Why does chrome peel at the tips?

Chrome powder creates a barrier layer between the sealing top coat and the gel underneath. The top coat cannot grip the edge because chrome sits between the two surfaces. File the free edge after chrome application to remove the chrome from the tip. This gives the sealing top coat a clean surface to bond to. Then seal with Top Coat or Top Plus.

Why can I not use regular top coat for chrome?

Chrome powder blocks UV light from reaching the gel below. The standard chrome process involves flash curing a regular top coat for 10-20 seconds and applying chrome before the surface is properly cured. The chrome blocks UV from finishing the cure. The gel stays soft underneath. The chrome looks fine for a day or two and then peels. Top Chrome delivers proper cure in 60 seconds. The surface is solid before chrome goes on. No timing guesswork.

What is flash curing and why does Top Chrome eliminate it?

Flash curing is partially curing a top coat for 10-20 seconds to create a surface that is firm enough for chrome powder to adhere to but not fully hardened. The timing varies by brand, lamp, and product. Too short and the surface is still soft. Too long and the chrome will not stick. Top Chrome removes this variable. Cure for 60 seconds under the Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp. The surface achieves proper cure. Chrome goes on a stable surface. No timing games.

Why does my chrome look patchy?

Three common causes. The chrome powder quality is poor. Cheap chrome has fillers and larger particles that produce a grainy, uneven finish. The surface was not properly cured before chrome was applied, creating inconsistent adhesion. Or oil from skin contact contaminated the surface before chrome application. Use quality chrome powder, achieve proper cure with Top Chrome, and do not touch the surface after curing.

Do I need a separate brush for sealing over chrome?

Yes. Chrome powder transfers to the brush during sealing. If that brush goes back into the top coat bottle, the bottle becomes contaminated with chrome particles. Every application after that has chrome in the formula, causing pitting and wrinkling in the top coat surface. Use a separate brush or a dedicated top coat bottle for sealing over chrome.

What chrome powder works with Top Chrome?

Any quality chrome powder. The surface Top Chrome creates is a properly cured, smooth, non-tacky finish that chrome powder burnishes onto. Cheap chrome powder with fillers and large particles will produce poor results regardless of the top coat underneath. Use professional-grade chrome powder with fine particle size for the best mirror effect.

What do I seal chrome with after application?

Top Coat or Top Plus. Use a separate, clean brush to avoid contaminating the bottle with chrome powder. For matte chrome, seal with Matte Top. Cure 60 seconds under the Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp.

Can I do matte chrome?

Yes. Apply chrome powder over properly cured Top Chrome. File the free edge. Seal with Matte Top using a separate, clean brush. Cure 60 seconds under the Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp.

Why did my chrome look perfect and then fail after two days?

The surface underneath was not properly cured. Chrome blocks UV light. When the gel below the chrome is soft, the chrome sits on an unstable surface. It looks fine immediately because the chrome is covering the problem. Within 24-48 hours the soft gel shifts and the chrome peels, cracks, or lifts. Top Chrome prevents this by delivering proper cure before chrome is applied.

Is Top Chrome HEMA free?

Yes. Top Chrome is HEMA-free and TPO-free. Removing HEMA is not a safety guarantee. Allergic sensitization can happen with any methacrylate when uncured product touches skin or when the product is not properly cured. We label HEMA-free as a fact, not a safety claim.

Do I need a special lamp for Top Chrome?

Top Chrome is formulated and tested for proper cure under the Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp. We cannot confirm proper cure with other lamps because we have not tested against them. Proper cure depends on the lamp's diode count, diode quality, and actual output, not the wattage printed on the box. Wattage is an electrical input number, not a measure of what reaches the nail. The Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp runs 53 diodes at 30W. Using a different lamp means unknown cure conditions, and undercured product causes lifting, dullness, and skin sensitivity.

How do I store Top Chrome?

Room temperature, out of direct sunlight. UV exposure breaks down photoinitiators in the bottle and shortens shelf life.

What is the shelf life of Top Chrome?

Sealed bottle shelf life is 24 months from manufacture date when stored at room temperature out of UV exposure. Once opened, expect 12 to 18 months of working life with proper storage.

Is Top Chrome vegan and cruelty-free?

Yes. The Top Chrome formula contains no animal-derived ingredients, and the product is not tested on animals at any stage. Animal-derived ingredients are rarely used in nail products. Animal testing for cosmetics has been banned across the EU since 2004 and across 42 countries globally. We list these as facts, not differentiators, because they are the legal baseline.

Where is Top Chrome made?

Top Chrome sources raw materials from specialized chemistry suppliers. Photoinitiators come from Germany. Monomers, oligomers, and polymers come from Japan. Cosmetic-grade pigments from established global manufacturers. Manufacturing meets GMPC certification (Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics). Every Arch Rival product is registered with the CCNB (Canadian Cosmetic Notification Board) for the Canadian market.

Is Top Chrome certified or registered with regulatory bodies?

Manufacturing meets GMPC certification (Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics). All Arch Rival products are registered with the CCNB (Canadian Cosmetic Notification Board) for sale in Canada. The formula is HEMA-free, TPO-free, vegan, and not tested on animals.

Is Top Chrome 7-free or 10-free?

The X-free arms race (3-free, 7-free, 10-free, 21-free) is fear-based marketing. Most ingredients on those lists were either removed years ago for regulatory reasons or were never present in the concentrations implied. We list what the formula IS (HEMA-free, TPO-free, GMPC certified, CCNB registered) instead of inflating an X-free count.

Is Top Chrome hypoallergenic?

No. We do not make that claim. Hypoallergenic means below average allergy potential, not no allergy potential. A 2017 study published in JAMA Dermatology (Xu et al., Northwestern University) found that 83 percent of products marketed as hypoallergenic contained at least one known allergen. The term has no regulated definition. All gel products, including ours, are methacrylate chemistry. Sensitization can happen with any methacrylate when uncured product touches skin or when the product is not properly cured.

HEMA Free | TPO Free | 15ml

That moment. Chrome powder everywhere except where it should be. Patches. Peeling edges. Internal screaming. Half-curing regular top coats means chrome powder blocks UV from finishing the cure. Soft gel underneath. Chrome fails. Top Chrome gives the exact surface chrome needs. 60-second cure under the Pro Arch Rival Nail Lamp. No guessing. No disasters. No wanting to launch the lamp out the window. HEMA-free. TPO-free.

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