Glue Basecoat For Easy Glitter Removal: Instructions, Tips & FAQ

Oh, the things we do for glitter... Right, girls?

True. So painfully true.

Luckily, as I'm sure by now many of you have heard by now, there's a new, easier way to take off your glitter polish: glue basecoat. It all began when Essence came out with a peel-off basecoat, which it turned out was basically just the same ingredients as craft glue, plus some water and preservatives. Remember the weird satisfaction of peeling dried glue off your hands as a little kid? Well this is pretty much the same idea: being able to peel off glitter nail polish all in one go! No scrubbing, no foil, no hassle!

I will try anything for easy glitter removal, so naturally I had to test this out for myself after hearing all the hype. After doing several manis with a glue basecoat, I wanted to share my results with you all, plus some tips in case you were curious to try it too! I'm happy to report that the glue basecoat really works and is the easiest method I've ever tried for glitter removal!

The ingredients are really simple--and dirt cheap too! All you need is some non-toxic glue and an empty polish bottle.

Like so.

 

I made sure to clean out the bottle really well by turning it upside down for a few hours and then swirling some acetone inside for good measure too. Then I squirted the glue inside the bottle until it was about 85% full. I added a bit of water to make the glue thinner and more workable, but this step is completely optional. I personally don't like working with thick bases, but everyone is different, so you can fill it all the way up with just glue if you prefer. If you do add water though, make sure you shake the bottle up afterwards to really mix it in good with your glue.

Then, simply apply the glue like you would a normal basecoat. Allow about 5 minutes to dry (5-10 if you didn't add water), then go ahead and paint your nails like usual. When you're ready to take your mani off however many days later, wedge in a cuticile stick or something similar and go to town peeling! It's oddly addicting! I always just peel the polish off in the shower. The glitter comes right off and you can usually get it all in one big piece too.

Now for the FAQ portion of this post:

Is it safe?
So long as you're using craft glue (check your labels--think Elmer's or something similar), then it's non-toxic. Children have been using this stuff in school for years with no ill effects. Heck, some of you probably ate Elmer's glue in elementary school--you know who you are. ;)

Does it damage your nails?
I haven't seen any negative impact on the strength or texture of my nails. If anything, it's made my nails and my cuticles happier because I'm not soaking them in acetone all the time! However, this does lead me to my next point, which is important...

Do I use a regular basecoat with a glue basecoat?
No. I've read some people saying you can if you really want to, but that it makes removal more difficult. Others have also said that pairing glue basecoats with some traditional basecoats (Orly Bonder, OPI Nail Envy, etc.) has caused the glue to pull up layers of their actual nail. So only use a glue basecoat on bare nails!

Is this basecoat waterproof? How well does it wear?
I've been able to shower and wash my hands as usual with the glue basecoat and the glue holds up just fine. I haven't noticed any significant differences in weartime or durability.

Hopefully this post has been helpful! I think this is a real game-changer for us glitterhounds. It's cheap, it's easy and it works! What's not to like? :) Happy polishing, ladies!