essie® no chips ahead®  is a chip- and peel- resisting top coat. The high-gloss colour shield protects against fading, resists chips and peeling.

top coat

no chips ahead™

essie® no chips ahead®  is a chip- and peel- resisting top coat. The high-gloss colour shield protects against fading, resists chips and peeling.

Reviews

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135 reviews with 5 stars.
58 reviews with 4 stars.
21 reviews with 3 stars.
1 review with 2 stars.
80 reviews with 1 star.

overall rating

3.6

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1 to 8 of 295 Reviews
1 – 8 of 295 Reviews
1 out of 5 stars.

Why hasn’t this been discontinued?

4 months ago
This product is completely useless, unlike the rest of the Essie products which are wonderful. I just don’t understand why they still make it.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Lebav, thank you for sharing your thoughts! We’re so happy you’re a fan of our other Essie products, but we’re sorry to hear this one let you down. We take all feedback seriously as we look at our future collections, and we’ll be sure to share your comments with our product team. We hope your next Essie find is back to being wonderful!
1 out of 5 stars.

Never dries fully.

6 months ago
Really disappointed. I love Essie products but this “no chips ahead” never fully dries, always have to end up redoing mani/pedi. Don’t buy this top coat
favourite colour
Lilacism
Review photo 1.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 months ago
BEC
We are so sorry to hear that our Essie no chips ahead™ Top Coat did not give you the results you expected! This is never something we want to hear about one of our products and we will be passing this information along to the appropriate department. Consumer feedback is very important to us as it is the only way that we can improve, thank you so much for taking the time to reach out.
1 out of 5 stars.

Awful top coat

7 months ago
Never fully dries. Hours later the polish dents and since it is so soft it has no shine. you could scrape it all off with the pad of your finger.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
7 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Kate1234! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding No Chips Ahead Top Coat. We're sorry to hear that it is not drying and leaving the polish dented. We value consumer feedback and will be sharing your comments with our teams.
1 out of 5 stars.

Does not fully dry, not a good product

9 months ago
I was excited to use this product because I love Essie, but this product is terrible. Wish I read the reviews before purchasing. It doesn’t fully dry, leaves dents and has no shine. So disappointed.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
9 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Ginger22, We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This high gloss protective top coat should be dry in 5 minutes or less. Your bottle is definitely not performing as it should. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Doesn’t work at all

10 months ago
I'm disappointed in this top coat. I got it because Essie was such a recommended brand when I was researching online - I guess I should've looked for the reviews of this particular product. My nails are full of dents and imprints even after I let my nails dry for hours. Even now, nearly 10 hours later, they dent so easily if they touch anything. I don't want to have to go buy another top coat, but I really don't think I can reasonably keep using this product - such a waste.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Bethany2347985, we want to understand what happened just as much as you do! This super strong top coat should be dry in about 5 minutes. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Don't get this

10 months ago
Poor formula Finger print smudging and not glossy. Really bad. None of my other brand top coats do this. Definitely do not buy this!!

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Nailzandbookz, we want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This long wear top coat should be dry in about 5 minutes with lots of shine. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Awful!

a year ago
I bought this in the UK, wish I'd seen reviews before I'd bought it but assumed it would be good given the brand and other purchases. What a waste of money...it just didn't dry at all! I left it for 3 hours before I needed to physically do some work, but then it just dented and smudged as it was still soft and not fully dry. It's unreturnable now though now I've used it!

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out to essie USA. For the best assistance we recommend reaching out to essie in your country for the best assistance.
1 out of 5 stars.

Awful Product

a year ago
Like all the other reviews state, this truly doesn’t dry. It’s awful. Please don’t waste your money. I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t read reviews first. Essie team - providing this feedback to the team isn’t helpful. A refund would be much better.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello AnnaGee. Thank you for contacting essie USA website. We recommend reaching out to essie in your country for the best assistance.
1 – 8 of 295 Reviews

Reviews

rating snapshot

select a row below to filter reviews.
135 reviews with 5 stars.
58 reviews with 4 stars.
21 reviews with 3 stars.
1 review with 2 stars.
80 reviews with 1 star.

overall rating

3.6

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9 to 38 of 295 Reviews
9 – 38 of 295 Reviews
1 out of 5 stars.

Do not buy!

a year ago
This stuff smears and chips away quickly. Will never purchase again.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi ColleenL. Thank you for your feedback on our No Chips Ahead. We are sorry you did not end up liking this product. We will be passing along your comments!
1 out of 5 stars.

