A top coat, often referred to as a "top coat", is a clear polish that is applied as the very last, final coat when painting the nails. Its main purpose is to create a protective shield over the coloured polish. This layer increases the resistance of the manicure to mechanical damage such as scuffing, scratching or peeling of the varnish during normal activities. As a result, it extends the overall life of the painted nails. In addition to protection, it also gives the nails a finished look. Most often, it provides a high gloss finish that makes the color appear richer, but there are also variants with a matte effect that, on the other hand, create a velvety, non-glossy finish. In addition, some types of topcoats speed up the drying of all the lower layers of paint. It is applied on top of the dried layer of coloured polish, making the whole manicure stronger and more solid.