There is nothing that irritates us more than getting a manicure done only to have it chipped a few hours later. How many times has this happened to you? Look no further ladies, we’ve got some tips and tricks for getting your nail varnish to commit to a long lasting relationship with you!
1. Clean Nails
Clean nails are essential to start a successful manicure. This means you also have to make sure that they are completely dry before applying the nail polish as the polish won’t adhere to wet nails.
2. Avoid Oils
Just like water, oils and lotions are no good for nails. If you use any sort of cuticle oil or even moisturizer, your nails will be coated in oil making it harder to apply a coat of polish that stays all day.
3. Apply a base coat
Every mani needs a good start. A good base coat preps your nails for polish, smoothing out any ridges and imperfections, just like a primer would on your face. Applying a base coat will ensure that your polish stays on longer. The best base coat I’ve ever tried is Butter Nail Foundation, this base coat does exactly what base coat should. It provides a nude perfect base for applying your nail polish. It makes your nails smoother so your nail polish application is much better. I find that my nail polish doesn’t tend to chip when I use it. Seriously worth the splurge
4. Don’t Shake
Sorry Taylor Swift, but if we are talking about nail polish then the best solution is to roll rather than shake the bottle. Shaking it creates air bubbles, which will prevent you from applying the polish smoothly.
5. Thin Layers
Avoid applying thick layers of colour. It is much better to apply 2-3 thin layers than one gloopy thick one, which would easily smudge. Between drying your polish, you know that you’ve got a build up of product that’s tough and won’t start flaking all over the place.
6. Apply A Top Coat
A strong top coat will help your manicure last longer and will help you in your fight against chipped nails. Don’t underestimate the power of a super top coat, some can even help to strengthen your nails and stop them from breaking. I love the cult favorite Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. It can be applied onto a wet layer of color and seals the nail within a minute. Perfect for when you’re in a rush! It also gives a glossy, high shine finish and a professional look to the nail.
7. Let it dry!
Don’t be impatient and make sure that each layer has enough time to perfectly dry. Try to do something fun (and hands-free) while you wait so the temptation to start using your hands is less!
Do you have any tips for long lasting nail varnish? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to check out our shop if you’re looking for some amazing pieces for Fall. Our editors have selected their favorite weekly items here
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Gel nails last a very long time and you don’t need to do the whole base and top coat thing. However, when I’m not wearing them I always make sure that I don’t miss any of the steps you’ve said!
xx Cecil // http://www.wednesday19th.blogspot.com
I LOVE seche vite, but the fumes are just too strong. I just bout the Essie Gel Setter top coat. I also really love the Nails Inc Gel Effect polishes, they last pretty long without chipping. Every tip you mentioned does work though, great post!
I didn’t know you shouldn’t shake a bottle of nail polish. Thanks for the tip!
I go a step further with the clean nails tip and apply a coat of isopropyl alcohol to my nails before applying a base coat. I also don’t file and buff the top of my nails before applying polish; the polish seems to hold better with the natural ridges and your nails will look smooth regardless. Keeping your hands and nails protected while doing manual labor like gardening or dishes extends the life of a manicure a ton. And the shorter your nails are, the less likely they are to catch on something and chip!
xoxo,
Lauren
https://laurenhooperetc.wordpress.com
Great tips ! I’m planning a manicure tomorrow and I’ll follow these “rules”. Let’s see if it really does work for me :)
Xoxo
https://fashionbackyard.blogspot.fr
Sorry but these are really boring tips! I knew all of them except the no shaking.
Put a layer of pale pink fine glitter nail polish over base coat then your colour. It’s an extra ordinary miracle extending your manicure by a week. Done in a few salons in Sydney Australia. They use a opi product .
Agree with Andrea – nothing new. I do all this and they last a few days maximum.
I do all of the above and my polish seems to chip within 24 hours. Only a few polishes last longer, but it is annoying!
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
What is the brand of watch in the pic?
Base and top coats are definitely important, even though the lazy girl in me always wants to skip those steps.. oops :P