Whether you prefer to paint your own nails or have them done professionally, it takes time and effort (and not to mention money) to make them look nice! And to make that investment worthwhile, you want to keep them looking nice for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, our manicures often have other ideas! Between chipping, flaking, and plain old wear and tear, keeping a manicure looking nice is often a tall order!
But I’ve recently been using a brilliantly simple tip that makes my nail polish last much longer! I’ll be sharing that tip with you in today’s post, along with 6 bonus tips for making your manicure last longer!
The Easiest Way To Make Your Manicure Last Longer
There are all sorts of products and manicure techniques that can help your nail color last longer. But the one I want to share with you here is by far the quickest and easiest way to do so! 🙂
It’s a simple technique that is commonly referred to as “wrapping the tip.” After painting your nails (or having them painted) as usual, apply a final swipe of polish to the front edge or tip of your fingernail.
By extending the nail polish down onto the edge of your nail, you help protect the polish where it tends to take the most abuse. This results in longer-wearing nail polish that is less prone to chipping, and it really is that easy!
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This method works with normal nail polishes as well as gels, so you can use it regardless of your polish preferences. Some nail artists already include this step in their repertoire, but if yours doesn’t, ask if they’ll try it out for you on your next visit!
6 Bonus Tips For Longer Lasting Nail Color
1. Prep For Success
A little prep work can go a long way towards ensuring your nail color lasts as long as possible! Here are three quick ways to prep your nails that will help the polish stick better:
- Use a cuticle remover to remove dead or excess skin.
- Use a gentle file to buff the shiny surface of your nail.
- Swipe your nails with an acetone-based polish remover to remove the natural oils that can prevent adhesion.
2. Use A Clean-Up Brush
Use a clean-up brush while painting your nails to remove any polish that gets on your skin. Your nail polish will be less likely to lift or flake if it isn’t partially sitting on your skin.
3. Roll, Don’t Shake
To get even, non-streaky color, it’s important to make sure your polish is well-mixed before using it. But shaking the bottle can introduce small air bubbles that may make your nail color more likely to chip.
Instead, roll the bottle between your palms to mix the color without adding air bubbles.
4. Less Is More
When it comes to nail polish, less is usually more! The more coats of polish you apply, the more likely it is to peel later on. So stick to a couple of coats for longer lasting color.
5. Maintain With Top Coat
Use probably already apply a top coat after applying color, but that’s not the only time it can come in handy! To maintain and protect your manicure, apply another layer of top coat to your nails a few days later.
6. Protect Your Nails
One of the best things you can do to keep your nails looking nice is to protect your hands! Wear cleaning gloves while you clean, do dishes, and other activities that involve getting your hands wet.
Avoid soaking your hands in water as much as possible, since soaking will soften nail polish. And be extra gentle with your nails after you shower to give the polish a chance to harden again.
What’s your best tip for making a manicure last longer?
