u/5upern0v4

Photos for before/after Essie Gel Couture top coat being applied on Mooncat Forbidden Fruit:

Before Top Coat - smooth glass bead effect

After Top Coat - uneven vertical gradient

I'm using the same setup shown here

My process:

1. ORLY bonder base coat 
2. 1 thin coat of magnetic polish
3. 2nd thick coat of magnetic polish --> magnetize for 90 seconds
   • Note: at this point it looks beautiful, even and smooth glass bead gradient (see first photo)
4. 1 even coat of Essie Gel Couture Top Coat --> magnetize for 90 seconds

I really try to apply the top coat as evenly as possible. While the polish is still shifty, it doesn't have the same effect as before. It becomes choppy, uneven and more of a vertical gradient rather than a spherical glass bead effect.

What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have experience with this? I wonder if I should let the 2nd coat dry for longer or the opposite, apply the top coat on each nail immediately after having done the 2nd coat of polish? 

Thanks in advance!