Do not buy!

a year ago
This top coat does not dry properly and nails will smudge even after waiting hours to dry.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Nailpolish123! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding No Chips Ahead Top Coat. We're sorry to hear that it did not dry quickly and smudged. We will share your comments with our teams.
1 out of 5 stars.

How could a nail product be this bad? Lol

a year ago
I wish I had stuck with “good to go” instead of trying this one. I really wanted my manicure to last as a busy mom, but this did not work at all. My nails creased and smudged even with an hour dry time before bed. Even my 5 year old daughter asked why my nails weren’t glossy.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi ChristinaV! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding No Chips Ahead. We're sorry to hear that it smudged and creased. We value consumer feedback and will share your comments with our teams.
1 out of 5 stars.

Do not recommend for the price

a year ago
I know Essie as a high quality brand. This top coat thoroughly disappointed me. No matter how long I wait, the top coat is super tacky. Even after waiting for 2-3 hours before going to bed, I wake up with imprints on my nails. Makes my manicure look super unprofessional.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi SanPan! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding your experience with No Chips Ahead Top Coat. We're sorry to hear that it takes so long for this to dry. We value consumer feedback and will share your comments with our teams.
1 out of 5 stars.

Never sets

a year ago
Over an hour later and it still hadn't set. Ruined my nails 3 times before I just gave up. Very dissapointed as it cost me $16 Canadian and that's not money down the drain. Also stinks the entire time it's wet, so it never stops smelling

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Aakempson. We are sorry that the top Coat No Chips Ahead™ did not perform as expected. We understand how frustrating it can be when a color result is not as expected and apologize for any inconvenience. We invite you to reach out to us via email providing additional information to receive further assistance. [email protected]
1 out of 5 stars.

Doesn’t dry

a year ago
Looked up the item because I thought I was using it wrong. I applied one coat and it never dried. When I did think it was dry after about 2 hours I rubbed my eye and it started burning. I woke up with creased nail polish, and for that matter my nail polish did end up chipping. I was surprised because I usually am a big fan of other Essie nail polishes.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Maria339! We are so sorry to hear that our No Chips Ahead did not dry on your nails. We would like to help you in the best way that we can. Please call us at 866 313 7845 MF9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET and provide the reference number 37838246. We look forward to sparking with you!
1 out of 5 stars.

Never set properly

a year ago
Bought a new bottle and it is terrible. It never set after hours of waiting.. overnight it creased. I love Essie and am stunned!

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This top coat should be dry in about 5 minutes. We would like to speak with you directly about it. Please give us a call at 866 313 7845 for assistance. M-F 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM ET. When you call, please have the bottle with you and provide the reference # 37558715
1 out of 5 stars.

Not impressed

a year ago
Bought and applied over my hi maintenance. Would not dry. Left imprints even after sleeping over night. Would not recommend. Very disappointed after spending over ten dollars.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Kat817! Thank you for sharing your experience with our No Chips Ahead. We understand how frustrating it is when a liner dries too slowly or smudges. This top coat should be dry in 5 minutes. Give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET for assistance. Please provide your reference number, 36910643 when you call
1 out of 5 stars.

Wasted money and good color polish

2 years ago
Tried a different Essie top coat, very disappointing. Product does not harden, leaves imprints of sheets and socks. Wasted 3 pedicures with my good colors. I can't even return the product because the box and receipt are gone, and the SKU and lot number were on the box and not the actual bottle (imagine this was medication, labelling on the box and not on the actual container to properly identify and track a product). I wish I had seen the poor reviews before buying this topcoat. I thought it was a bad lot at first, but the ongoing reviews that product does not dry enough to harden, means the whole recipe is failing. And chipping occured after 2d, along with a smudgy polish in the end. Wish I could get my money back.
favourite colour
Marshmallow

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there! We are happy you've given our no chips ahead™. However, we're sorry that it didn't meet your expectations. At Essie, we value our customers' feedback and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We will pass your feedback to our team to help us improve our products and ensure customer satisfaction.
1 out of 5 stars.

