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

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

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!

I dint like gel nails anymore either I hate the tell-tale growth at the bottom. Much prefer ru do by own.

The best ever nail polish is Eve Snow if you can get your mitts on it.

Otherwise agree with PP about Orly, Rimmel and my personal favourites are Barry M and Mavala.

Can't stand Essie, I hate the bottle design, brush and the finish. Seche Vite becomes annoying when it gets to the peeling off stage so it's not for me. It's not long-lasting on me and so not worth the cost.

Best clear 'colour' is Orly Beverley Hills plum. Like Dior Nail Glow but much much better.

I like some OPI shades but only the smaller bottles, I have shortish, tiny nails. How Great is Your Dane is perfect

I found rimmel gel finish stuff, the one where you used a special top coat, completely wrecked my nails. Annoying as some lovely colours - would be great if they did all the shades in the way more than 60 second range.

I have never noticed any smell with SV, nor a 'peeling stage'. Nothing peels off mine.

Re the Essie bottle - they have more than one design, and some of the brushes are thin and old fashioned, but some are the flat ones.

I don't like the Nails Inc bottle or lid, can't hold the big rectangle, and the big lid comes off so you only have a silly little thing to hold - but I still use it as I like the actual varnish (the brushes are nice too).

I do my own nails and don't use Shellac or anything that you have to cure under a machine or soak or file off. I use OPI or Chanel and it usually only lasts a day.

However, I recently bought a gel top coat from Chanel and my manicure now lasts a week to 10 days and comes off with normal remover. It is one of my prize finds.

Totally agree with you about the nails inc stupid lid business VanGogh, such an annoyingly shaped bottle too.

Another vote for CND vinylux it's relatively quick to remove, unlike the Rimmel gel polish.

This is what happens after just a few days of painted nails. sob

My new favourite nude from vinylux

silk pyjamas

Binglebong

What are we looking at - a broken nail? I keep mine short as they shred from the varnish but they're better short anyway.

Yeah, they tear right back to where they meet the skin. I get little cracks on the side which catch and then get worse.

I do keep mine short but they like to get shorter still!

Ahhhh my spiritual home!

I'm currently standing at about 75 different colours in my collection. I need to find a way to store them properly plus all my other bit and pieces.

Bingle-if I may make a suggestion. Silk nail wrap.

A sizeable piece on the cracked/broken nail, a coat of nail glue and a few coats of base coat then colour and top coat as normal.
It's currently holding my right thumb nail in place as I split the sides too.

I’ve tried loads and currently swear by Hema’s polish and gel top coat (no lamp, just makes it look like shellac). I’m told the key to lasting polish is to make sure your nails are so clean they squeak before you start. I buff mine with a rough and smooth buffer. Also got a Ciate polish and that lasts

Very true Olddognewtricks.
I wipe over with Isopropyl alcohol after oiling and moisturising.
Removes all oils and dirt for your base coat.

planespotting that is such a beautiful nude! Do you also use the vinylux topcoat? How do you find the vinylux polishes go on and last? Thinking of investing in some colours..

I'll give that a try Personal. Where do you get the wraps from?

Amazon or Wish.

I have this one

I use Wish for generic nail stuff, art tools, orange sticks, buffers, glass files etc.

Thanks. I've put it on my wish list.

The SV I ordered on the 31st arrived today, so much faster than expected. The link is on page 2 if anyone wants it. Will report on how well it works!

Just came across this site where I've ordered 3 fill size OPIs for under £8. Fingers crossed. luemos.com/index.php/

With SV it arrived on the 9th and I painted immediately. It did dry very quickly - properly hard dry rather than touch-dry-that-smudges-the-second-you-look-away. Its now the 13th and if I was using a darker colour I would have to touch up. Slightly. As its pink I can get away with it.

The SV is really hard - my dog bit it playing with a ball and there was no mark. You can't dig nails in or in any other way mark it (that i've found).it is genuinely really solid and given how rough I am I am amazed. Will be using lots more.

Now I just need to work out how not to tiny it red if I use a dark colour.

Thank you so much all you lovely ladies who recommended SV. Game changer for me.

Tint*, not tiny. Chips are you though - pic is of my biggest. It took a long soak in the bath to achieve.

Glad you're enjoying @Binglebong!

I use beauty pie (very cheap, like £3 a bottle). It lasts about a week (I was dishes as no dishwasher for context) but some finger nails go two or more without chipping. Choice of colours is also good (I like very neutral nails though, if you are looking for glittery lime green they don’t do that). Easy to apply and dries reasonably quickly.

I use the Rimmel 60 second one as I'm always in a rush and need the nails to dry quickly. But it lasts just one day on me as I don't use base coat or top coat but that doesn't bother me as I don't mind giving my nails a break between polishes.

SV won't colour if you leave your nails sixty seconds before using it.
I admit I've never finished a bottle as it does get a bit discoloured and it goes too thick and gloopy by three quarters down, so I usually end up throwing away about 25%.