• Sleek bottle of essie nail care 'Strong Start' base coat against a clean white background.
Average rating includes incentivized reviews base coat

Strong Start Base Coat

Strong Start, our biotin-infused base coat, boosts nail strength and helps reinforce for less weak and brittle feeling nails.

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Strong Start Base Coat Frequently Asked Questions

  • Biotin (Vitamin B7) is a vital nutrient known to support the infrastructure of keratin, the primary protein that makes up your natural nails. By infusing biotin into Strong Start, the formula helps reinforce and bond the delicate layers of your nail plate, making weak nails feel significantly harder and less prone to splitting.

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46 reviews with 5 stars.
14 reviews with 4 stars.
2 reviews with 3 stars.
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overall rating

4.7

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1 to 8 of 63 reviews .
1 – 8 of 63 reviews

Excellent!

4 days ago
To start, I always have trouble getting my polish to stick. Usually within 1-3 days I consistently get chips no matter what prep method I use, polish I use, or top coat I use. But this base coat changed that. With one swipe + a quick dry polish and NO top coat my manicure lasted a full 6 days before chipping. Not to mention - I put it through the TEST. Between harsh chemicals on my hands, lots of activities, and the fact that I got in a serious car accident, my polish stuck on. Im amazed! If your looking for a good base coat, this is the one.
type of nail polish userregular/average

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Hands down the best top coats!

5 months ago
Hands down Essie makes the best base coats! Between Strong Start to Here To Stay! Leave my nails feeling strong and does not damage my nails!
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

It's making my nails peel and split.

8 months ago
Since using this base coat, my nails are peeling away! I have had the same reaction to UPI base and polish, so I do not use that brand. Essie has been my sole nail care for several years. I loved, loved Essie Smooth-e base. Why has it been discontinued??? Can you advise regarding finding an Essie base formula that won't damage my nails?
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
5 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there MimiC7, We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Another base coat option to consider is the Here To Stay Base Coat. https://www.essie.com/nail-care/base-and-top-coats/here-to-stay Meanwhile, if you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET

This base coat changed my life!!

a year ago
This is the best thing ever. I started using it a few years ago when my nails were insanely chippy and constantly chipping, and my nails are so SOLID! I could cut glass with how hard my nails are now. I recommend this to everyone.
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
helpful?

Beautiful Nails

4 years ago
I have been using the Essie Strong Start + Us for a couple of months and I have definitely noticed my nails are not peeling or chipping as a result of using this product. I like that when I used the strong start as my base coat my top coat of color lasted longer and didn't chip or peel off. Definitely has helped my nails become stronger.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Necessary step!

4 years ago
I love painting my nails but sometimes that leaves my nails feeling a bit brittle. This base coat is amazing and I love that it is infused with biotin to make my nails stronger. Definitely recommend!!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Stronger Nails

4 years ago
I have a hard time getting my nails to grow. This nail treatment has worked wonders. My nails are the longest they have ever been! I use it as a base coat when I paint my nails another color. When I dont have color on I keep this on! My nails are so pretty

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Stronger nails

4 years ago
This essie base coat is a must have in my opinion. My nails always break so easily and are brittle. This has definitely helped with that. I have been using this for over a month now and my nails are much more healthier and stronger. I have used this with nail polish which makes it last even longer. I have even used this on its own and it makes my nails look simple but pretty. I have actually been able to grow out my nails longer without them breaking. I would highly recommend this to anyone that has the same issues with their nails as I do.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?
1 – 8 of 63 reviews

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46 reviews with 5 stars.
14 reviews with 4 stars.
2 reviews with 3 stars.
1 review with 2 stars.
0 reviews with 1 star.

overall rating

4.7

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9 to 38 of 63 reviews .
9 – 38 of 63 reviews

It works!

4 years ago
I got this over a month ago and wanted to be fair with my review. It is a good base coat noticed a difference in the strength of my nails after a couple uses also good at stopping nail polish from chipping.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

perfect for people trying to heal their nails!

4 years ago
I frequently get gel manicures; however, I've been trying to limit that given the state of my nails. They are really brittle and weak. So in lieu of gel manicures, I have started giving myself normal manicures at home....and this base coat is AMAZING. not only does it make the nail polish last, but it also strengthens my nails. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great product!

