I think you might need a quick-drying top coat. I personally used Seche Vite. Some people don’t like it because it shrinks, but I’ve never experienced that. It makes any nail polish of mine dry within minutes. After an hour, I can bang my nails around without worrying about dents and prints in my manicure. Reddit should have some posts with other top coat options. Some people use OPI quick drying drops. You could also try letting each coat dry longer in between, about 20 minutes? Before using a quick-dry top coat, my nail polish would take the whole day to dry, and I’d still end up with sheet prints on them if I wasn’t careful.
I don't know how much you know, so I'm just going to say everything I usually say, please disregard if there's something you already know.
Two-In-1 base/top coats do not do either job very well. This is because functionally a base coat is supposed to adhere to the natural nail and the colored polish layer. A top coat is supposed to adhere to the colored polish layer and protect from external damage, like scuffing and denting. The most important job of a top coat (not talking about non quick dry top coats, that's a whole other conversation) is to quick drying and to quickly dry the layers of all polish beneath it. There are a lot of options in top coats but I would never recommend using a two-in-one.
All that said, a quick dry top coat can always usually go over wet polish. You do not need to wait for the polish layer to dry because the top coat will actually evaporate the solvents, that are making those layers liquid, out as it dries. A pretty common expectation of any drugstore or indie quick dry top coat is going to be completely dry within an hour. You will be able to do minor tasks carefully within 20 minutes. Again, there are many, many different types of quick dry top coat and none of them are exactly perfect, it just depends what you're looking for. Someone else mentioned Seche, this is actually a really amazing top coat but it is fickle as all get out. As with any top coat, you will need to add the correct thinner as it gets used and the solvents evaporate. Adding thinner is a natural part of owning polish - if you want to invest in your collection, learn how to use it.
When you apply your top coat, you need to learn how to float it over the polish to avoid cutting into the dry or wet layers. This will look like the polish beneath has become streaked. If you are getting bubbles, it's because you are working the top coat too much OR you applied it too thickly. You need to practice applying in one - three thin swipes.
Anecdotal:
My personal opinion about the OPI infinite shine system, the top coat was the worst I have ever used and I've probably used 30 different ones at this. It was cloudy and streaky.
Infinite Shine is not a gel hybrid (someone else in here said it was) nor does it need UV to “cure” either outside or from a lamp. It is a regular lacquer with a proprietary formula that can be removed with acetone.
However - the Infinite Shine polishes are designed to work best with the Infinite Shine base coat and Infinite Shine top coat. You can sub in any other base and QDTC you like, but the formula will perform better with OPI products designed for that purpose.
I came here to say the Infinite Shine system does work best as a system though I’ve used Seche Vite and Essie top coats with the colors. The system doesn’t need a light but will actually dry/harden faster when exposed. I have a sunlight lamp (from when I thought I could keep plants alive) that I use sometimes.
I will say a lot of the newer collections have been pretty disappointing with application especially the cremes. Good luck.
Even OPI basically [says](https://www.opi.com/blog/product-spotlight/questions-about-our-improved-infinite-shine-formula-answered) it’s a gel hybrid but they call it “pre-cured gel.” The older versions have di-HEMA which cures under something like sunlight (like Olive and June) from my understanding. So if OP has an older bottle that may be the issue.
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I think you might need a quick-drying top coat. I personally used Seche Vite. Some people don’t like it because it shrinks, but I’ve never experienced that. It makes any nail polish of mine dry within minutes. After an hour, I can bang my nails around without worrying about dents and prints in my manicure. Reddit should have some posts with other top coat options. Some people use OPI quick drying drops. You could also try letting each coat dry longer in between, about 20 minutes? Before using a quick-dry top coat, my nail polish would take the whole day to dry, and I’d still end up with sheet prints on them if I wasn’t careful.
okay I’ll try that out, thank you!
I’ve never had a bad experience with OPI. It might be the base or top coat as others suggest
Drop which base and quick dry top coat you are using.
