How to achieve long lasting nail polish

[Woeisme99]

Hi, try as I might to home manicure with good quality polish, top coat etc my nails never last more than 2 days without chipping.

I HATE having professional manicures, can't bear the cuticle pushing etc, makes me feel sick (weird I know!)

My nails are good and strong and grow like buggery. Would I be better having a weekly file and polish at a salon, or would shellac or similar last longer and not ruin my nails? Very inexperienced due to hatred of manicures as above, but desperate to look a bit more polished! Thanks in advance.

I go to a salon every 2-3 weeks and my polish rarely chips. 2 weeks should be fine. It’s OPI all the way for me! I don’t have a manicure. Just care for your nails yourself and get a professional polish and top coat. My DDs go for shellac. It’s quicker and they go every 2-3 weeks as well. Pale colours show growth less.

I find that having a good base coat makes a world of difference. Make sure your nails are clean and dry (no hand cream or anything) then apply this Orly Bonder Base Coat which has a weird rubbery effect so your nail varnish sticks onto it easily. Finish with a gel nail effect top coat and your nails should last 5-7 days.

My nails are really strong too but shellac absolutely destroys them. It took months for them to recover after my last shellacking; they went really thin and weak.

Push back your cuticles , wipe your nail clean with nail polish remover on a cotton bud , apply a good base coat (cuccio high gloss is good and cheap) , apply thin coats of the colour , apply a quick dry top coat (again cuccio make a good one). Don't touch anything for 30 minutes to an hour if you can help it

I did my nails a week ago and aside from growth and wear at the tips they're holding up well.

Sorry , the base coat isn't high gloss...the top coat is.

Essie Gel Effect polish and top coat are brilliant for me. I get nearly a week out of a nail painting now, where it used to be more like 2 days because I’m quite tough on my nails.

Make sure your polish and top coat go over the tips of your nails, this can stop chipping. Also using a gel effect top coat can help too as it's a bi thicker.

Maybelline SuperStay 7 days is really long lasting. I’m rubbish with nail varnish but I’ve had it on since last Sunday and it’s barely chipped.

Seche Vite Professional Top Coat from Amazon.... just bought this a week ago and it's absolutely brilliant. Changed my nail game forever

My nails last for at least two weeks. I only re-do them because of the new growth at the base.

I use a base coat, 3 layers of varnish and a top coat. I only use Essie or Jessica but use Sally Hansen Double Duty for base and top coat. I have tried all the other top coats - Seche Vite, Orly, Essie, Dior... but Sally Hansen is the best for me.

Or go to a salon! Far more choice of colours.

Gel nails all the way! Just ask the salon not to do a full manicure, just a file and shape. I go every three weeks. Won’t damage your nails unless you remove them improperly.

Meant to add that you don’t have to sit around for ages whilst your nails dry either which I love.