There are few beauty frustrations greater than having your perfectly polished nails start to chip a day or two in. I am self-addmited freak about my nails, probably stemming from my grandmother telling me early on that the condition of one’s hands reflect their overall hygiene. I eagerly jumped on the gel polish bandwagon when they first came onto the market, but after a while I had a mounting concern about the mini-tanning-bed-esque UV lights used in the process. Was I going to get hand wrinkles? So about a year ago, I decided to swear off my beloved, long lasting gel manicures, only to be used for long vacations.
But all was not lost… Lately, I’ve been testing out ways to make my traditional manicure last longer. And it turns out that if the right steps are taken, even regular polish can last a whole week. Whether you’re heading to the nail salon or doing it at home, here are a few tricks to keep your nails perfectly polished all week long.
Chores Before Manicures.
If you have a sink full of dirty dishes or gardening on your to-do list, check off those chores before heading to the nail salon. Otherwise, you’re just asking for a prematurely chipped mani. And besides, it’s fun to reward yourself for getting all your chores done with a relaxing salon visit! For dishes and other housework throughout the week, wear kitchen or gardening gloves to keep your nails protected.
Polish Remover: It’s Not Just for Old Polish.
Even if your nails were bare before beginning, always prepare your nails to be polished by wiping them with a cotton ball soaked in acetone-based polish remover. This will ensure that there is no oil, water, or moisturizer left on your nails when you lay on the base coat. Any type of residue left on your nails can prevent the polish from sticking.
Don’t Skip Steps.
I used to skip the base coat and top coat entirely when I was just doing a quick polish at home. Big mistake. Using a quality base and topper are what makes your manicure stick even more than the polish you choose.
Choose Your Color Wisely.
This might be an obvious tip, but I always have to remind myself to be smart about the color I choose if I need my manicure to last longer. When I don’t want to have to re-polish my nails for a few days, I go for a lighter color, as they tend to not show chips, whereas (my favorite) cherry red, does.
Allow Proper Dry Tme.
Allowing proper dry time—both in between each coat and post-manicure—is key in preserving your manicure. This is because nicking your polish before it’s fully dry will lead to faster chips later on. And since polish takes up to 12 hours to fully set, avoid any hot water for the half-a-day following your mani.
Top It Off.
Reapplying a top coat every couple of days helps to fill in weak spots that may be starting to chip. It will also help preserve that glossy finish.
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