Over the past few years, I’ve been wearing nail
polish a lot and I love changing colors and designs.
The one annoying thing is that my manicures and
the shine will only last for
a couple of days…
Here are my tips for helping at-home nail manicure that last
more than 2 or 3 days:
- Prep
the nails:
Start by removing any old nail polish.
Cut nails with small clippers.
File the nails with a gentle nail file.
Apply cuticle oil to the nails and cuticles for at least 10
minutes or until dry. I like to gently massage into the nails and cuticles.
Before starting the manicure, remove any grease from
your nails. An “oily” nail has less adhesion, your nail polish won’t stick to the nail
as much, so won’t last as long.
Wash hands with gentle soap and water to start with clean
nails.
Nail Clippers: TweezermanNails Clippers
Nail File: Diamond
Cosmetics Nail Buffer
Cuticle Oil: Essie
Apricot Cuticle Oil
- The Base Coat:
When shopping it can be
tempting to go for those 2-in-1 base/top coats you find at the drugstore.
After testing them myself, I've
found that those aren't as effective as separate top and base coats.
Spend a little more and get separate top and base coats -
you'll have them forever and your nails will look better.
Both have formulas that dry
super quickly, by the time you're done painting your last nail, your first nail
will already be dry.
Aside from its amazing fast-drying
power, I love these base coats because they made my manicure last so much
longer, almost two weeks with no chipping!
- The Nail Polish:
The most important thing is to apply thin coats.
This will help the polish dry faster and it helps prevent chipping. If a thick coat was applied it would take longer to dry and too much nail polish will make a big mess of your nails, adding extra clean up time.
When choosing a brand, I’ve bought cheap bottles of nail
polish that amazed me by lasting for many days and I’ve splurged on the more expensive
ones but was pretty upset when the polish chipped the next day.
I’ve also purchased cheap polishes that had terrible formulas
and expensive brands that worked wonderfully.
This one really is your own preference, whether it is an
expensive or inexpensive price range, trying and testing is the only way you
will find a formula that you like.
You want nice smooth applications, if the polish is dry and
it seems like you are doing little strokes it is not going to give you a long
lasting mani.
If the formula is thick and gloopy, it will take a long time
to dry.
You want a nail polish that has a smooth texture and glides
onto the nail.
To avoid bubbles, put the nail polish bottle between
your hands and roll gently back and forth.
- The
Top Coat:
I think top coat is the key for a longer-lasting manicure.
Not only does the top coat protect your polish against
everyday wear, it also gives a finished look with either a glossy shine or a
velvety matte finish.
Some top coats have a near-reflective finish, other formulas
capture the vinyl-like effect of a long-wear gel manicure.
Some top coats are also double duty, strengthening the nail
by moisturizing and hydrating while protecting the nail.
Applying top coat every three days to refresh shine is a
great tip for longevity.
For more Nail Care Questions Answered, Click
HERE!
I hope you have long lasting manicure from now on!!
~Jennifer
