How long should a home mani last?

[permaquandry]

Nails Inc Base coat, 2 x coats of OPI polish and 2 x Nails Inc top coats (one a day later).

Didn't go on amazingly and started to fade peel after 1-2 days, is this normal? Is it worth spending ££ on nail varnishes?

I wouldn't say that's was normal.

I don't usually use expensive nail varnishes as find some of the cheaper ones just as good (Essie for example) however when I've used a cheap base coat, 2x nail inc varnish and a top coat it's lasted 7-10 days maybe with the odd touch up.

That not that's!

I don't rate nails inc.

Mine last 7 days without touch up, or 9 if I touch up the top coat.

But I have quite short nails, think that helps.

I use Jessica base, Jessica or Essie polish then Seche Vite. If I top up the top coat I use Jessica or Sally Hansen.

The shorter my nails are, the better it lasts, but I am v heavy handed on my nail varnish (not good about wearing gloves etc) and I expect to get 2-3 days of it looking perfect (I normally put on an extra layer of topcoat after 1-2 days), plus another 2-3 days out of it if I touch up any chips and add another layers of topcoat. My routine is:
Remove old varnish
File nails
Swipe with remover again to remove dust (v important, or it peels off)
1 coat OPI nail envy
2 coats OPI/Jessica varnish
1 coat OPI topcoat or Seche Vite, depending on how fast I need it to dry

Why do you use 2 top coats?

I use Stay perfect topcoat by No7 and it's amazing. Short nails which helps.

I can get about 4-5 days out of a lift colour and less from a dark colour.