel polish done at a salon and it's worked just fine, then something in your technique isn't working. Finally, get the OPI bond-aid - if that doesn't help the gel polish stick to your nails (I don't use it because I find it makes it too hard to remove), then I think you're out of luck with gel polish. Try shellac (chips like crazy on me but I know it works for other people really well).
1683804
I use this top coat over all of my polishes...OPI, Essie and anything else. Reapplying every 3-4 days is good too, as it keeps your nails strong and boosts the shine. It's a very fast drying top coat, which makes it super easy....I can use it at night with no fears of getting sheet marks on my nails.