DND Base & Top Coat - Professional Gel System 500/800/900

DND base and top coat numbers, decoded

DND names its base and top gels by number, and each pair belongs to one colour line. The number tells you which system the bottle was made for:

• #500 and #600: the classic DND pair. Base Gel #500 goes on first, Top Gel #600 No Cleanse seals the set.
• #800 and #900: the DC pair. DC Base Gel #800 is a clear base for the DC Designer line, and DC Top Gel #900 No Cleanse finishes it.
• #100 and #300: the DIVA pair, Base Gel #100 and Top Gel #300 No Cleanse.

If you came here comparing "top coat 500 vs 800": both of those are bases. If you are comparing tops, the question is #600 against #900. This page holds the classic and DC pairs plus their refills and combos. The DIVA #100 and #300 are sold as their own listings and inside every DIVA combo.

Which base and top go with which colour

DND's base and top gels are cross-compatible across DND, DC and DIVA colour, so a #500 base under a DC shade will not fail. Matching the pair to the colour line still gives the most predictable wear, and it keeps reorders simple:

• Classic DND duos (the white gel bottles): Base #500 with Top #600. Browse the colours in all DND gel duos.
• DC duos (gold bottles): DC Base #800 with DC Top #900. DC colour should never go on bare nail, so keep #800 on every DC station. Colours are in DND DC gel polish.
• DIVA duos: DIVA Base #100 with Top #300, or DC #800 and #900. Shades are in DND DIVA duos.
• DND HEMA & TPO Free duos: DND lists them as working with any DND, DC or DIVA base and top gel. See the DND HEMA-free line.

DND and DC base and top gels compared

Top coat cure times are printed differently across DND's own materials, so follow the label on the bottle you receive and make sure the top is fully hard before the client leaves.

Brush bottle, refill or combo: how to buy

• Brush bottles are the everyday format: one base and one top at each station, or at home.
• 16 oz refills exist for Base #500, Top #600, DC Base #800 and DC Top #900. Salons decant them into a chair bottle, and per ounce a refill costs far less than the brush bottle. The DC Base #800 refill is also listed on its own as a 16 oz (500 mL) bottle.
• Base and top combos pair the two bottles of one system: Base #500 with Top #600, or DC Base #800 with DC Top #900. They are the simplest restock for a single station.
• 8 oz and 16 oz pro sizes of DND Base Gel Ultimate Foundation and DC Top Gel Premium Super Shine suit high-volume studios.
• Colour combos add a gel and lacquer duo to the base and top in one listing; they live in DND duo starter combos.

How to apply DND base and top gel

1. Prep: push back the cuticle, shape, buff the shine off lightly, then clean and dehydrate the nail.
2. Base: brush on one thin, even layer of the base for your colour line and cap the free edge. Cure Base #500 or DC Base #800 for 30 seconds under LED or 2 minutes under UV.
3. Colour: two thin coats of gel colour, each cured, each capped at the free edge.
4. Top: one thin layer of the no-cleanse top, capped and fully cured. There is no tacky layer, so the alcohol wipe step is skipped.
5. Finish: cuticle oil, and the set is done.

Getting the full three weeks

With correct prep, thin layers and a matched base, colour and top, a DND manicure lasts up to three weeks. These habits protect that wear:

• Keep every layer thin. A thick layer of base or top cures unevenly, which leads to chipping and peeling.
• Cap the free edge on every layer. Base, colour and top each wrap the tip.
• Never skip the base under dark shades. The base layer is what helps keep reds, blacks and deep purples from staining the natural nail.
• DC always needs #800. DC colour applied without its base loses adhesion and lifts sooner.
• Cure every layer fully. Base, colour and top each go under the lamp before the next layer. Shop UV and LED nail lamps or a handheld flash cure lamp for touch-ups.

Removing base and top gel

The whole system soaks off. Gently file the top coat to break the seal, then soak the nails in 100% acetone for 10 to 15 minutes. Push the softened gel off with an orangewood stick and avoid scraping hard. Removal supplies such as soak-off clips, pads and lint-free wipes are in gel and nail polish remover.

Related collections

• All DND gel duos Classic DND, DC, DIVA and HEMA & TPO Free shades in one grid.
• DND duo starter combos A colour duo with its base and top in one listing.
• Base and top gels, all brands Compare DND with OPI, LAVIS, Kiara Sky and more.
• DND DC gel polish The gold-bottle line that pairs with Base #800 and Top #900.
• UV and LED nail lamps A lamp strong enough to cure base and top all the way through.

Related reads

• How long to cure DND base coat
• How long to cure DND top coat
• Choosing a gel base and top coat
• Why gel polish peels off