Most hard wearing nail varnish??

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I’m quite heavy handed which means nail varnish chips easily so I don’t wear it much. However I want to be able to wear nice dark colours and not have to take it off the next day! I have just bought the sally Henson two step gel one (no need for light) and looked great until the next day!!

Can anyone recommend anything?

Not going to the nail bar.... to do at home.

Doing a boots shop so would be idea if I can get from there!

Essie and OPI are my personal favourites but it’s all about prep too. Lightly buff your nails and then go over with remover on a cotton wool pad (the balls will leave fibres so avoid). Apply one coat of Orly bonder base coat and leave to dry. Apply 2-3 coats of your preferred colour and leave to dry in between. Top with OPI top coat. Make sure all the coats are thin and are complete dry before moving onto the next one. That’s the routine I use and I easily get a week without any chips. Not sure if boots sell orly basecoat (mines from Superdrug) so if not, get an OPI base coat

You could get a gel nail lamp? I do mine (shellac style) at home and it's really easy and lasts 1-2 weeks (or about 5 on toenails!!!)

Seche vite makes everything last much longer and hardens it instantly.

I sometimes resort to a nail lamp I have but the disadvantage is that it’s hard to get off once it does start to chip.
The only other way I’ve found of making nail polish last is to add a coat of clear nail strengthener over the top every day, something like Sally Hansen Maximum Growth or OPI Nail Envy.

I always find that when I do several layers that no matter how long I leave it it smudges and then it’s a pain to try and start again.
I now do just one coat and like the consistency of maybelline superstay 7 days. If it chips I just do a quick touch up or it’s really quick to wipe off and redo.

Thanks everyone. I don’t want to do the shellac thing as it wrecks my nails.

It’s annoying as they looked so nice for one day!!

Mavala. After applying I run the edge of my nail over a tissue wrapped around a finger and that stood it from chipping

limb shellac itself doesn’t wreck your nails. It’s the removal that can cause damage if not done correctly.

I like the Rimmel gel look range. Great colours andthey go on well! I have 5 and I get compliments on my nails. It lasts about 4 days which is good for me. It's a quick job to remove and repaint- I do it in front of the TV.

Zoya

I use Essence base coats, they’re all really good and so cheap. Then I add 2 layers of colour and an Essie or Sally Hansen top coat. Make sure you run the brush across the tip too so that there is extra protection.

I second Seche Vite polish. Apply a decent base coat too and cap the free edge.

Also agree with PP, Shellac doesn’t harm your nails, picking & poor removal does x

@Ellewoods20

Essie and OPI are my personal favourites but it’s all about prep too. Lightly buff your nails and then go over with remover on a cotton wool pad (the balls will leave fibres so avoid). Apply one coat of Orly bonder base coat and leave to dry. Apply 2-3 coats of your preferred colour and leave to dry in between. Top with OPI top coat. Make sure all the coats are thin and are complete dry before moving onto the next one. That’s the routine I use and I easily get a week without any chips. Not sure if boots sell orly basecoat (mines from Superdrug) so if not, get an OPI base coat

I'm similar but:

Nails inc nail kale base
2 coats of colour
Nails inc Kensington caviar top coat.

Easily lasts a week. No need to wait for each coat to dry before moving on to the next one as the layers dissolve each other anyway.

I like essie long wear range. Using colour and top coat I can last a good 5 days.
www.essie.com/nail-polish/longwear/reds

Rimmel all the way!

I find Barry M lasts well for me - I use a wheelchair which makes keeping nail varnish unchipped really difficult! It's available in Boots for a good price albeit it possibly just a small selection of their ranges. I can get a good 4-5 days out of it usually and I like dark colours too :)

Best combo I’ve found is Sally Hanson hard as nails for base coat, 2 layers of Barry M Gelly colour and then serche vite top coat. Lasts for days and looks very similar to gel nails.