4 years ago
I can't live without this product. I have it on my monthly subscribe and save. With two coats of any color and one coat of this, my nails look professionally done. You can apply a thin coat if you prefer, but if you want the gel manicure look, you can apply a thick coat and it will look AMAZING. It dries super fast, too. I reapply it every two or three days and maintain my home-mani for about a week and a half without any chipping! I only take it off and start over because my nails have grown out!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Longer Lasting Than Other Brands

4 years ago
My hands are in water all of the time which means nail polish does not last long. I tried the Essie Strong Start and was surprised how long it lasted! I applied two coats of the strong start followed by a coat of Essie nail color followed by one more coat of the Strong Start. At the end of two weeks there was only some minor wear/chipping. I am amazed with this product!!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Works great!

4 years ago
I was recently the mother of a bride and I wanted to have great nails so I used really good press-on nails. To be sure they stayed on, I used nail glue. But when they started to pull up, I pulled them off causing great damage to my nails. This product has really helped me rehab my nails and I hope with continued use they will get healthy again sooner.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great

4 years ago
I got this in the mail and have been using it on and off for a few weeks and I think it has helped quite a bit. It strengthens the nails and keeps the color on longer.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Decent base coat

4 years ago
I usually don't even bother with a base coat but this was quick drying, easy, and I'm hoping to see the benefits listed after using it longer. It does help with chipping somewhat.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Ehhh

4 years ago
My nails are especially brittle in the winter and I was hoping this would be helpful so far it has not been the added color polish they sent is pretty but it chips and my nails are still soft and brittle guess I'll keep looking

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
4 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello there! Thank you for sharing your experience with our strong start + us strength boosting formula. We wish you could see the results you were hoping for. Infused with biotin, this base coat helps reinforce for less weak and brittle feeling nails. Creates strong nails more resistant to peeling, chipping & breakage.

Wonderfully effective base coat

4 years ago
This worked so well as a base coat. My manicure stayed on without chipping for over a week. After that, only a nail or two chipped a tiny bit, but the majority of nails stayed without chipping. It also helped with with staining. I used a really dark teal color that had previously stained my nails when I used without a base coat. This time, there was no staining at all. I love this product and will keep using every manicure!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Healthy Nails

4 years ago
This nail strengthener is great. I put it on in-between visits to the nail salon to keep my nails healthy. It's easy to put on (it's clear, you can't mess it up), dries quickly, and stays on for a semi-glossy nail.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Essie lover here

4 years ago
I got the essie strong start base coat because it says it strengthens hardens and reinforces nails and I've been looking for a product to help my nails. As I get older I notice that my nails are not nearly and strong as when I was younger and want them to be as strong as they can be. I am so happy to say that I've found the products I need. essie atrong start has helped my nails so much. I've used it for about three weeks now and can tell a difference.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great Nail Product

4 years ago
This base coat makes all the difference in the chipping and long lasting-ness of my nail color. This base coat polish is excellent for keeping my nails healthy and it gives the polish a wonderful under coat. It applies on smoothly and keeps my nail polish looking fresh longer. I love the application of this product and it leaves my nails and nail beds feeling nourished and stronger than before I used this product.

yes, I recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
helpful?

Works as base coat and top coat

4 years ago
I have really thin nails that tear and bend easily, so I’ve tried lots of strengthening polishes. This is one that can be used as a base or top coat, and i love that it’s multipurpose. The bottle is easy to open and hold, and the brush feels comfortable - even when holding in your non dominant hand. I’ve had it on my nails for 10 days, and there’s been very little chipping. I’ve always had good experiences with Essie, but this is my favorite product so far.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Looks good

4 years ago
I typically have weak nails from all the dip and no chip manicures but when I need to take a break from those this is a great alternative. I often break my nails when they are not fully done and I noticed they didn’t do that.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

A must have!

4 years ago
Essie strong start has made all the difference in my nail care routine. I used to dislike painting my nails because the polish would inevitably look clunky and chip off. The strong start base layer protects my nails, helps make them strong, and allows the polish to go on smoothly and last longer. I highly recommend!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

My nails are stronger and beautiful!

4 years ago
This base coat is the best. I've always had the thinnest nails and I really love how this coats my nails and how strong they are now! I've never used a base coat before and I always wondered why my nails were so brittle and thin. I wasn't protecting the nail properly. I would recommend this for anyone who already has brittle thin nails, but desires to have stronger long-lasting healthier nails.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Wowed by this product.