Wasted my good varnish and money on this product

2 years ago
I wanted to try a different top-coat from Essie, so I bought No Chips Ahead. Very disappointed from the first try. It does not harden, imprints of sheets and socks are left, and then looks smudged. Tried redoing with 3 different polishes, even a brand new one, and same result. Wasted my colors on this top-coat. It even chipped after 2days. Worse part is, I can't even return the product, because the SKU and lot number are printed on the box (which gets tossed and so does the receipt) and not on the actual bottle that contains the product. Imagine this was medication, in an untraceble bottle. There goes my money, and Essie keeps selling this product that keeps getting bad reviews.
favourite colour
Marshmallow

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello buzyizzy! We are sorry to hear of your experience with our no chips ahead™ . We would like to help you with that matter. Please contact one of our agents at [email protected] for further assistance.
1 out of 5 stars.

Bubbles Ahead!

2 years ago
I wish I had kept the box and receipt to return this. I thought I was doing something wrong and wasted hours buffing and re-doing the top coat. Base coat (smooth e) was dry, my colour was dry and smooth (also Essie) for at least 30 min but every time I tried to use the top coat, it would bubble while drying. Woke up with crease lines on most of my right hand. AND by the end of day one, the color was receding on my tips. Stay away from No Chips Ahead.

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
CCC
Thank you for reaching out and sharing some feedback with us on our No Chips Ahead. We are sorry this product didn't meet your expectations. We appreciate you sharing your personal experience and will be forwarding your comments with others on our team. We hope you keep trying our products in the future!
1 out of 5 stars.

Chips Ahoy!

2 years ago
I’d rename this Chips Ahoy. Maybe the least useful topcoat I’ve ever used. The name almost feels ironic.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Zemmalou! We can see this wouldn’t be the result you were hoping for…And this is hardly the results you should see with this top coat! This protective formula, infused with acrylic resin, helps seal in color for a smooth and even glossy finish. helps protect against peeling and tip wear. We would like to help you in the best way that we can. Please call us at 866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET and provide the reference number 31288395.
1 out of 5 stars.

Don’t buy

2 years ago
Takes a ridiculous amount of time to dry and has ruined my manicure every single time I use it.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello there, thank you for sharing your experience with the no chips ahead top coat. While this top coat takes about 5 minutes to dry, it sounds like your bottle of top coat is taking much longer to dry than it should. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

does. not. dry.

2 years ago
base coat.. wait 5 minutes. color coat.. 10 minutes. second coat of color.. 20 minutes. i put this top coat on and touched nothing for over 4 hours, and it never hardened. christmas manicure ruined and 5 hours down the drain. i have used exclusively essie on my nails for almost a decade and am so disappointed they would leave a product like this on the shelves. back to my good to go top coat... sadly not in time for the holidays.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello cloverm! We are so sorry to hear your holiday mani never dried with the 'no chips ahead' top coat. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Each coat should only take a few minutes to dry. We would like to help you in the best way that we can. Please call us at 866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET and provide the reference number 30772475. Please have the bottle with you when you call.
1 out of 5 stars.

Does not dry

2 years ago
It doesn’t dry! Left crease marks after 5 hours of drying and once dry chipped the next day.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Shen! We're so sorry to hear the no chips ahead is not drying for you as it should. And we want to understand what happened just as much as you do...Even with a base coat, 2 coats of color and this top coat, your mani should not take more than 15 minutes total time to dry. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Doesn’t dry

2 years ago
Doesn’t dry at all, even waited 3 hours. Chipped the next day— why not just discontinue this?

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Ebti! We're so sorry to hear the no chips ahead is not drying for you as it should. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Even with a base coat, 2 coats of color and this top coat, your mani should not take longer than 15 minutes to dry. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Doesn’t dry quickly and still get chips

2 years ago
It doesn’t dry! I waited over an hour after applying on top of two coats of Essie “no more film” before getting in bed and woke up with sheet marks. I typically love any Essie product but not this one. To add insult to injury I just noticed a chip.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello 4Bailey! We are so sorry to hear that our no chips ahead did not dry on your nails. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Typically, this tough top coat should take about 5 minutes to dry. Please call us at 866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET and provide the reference number 29369754. We look forward to speaking with you!
1 out of 5 stars.

