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Original poster

If you paint your own nails at home- not gels or acrylics

145 replies

ILoveMaxiBondi · 30/12/2018 21:16

Just normal nail polish. What do you use and how long does it last? I do a lot of cleaning with hands constantly in and out of water/cleaning products etc but I have finally gotten my nails to a nice length and shape and have been wearing nail varnish over Christmas. My New Years resolution is to look after them and wear gloves everytime im cleaning.

So what do you use and include pictures if you like!

OP posts:
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13
E20mom · 30/12/2018 22:19

I like Essie, Rimmel and Sally Hansen. All bought from Boots.

Kummerspeck · 30/12/2018 22:21

I have never found any nail varnish other than salon gel that lasts even with Seche Vite. Don't know what I am doing wrong

M0reGinPlease · 30/12/2018 22:24

@Binglebong bargain! My sister always has gels and she got it in a Birchbox and gave it to me. I braced myself for it to be really expensive as it's so good so it was a pleasant surprise! I think even at full price it's only about £8.

IHaveBrilloHair · 30/12/2018 22:52

I always do my own.
I use everything from Poundland to Chanel, to Leighton Denny and back.

If you paint your own nails at home- not gels or acrylics
Binglebong · 30/12/2018 23:09

I do find that solar oil (or rescue remedy if I'm feeling rich!) has improved my incredibly thin nails a bit. I will have wrecked them tonight by putting varnish (OPI with no7 base and top coats) on

A lot of people seem to rave about Barry M but I've always found them watery thin.

babysharkah · 30/12/2018 23:09

Rommel 60 seconds. Lasts 4 days. Cheap as chips and looks great.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 30/12/2018 23:18

I use Orly Bonder base coat, and Jessica top coat. Polishes from all over, currently a Chanel one.

leccybill · 30/12/2018 23:23

Wilko Essence varnishes are great. Some really lovely colours. Only £1.60!

Grace212 · 30/12/2018 23:29

@Binglebong

where did you find it for £5 please?

MissMarplesKnitting · 30/12/2018 23:31

Morgan Taylor stick with it base coat.

Two coats of Essie, OPI or China glaze polish.

Seche Vite top coat.

Normally get 5-7 days before chips but usually bored before then and redone them anyway 🤣

JaceLancs · 30/12/2018 23:52

Best non gel polish I’ve found is Estée Lauder followed by Opi
I use seche Vite top coat
I also have gel polish lamp and sometimes do non gel polishes with gel top coat which obviously makes. It last longer

Binglebong · 31/12/2018 00:14

You'll tell me now I've got the wrong one....

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003H77FEW?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Time40 · 31/12/2018 01:31

Is there a reason you don't want gel? I've got a lamp and gels and I do my own. They last 2 weeks

... um, to be absolutely honest with you pp, I don't really know what it is! But I do know that if I had a colour on my nails for longer than 7 days, it would be so grown out that it would look weird.

M0reGinPlease · 31/12/2018 08:34

That's the one @Binglebong!

Grace212 · 31/12/2018 08:36

Thanks @Binglebong

for some reason I thought this stuff was about £15!

LoudBatPerson · 31/12/2018 08:52

I use a real mix and match. In the photo here I have used:

UNT peel off base coat (love this stuff as stoped my nails getting dried out from remover)
Primark (!) dark blue on all nails.
Accent nail had a second coat of dark blue and Barry M matte top coat.
Other nails had a Barry M glitter over the blue and then OPI quick dry top coat.

Just starting day four of these and they going strong. I think the key to getting a good amount of wear out of them is to use thin layers of polish that you let dry properly and when applying top coat make sure you brush over the end of the nail to seal all the way around.

I also use apricot cuticle and nail oil everyone I remove nail varnish to keep in good shape.

If you paint your own nails at home- not gels or acrylics
Aaaahfuck · 31/12/2018 09:09

Models own nail varnish is good. Or doing your own gels at home.

AnotherBeautifulDayToBeRogelio · 31/12/2018 09:16

Another vote for OPI, with Seche Vite top coat. Seche Vite is bloody amazing. I was astounded at how fast my nails dried and how quickly I can do the coats without bubbles. And the shine is gorgeous. I can do base coat, 2 coats of colour and seche Vite top coat in 15 mins.

Tomliboosrule · 31/12/2018 09:21

I’ve just discovered CND Vinylux which is good so far. No base coat, 2 coats of colour and a top coat. Lasted from Christmas Eve until yesterday with no chips.

dollyknocker · 31/12/2018 09:23

I do 2 costs of any nail polish, some of my favourites are Essie, Barry M, Miss Sporty is v cheap but great, Rimmel, then Sech Vite top coat on. Dries in minutes, lasts for about a week usually, sometimes up to ten days. It's amazing stuff.

babooshkamybush · 31/12/2018 19:25

I used to have shellac but developed an allergy to the acyrylites (sp?), so have been doing my own with normal nail polish for a couple of years now. I can get a week with no chips if I do all the below meticulously:

  1. Prep my nails properly including wiping remover over them before I start to make sure they are completely clean and free of any oils. Oh and only start fannying around doing them in the evening when you don't have to do anything else like washing up, removing make up etc that night.
  2. Use a decent basecoat...I like nails inc one (it was at poundland a few months back so I bought about 5 bottles - poundland also have random branded nail polish which is worth a look - have had loreal essie etc from there in the past)
  3. Do 2-3 thin coats of whatever polish (I've found zero difference between cheap and expensive in terms of how long they last if all the other steps are followed )
  4. Top coat of seche vite, making sure you cap the ends. Leave 20 mins then another coat of seche vite.
  5. Leave to dry properly overnight.

God I'm boring...it's just about the only skill I have taught myself in my adult life Blush. I'll stop now!

babooshkamybush · 31/12/2018 19:31

Picture of mine this week.

If you paint your own nails at home- not gels or acrylics
cherryhealey · 31/12/2018 20:57

Essie here
Have bought Chanel in past and it was rubbish
Two coats and find it lasts well- but never have it on for more than a couple of days.
Lots of hand cream and work it into cuticles
Good quality moisturising remover helps too not the really cheap stuff

VanGoghsDog · 31/12/2018 22:24

I use Orly bonder base coat, Seche Vite top coat and then drying drops. I always polish them just before bed, in bed, then read for ten mins to dry them enough, then sleep, then after cuticles are softened by the shower I scrape off any smudges.

Varnishes I like best are Essie, Nails Inc, Leighton Denny. Not keen on Max Factor for staying power.

My nails are currently shredded so I am resting them having had them painted every day from mid Sept to Christmas eve.

In terms of chipping, I think keeping them short helps, cutting rather than filing helps stop them fraying too much.

I need to find a better remover as I think that is damaging them.

Lifehappens1991 · 01/01/2019 10:57

I think a lot of the work comes in at applying the base, 2 x colour and then a top coat. It does take an hour or so but it's the only I get them to last. This way my nails usually withstand the usual chips as i work in retail.

That's my in put 😊 xx