4 years ago
For years I haven't been able to grow my nails out without them breaking off or splitting cause of the medication I'm on. So I decided to give this a try and for once my nails are actually growing out and strong. No breaking nor splitting. I'm absolutely loving this product.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Nice product!

4 years ago
I'm happy I got this product! My nails are always so brittle and peeling so to have a base coat polish that seems to add some strength is just what I needed.

yes, I recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
helpful?

Essie strong

4 years ago
I am happy about the essie strong start polish you just use it as a bottom coat to help with making nails stronger so it seems to be working my nails are very brittle and they seem to be a bit better not splitting and breaking at the touch of something

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great product

4 years ago
This is a great quality product. The polish dried quickly. Better than what I was expecting.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Fantastic strengthener

4 years ago
This clear coat strengthener and base coat is great. My nails are a disaster most of the time from rock climbing and using gel nails. This strong start has significantly helped the flaking of my nails and the nails themself from chipping while climbing. It can be used as a base coat under a colored nail polish but I tend to use it just by itself. Even by itself it give my nails a nice sheen. I use two coats of the clear and then let it try. Take about 15 minutes to be fully dry in my opinion.

yes, I recommend this product.

  • New nail strengthener
  • Usage
  • Seriously helps nail flaking
helpful?

Good product

4 years ago
I love painting my nails but I always try to use a base coat to protect my nails and also so that the colors don't chip off easily. I am not a fan of gel manicures since they dont do well to my nails and have made them brittle. I used the Essie strong start and it worked well as a base coat. It has the usual nail paint smell which goes away in a while. It keeps my nails healthier and the nail paint doesnt chip off super easily.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Love it

4 years ago
I have very weak brittle nails. Makes it nearly impossible to grown them out. I have started using this as my base coat. Makes my nails feel strong and have actually grown out a bit already.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Strong and Shiny!

4 years ago
Essie - strong start base coat is helping my nails feel and look stronger. Easy to apply with the great size brush. After applying and drying my nails looked shiny and more appealing. Infused with biotin that helps with weak and brittle nails. Strengthens, hardens and reinforces nails so that they are more resistant to peeling, breakage and chipping. My polish is lasting longer and I have not broken a nail even though I washed dishes and cleaned my home. I needed nail help because of all the hand washing I am doing, plus the hand sanitizer has made my nails so weak. Essie strong start is helping me have healthy nails again. I highly recommend to those who want a quality base coat that helps you strengthen your nails.
helpful?

Very nice

4 years ago
This definitely worked well! I could tell my nails were stronger. Plus this dried super fast! I noticed minimal chipping and I’m very active. This is a great deal!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great base

4 years ago
Really love this Essie - strong start + us nail polish base. It works great as a base but also strengthens and helps my less then perfect nail. My nails never go because they are so brittle and I think this product is actually helping with my nail growth as well. Great product!

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Helps with brittle nails

4 years ago
I'm very happy with this product. My nails are very brittle & will only grow to a certain length and then they start breaking & peeling. The Essie Strong Start Base has really helped a lot. My nails definitely seem stronger & are not breaking like they used too. This goes on smooth & dried fast. I used 1 coat under 2 coats of polish.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great base coat

4 years ago
I've been using gel nail polish for a couple of year so you can imagine how are my nail, very thin and fragile, so when I found out about this strength fortifying base coat I was very excited, because my nails were asking hard for a rest of gel, but a cannot stand the idea of having them "naked". I decided of giving this product a chance because its regular nail polish is great. So right to the point, I've been using this product for a handful of times and I see that my nails are improving and a big plus works great as a base coat, helps a regular nail polish last a bit longer.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

nice

4 years ago
This base coat gives a nice smooth and shiny surface for my main nail polish and it dries really quick. I think i've found my go-to base coat!
helpful?

Essie - strong start + us

4 years ago
I received this Essie - strong start + us for my honest review. First off, it goes on easily, and I followed it with the nail polish that was provided. It looks very nice, but the ingredients are questionable. It only lasted 2 days before it started chipping off, with just everyday activities. but then again, I did not use a top coat, only the 2 provided for my review.

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
4 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello there! Thank you for giving the 'strong start + us' base coat a try. We can see this wouldn’t be the result you were hoping for...this strength boosting formula, infused with biotin, helps reinforce for less weak and brittle feeling nails. This base coat should create strong nails more resistant to peeling, chipping and breakage. Definitely use a top coat when possible, and reapply the top coat every few days to restore the protective layer.
9 – 38 of 63 reviews