Just put this on… OH NO

2 years ago
I’ve just purchased this product, got home to put it on and …. OH NO! It’s so bad and I’m really resonating with all the 1-2 star comments, not drying and it’s been an hour! JUST WHEN I FINALLY GOT MY NAIL VARNISH TO LOOK PERFECT… so now I’m waiting until bed time for it to dry probably. SO sticky!! I’ll wake up to reveal gritty nails in the morning, what a waste of money. How is such a good brand (also worn by the late queen of Enlgand) allowing themselves this low a quality product. Please get it off the shelves!!! Come on Essie, you are better than this.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Feyie, Thank you for sharing some feedback on the top coat 'no chips ahead'. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This top coat should not take longer than 5 minutes to dry. 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Nails Never Cure

2 years ago
I've used so many Essie products over the years and love them, but this top coat AINT IT. I think I bought this when my normal quick dry was out of stock in store, and it was just a complete waste of money. The Good to Go one is far better than this one.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello aj87! We are so sorry to hear that our 'no chips ahead' top coat did not dry on your nails. This is definitely wrong...at most, this longwear top coat should take no more than 5 minutes to dry to a hard, shiny finish. We would like to help you in the best way that we can. Please call us at 866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET and provide the reference number 27887865. We look forward to sparking with you!
3 out of 5 stars.

Essie no chips ahead rubbish

3 years ago
I used the no chips ahead product I wondered why my nails took forever to dry, I thought maybe it was the speed setter, but I've now discovered it is no chips ahead product causing the problem. I think essie should give all the people who bought thus product, something to compensate us.

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
3 years ago
consumer care center
HI there… We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. The No Chips Ahead Top Coat should take no more than 5 minutes to dry! If you are in the US and 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
1 out of 5 stars.

Waste of money

3 years ago
I was excited to try the No chips ahead product, but after carefully applying my nail polish I found I wasted my time and money. A GOOEY MESS!

no, I do not recommend this product.

Originally posted on essie.com

response from essie.com:
3 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Alli R! We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. The no chips ahead top coat should flow easily onto the nail and dry in about 5 minutes. Nothing you describe sounds right for this product. 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
4 out of 5 stars.

No chip top coat!

3 years ago
I received the @essie "no chips ahead" topcoat and I am obsessed. It has been my go to topcoat since receiving this package. It lasts about 2 solid weeks when I do my at home manicures.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

5 out of 5 stars.

The best Top Coat!

3 years ago
This was my first time using this brand of nail polish and I am very happy with the results! I tried this out with a few different kinds of other polishes. This top coat helped to ensure that my nails remained chip free for a lot longer than they typically would with other branded topcoats. I would highly recommend this product for anybody who want perfect nails with long lasting results. I received this product free from topbox Circle.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

4 out of 5 stars.

Great Top Coat

3 years ago
I do gel nails so keeping my nails moisturized and strong is important. I like to rub this on right after I take off my polish, it immediately soothes my cuticles. After it soaks in, my nails look and feel much better. I would definitely recommend this to others.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

4 out of 5 stars.

Easy to use applicator

3 years ago
The applicator is easy and nice to use. It gives enough product. I apply two coats. The coats holds on up to two weeks.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

4 out of 5 stars.

Nice nails for long time

3 years ago
Essie top coat it really works and is a great quality. This top coat helps my nail polish last more days. After several days my nails still look nice and shiny like the first day. It is really true I don't have any chips or smudges. Also, the color on my nails still looks great. It dries faster and it doesn't feel tacky. It leaves a nice glossy finish. It has a great formula with acrylic resin. #freeproduct #trywithtopbox
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

4 out of 5 stars.

Glossy Finish

3 years ago
The Essie Top Coat clear coat is a great product To seal the nail polish coats and design but it does take longer to dry but it gives a glossy finish plus reduces chipping also it easier to remove nail polish. I do feel it works better with some Types of nail polish then others and I will be using it every time I do my nails at home #Trywithtopbox #freeproduct
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

5 out of 5 stars.

No chipping

3 years ago
I like Essie polishes a lot always great quality. This top coat definitely improved the longevity of the coloured layer underneath, I noticed at least 2-3 extra days before the tips started to chip. #trywithtopbox #freeproduct
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

5 out of 5 stars.

Great coat polish

3 years ago
I received this #freeproduct from #trywithtopbox to test and review. I love the Essie brand and this coat polish did not disappoint. The brush and applicator are standard size and the polish glides onto nails with ease. It dries fairly quickly and stayed on my nails for quite a while. I did notice my nails chipping less and appearing to be much stronger with this coat on them. Would recommend.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

4 out of 5 stars.

Nail polish hasn't chipped after using this!

3 years ago
I received this product from Topbox Circle in exchange for my honest review. After using this top coat on my nail polish, I find that my nail polish lasts longer than how long it usually does.
Received free productYes

yes, I recommend this product.

Originally posted on TopBox Marketing

9 – 38 of 295 Reviews

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complete manicure

cuticle care

apricot cuticle oil™

top coat

no chips ahead™

nail care

quick-e™