So when did nail varnish get so bad?

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A few weeks ago I decided to grow my nails after years of biting them

After a while they grew long enough to paint so off I trotted to the shops to buy a few nail varnishes (Rimmel and L'Oreal).

Okay, so these aren't premium brands, but they were okay a few years ago (when I last grew my nails). Now, they're like bloody Tipex! They don't cover either, so you have to apply about six coats to cover the natural nail colour. They also chip after about three days

What do you have to pay to get a reasonable varnish and which makes are any good? I like to change colour about twice a week, so don't need a long lasting one, just one that's easy to apply and covers properly.

Maybelline 7 day gel is fab and £4 and currently buy one get half price in boots. That will give you 4 days of no chipping.

Great

I don't bother with my finger nails as I always chip, my life style doesnt suit it (keyboards, hand washing etc). I'll give shellac a go next time I have an occasion.

But I do get 2/3 weeks wear out of high st brands (I rate Max Factor nailfinity) by using base coat, 2 thinnish coats of colour and Sally Hansen Diamond Hard on top. 10mins in between coats and 45mins minimum drying time. So a Friday/Saturday night in front of the telly job. Also like Opi and Jessica if I fancy a treat but now have everyone's pinky brown/blood reds.

Sorry that 2/3 weeks wear is on my toes, not my fingers. I barely get 2 days off my fingers (and never have had more) before they start to chip/peel.

OPI nail polishes are the best I have found and the only ones I now use.

Thank you for these suggestions

After you have applied polish, get a tissue and run the edge of your nail across it. This will take away a minute amount of polish from the edge of your nail and help prevent chipping. Also, if you have time, apply a base and a top coat as this helps keep the polish stay on longer.

Whatever you do don't buy chanel. I've never been so disappointed in my whole life! I actually really rate rimmel but also mavala and nails inc.

my opi chips, my leighton denny chips, my chanel chips but i do tend to put them on too thickly as have dented nails. i have found certain colours last longer than others (paler shades) dark colours from any brand chips on me anyway

Ooh, lurky lurk. My nails are a disaster.

Surprisingly I can recommend the Rimmel Salon Pro. It's on offer in boots and I was enticed by the bright blue colour. It's called Barmy Blue. It's supposed to look like gel nails according to the adverts.

I thought it would be shit tbh. But I've had it on nearly a week, its lovely, there's no chips at all, it has a slight line where it's worn off the top of my two index fingers but is still ok. I use base coat, two thin coats of colour and top coat. I use L'Oreal Resist and Shine. Though I'm fickle with base coat normally.

I type constantly all day, and the usual washing and cleaning of an evening.

I do not recommend Nails Inc and def not Chanel.

The only other thing is getting my nails "done" with gel polish in UV light, she's always amazed that I come back to get them off after 4 weeks with them all nearly intact. But it wrecks them and I spend months waiting for them to stop splitting etc.

The point of this long and boring post? The Rimmel has been as close as I can get to the look of a shiny gel polish that lasts and will not wreck my nails.

it's so you'll replace them more often. surely??? like shitty electronics and cheap lamps from asda.

I use eyes lips face for most of my make up.
I spend about a quid on each bottle and they don't chip. Fab colour selection and they deliver.

Have a look here.

The fire coral is fabulous and only cost me a quid.

Their other colours are also fab, and are two fifty.

I agree with Dizzy using a base coat and top coat will make them last longer. I swear by Jessica pure brilliance top coat. My colour never lasts longer than a couple of days on my fingers anyway so I don't buy expensive....I've tried most. I just invest in top coat.

I would be very pleased if my nail artist lasted 3days before it chipped

FWIW Leighton Denny are the best, as are no17. No7 goes on v thin but does last

Personally I think they have never been better - Rimmel pro, Leighton Denny, Nails Inc are all good.

No 7 base and top coats are AMAZING.

I feel obliged to recommend the 'Sticky Sandwich' manicure technique whenever I see or hear this conversation.

getlippie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/how-to-make-your-manicure-last-longer15.html

You can buy Orly in big branches of Boots or on Amazon. China Glaze also make a rubberised basecoat which you can buy from Amazon.

One thing I would add to the steps in this post, is that you will want a layer of 'normal' basecoat on top of the first rubberised layer, because Orly doesn't do a brilliant job of stain protection.

I have stopped using basecoat and just use polish and top coat - manicure last MUCH longer.

I use OPI - nail envy as a base coat then 2 coats of polish and finish with Rapidry - which is brilliant, dries rock hard within 5 minutes.

I type all day, wash hands a lot and don't take care at all to avoid chipping and my nails still look ok after 5 days when i remove it all for a 2 day break before redoing them for work in a new colour of which i have far too many

I would second the Rimmel salon pro. I bought it last week not expecting it to be great but it's the best polish I've had in ages.

I've taken to using nail envy as a base coat, colour x2, nails inc quick dry topcoat and then putting a normal dry-time topcoat over the top of all of that. Quick drying topcoats make everything chip quicker but I can't stand the tacky feeling during drying time. My manicures now last a working week.

I swear by rimmel nail rescue as a base coat, it's so fast drying it takes no time at all and helps to prevent peeling nails and chipping at the edges.

Another vote for Rimmel Pro & Leighton Denny. No.7 is also very good, and surprisingly Barry M is really good. Avon also do a brand named Pro or similar which is very good and often on offer.

OPI good at a higher price, avoid Chanel! Nails Inc & Essie are average.

Application wise - sometimes a quick sweep of polish remover actually helps polish adhere better to your nail. Several thin coats are better than one thick, & it's really important to let each coat dry fully. When your nails are painted, use the brush to 'seal' over the top edge of your nail - this really helps with chipping. A good top coat goes a long way - it smells terrible but I don't think you can beat Seche Vite.

Doing the job properly is all.Undercoat, polish, top coat. Poor preparation will undo your nails whatever brand you use. equally rough treatment will damage the finish whatever preparation and brand have been deployed.

There is much to be said for painted fingernais for occasion wear only.