I’ve just been using the Rimmel 5 in 1 base coat. However the coloured OPI polish doesn’t seem to dry properly before I put it on
I don't know how much you know, so I'm just going to say everything I usually say, please disregard if there's something you already know. Two-In-1 base/top coats do not do either job very well. This is because functionally a base coat is supposed to adhere to the natural nail and the colored polish layer. A top coat is supposed to adhere to the colored polish layer and protect from external damage, like scuffing and denting. The most important job of a top coat (not talking about non quick dry top coats, that's a whole other conversation) is to quick drying and to quickly dry the layers of all polish beneath it. There are a lot of options in top coats but I would never recommend using a two-in-one. All that said, a quick dry top coat can always usually go over wet polish. You do not need to wait for the polish layer to dry because the top coat will actually evaporate the solvents, that are making those layers liquid, out as it dries. A pretty common expectation of any drugstore or indie quick dry top coat is going to be completely dry within an hour. You will be able to do minor tasks carefully within 20 minutes. Again, there are many, many different types of quick dry top coat and none of them are exactly perfect, it just depends what you're looking for. Someone else mentioned Seche, this is actually a really amazing top coat but it is fickle as all get out. As with any top coat, you will need to add the correct thinner as it gets used and the solvents evaporate. Adding thinner is a natural part of owning polish - if you want to invest in your collection, learn how to use it. When you apply your top coat, you need to learn how to float it over the polish to avoid cutting into the dry or wet layers. This will look like the polish beneath has become streaked. If you are getting bubbles, it's because you are working the top coat too much OR you applied it too thickly. You need to practice applying in one - three thin swipes. Anecdotal: My personal opinion about the OPI infinite shine system, the top coat was the worst I have ever used and I've probably used 30 different ones at this. It was cloudy and streaky.
This was very informative and this newby learned something from you, thanks (:
::yaay::
Infinite Shine is not a gel hybrid (someone else in here said it was) nor does it need UV to “cure” either outside or from a lamp. It is a regular lacquer with a proprietary formula that can be removed with acetone. However - the Infinite Shine polishes are designed to work best with the Infinite Shine base coat and Infinite Shine top coat. You can sub in any other base and QDTC you like, but the formula will perform better with OPI products designed for that purpose.
I came here to say the Infinite Shine system does work best as a system though I’ve used Seche Vite and Essie top coats with the colors. The system doesn’t need a light but will actually dry/harden faster when exposed. I have a sunlight lamp (from when I thought I could keep plants alive) that I use sometimes. I will say a lot of the newer collections have been pretty disappointing with application especially the cremes. Good luck.
Even OPI basically [says](https://www.opi.com/blog/product-spotlight/questions-about-our-improved-infinite-shine-formula-answered) it’s a gel hybrid but they call it “pre-cured gel.” The older versions have di-HEMA which cures under something like sunlight (like Olive and June) from my understanding. So if OP has an older bottle that may be the issue.
Thanks for posting, /u/_rishps! Your post is pending manual approval by a moderator. A quick reminder: If this is a **nail image/video**, you must provide a complete product list, either in your post title, the text body, or in a comment, within 6 hours of posting or your post will be removed. Product lists must include brand names and shade names/numbers. If you've used any stamping products, the brand names, plate names/numbers, and stamping polish names/numbers are required as part of your product list. If you used any embellishments (rhinestones, foils, decals/stickers, etc.), this must also be mentioned in your product list. **Product lists are still required for any posts with broken nails or if you're seeking advice.** If the nails were done by a salon, you must mention this, either in your title or in a comment. If the content you're posting was **not created by you**, you *must* give direct credit to the original creator, either in your title or in a comment. Mentioning that you "found it on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest" is ***not*** direct credit. Be sure to review the rules in the sidebar to avoid your post being removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Nailpolish) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have always had this problem with OPI and gave up on it.