Which nail polish do you swear by?

[AlcoholicHippo]

So obviously I would have gel nails if I could, but budget is limited so I need to go back to DIY nails

I stopped bothering doing my own nails as I have NEVER been able to find anything, any brand, any combination of brands, top coats, blah blah blah, that have lasted more than 24 hours on me. I'm not exaggerating, 24 hours max before my polish chips. So hit me, what do you use, what is your winning combo

Rimmel 60 seconds. Lasts a week on my toes, a couple of days on fingers.

BUT it is cheap as chips, dead easy to put on and dries in 60 seconds with a really nice finish so it's dead quick to take off and redo.

I am quite lazy though.

Essie- I just bing it on, 2 coats and it lasts around 5-7 days on hand and weeks on toes

Essie.
I have a lot of nail varnishes and I mean a LOT (I may have a problem) with brands from Chanel to Barry M and my favourites are always Essie

Swear by Opi. Swear at Chanel, bloody useless stuff.

(Wish I could have gel too, but my nails just fall off in big lumps.)

DIY gel nails-they last for weeks. We got a cheap lamp and base/top coat, prep lotion and a couple of colours.

I bought a gel lamp and gel top coat and base coat. The lamps are really cheap nowadays and I went for a non wipe top coat.

I use any fashion colour I fancy, provided it's sandwiched between the gel top and base coat it lasts for 2-3 weeks like a professional job

I've always been to a salon but during lockdown started doing my own.
I bought a cheap LED gel lamp and the base coat some colours and top coat for the same price on eBay as one treatment would be.
I'm more than happy currently doing my own toes and fingers and couldn't tell it wasn't professional. It is more time consuming but I'm getting quicker each time!
Watched a couple of YouTube videos on prep and removal. It's lasting over two weeks then I soak off. I'm using Blue Sky products

Essie all the way! I use the combined base and top coat then two coats of colour and then the top coat. I get about 5 days out of them.

Essie is the longest lasting on my nails.
I don't bother with base)top coats and it last 7-10 days without any chipping or peeling.

Essie for me too

I have heard Essie is pretty good, so it's good to hear some of you agree! Having said that, I was convinced by a friend that Opi was the best and it lasts about 45 seconds on me

I don't think I would know where to start doing my own gels with a lamp!

Mavala, lasts for ages and doesn't chip nor lose its shine

Essie or Nails Inc for pricey.

Essence (get it from Wilkos) for cheap.

I always use a decent top coat though - Nails Inc nail caviar my current one. Don’t like the often vaunted Seche Vite.

@AlcoholicHippo

I have heard Essie is pretty good, so it's good to hear some of you agree! Having said that, I was convinced by a friend that Opi was the best and it lasts about 45 seconds on me

I don't think I would know where to start doing my own gels with a lamp!

Paint nails with base coat

Place in lamp 30 seconds

Paint nails with colour - if using a gel colour place nails in lamp for 60 seconds. If ordinary polish then wait a couple of minutes

Paint nails with top coat

Place in lamp for 60 seconds

If not using a non wipe top coat, wipe over nails with vodka ( or you can buy the special product)

Forget about for 2 weeks!

It really is that easy. I've been paying to have mine done for years. Never again!

If you can use ordinary polish then you can do your own gel polish

That sounds too easy! I might have a look later and see if I can find anything on eBay

Thanks for the tips!

Rimmel gel polish is good.

I dont even get 24 hours on normal polish. I have soft nails which means my nails break and chips off.

I do my own gel nails now and it dries instantly and lasts a week. I use Blue Sky Hard Gel under the polish to keep my nails strong

Can anyone recommend a decent UV lamp? I lost many hours on ebay last night sifting through listing after listing and not knowing where to start 🤣 It seems Blue Sky base and top coat are the best bet 🤔

My lamp was a Mylee one off Amazon. Cheap and cheerful but does the job well. I’ve had it for several years and it’s still working. I use with Blue Sky products. It’s really easy (although getting the gel off annoys me as I have no patience with the soaking)

I use AIMEILI No Wipe Top Coat and Base Coat from Amazon

It works with both UV and LED lamps so make sure what you buy is compatible with your choice of lamp.

I'd avoid the peel off base coats. They do indeed peel off but I used the Bluesky one and they stayed on less than 24 hours before lifting. Complete waste of money

LED lamps cure the polish quicker than UV and the higher the wattage the quicker they work - mines 54W.

I bought one by Sun and am very pleased with it.

I have this one. I was told to look for 72W and very happy with it I am. The lamp is currently £23, you'll need a base coat, top coat and a colour. I use Bluesky, you can currently get the base and top coat for £14 and a set of 3 colours for around £10 so around £50 all in. Depending how much you pay for gels, you'll make it back in maximum of two salon trips.

www.amazon.co.uk/Terresa-Polish-Professional-Manicure-Setting/dp/B07XDJF67Q/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=terresa+uv+lamp+72w&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1597226835&sr=8-5

Brilliant! Thanks everyone

Last question - can I just a regular nail polish sandwiched between the "proper" base and top coats? Or do I need to buy a specific polish? Annoying aren't I

Do appreciate the help though!

Not annoying at all! You'll need a specific gel polish, the Bluesky gel colours work for me.

Sally Hansen. They last weeks on my toes, to the point where I have to remove it as I’m growing the colour out before it chips.

I don’t paint my fingernails.