Current Manicure Staples

I'm often asked how I keep my nails long without breaking or how I paint my nails to prevent them from chipping - and truth be told, apart from just having really good nails naturally (which isn't too helpful if you ain't got that, is it?), my answer would be using a good base coat/ strengthener and top coat. For me, a manicure is simply not complete without these two extra steps; heck, I would rather skip the nail polish altogether rather than skip my staples.

Currently, I am using the Nail Tek Hydration Therapy III For Dry, Brittle Nails ($14.95 for 15ml/ 0.5 fl oz) as my base coat and nail strengthener of choice. I don't necessarily have very brittle nails but I do have strong, nearly unflexible nails that tend to get very dry from house/work chores and well, wearing nail polish all the time. I think it's the lack of moisture that causes the tips of my nails to split as well as some peeling on the surface of my nails. In the past, I've used the regular Nail Tek II strengthener as well as OPI Nail Envy, which I both liked but find that Nail Tek Hydration not only keeps my nails from getting too dried out and for some bizarre reason, really helps my nail polish to adhere better and prevents chips.

Essie Good To Go! Fastest Drying Top Coat ($10 for 15ml/ 0.5 fl oz) is what I've been using to seal a finished manicure. I don't really have a whole lot to say about it, other than the fact that it gets the job done without any fuss. I previously used both Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat as well as INM Out The Door and I think that from these three, Seche Vite dries the fastest and the shiniest but is also the most stinky and gloopy, and given that Out The Door is half the price of Essie, I'll probably stick to that next time.

Do you always use a base coat and a top coat when you do your nails? What are your manicure staples?