If you DON'T get gels, which polish do you use?

[nanbread]

Just that really. Any recs for really good longer lasting ones? I can't afford to get gels (either in time or money - they don't last long on me)

I used to get gels but my nails grow quickly and I like them really short. I've spent a lot of time trying to really improve the condition, and cuticle. I use Dior base coat abricot and it last a week, lovely shiny, very pale sheer. Just ordered Nail Glow to try. Its ££ but I love the look and I'm happy not to be searching for a new effective colour that lasts!

nails Inc and nailberry

I love Barry m and the blurb on the site is brilliant. Didn't know they were local to me so being loyal! It's great quality and brilliant brushes

Doubt anyone interested but he sounds like he was lovely and still family run.

barrym.com/pages/our-history

I'm a convert to nail wraps. They just stick on then you file off the excess. From Amazon or eBay. No drying time, always perfect

Cheese that's lovely – I never actually looked it up to see if there was a real Barry M, but I always assumed there was! Perusing the Barry M stand is like being proffered lots of exciting options by the Barry I always imagined, who's a bit like a glam camp uncle.

How about doing your own gels at home?

Much quicker than normal nail polish as it cures in 30 seconds. Not expensive compared to quality nail polish either.

I have an unbranded lamp that cost less than £20. I use Mylee Mygel Which is about £6.50 a bottle, you need a base and top coat or combined base and top coat product.

I can do a full set that will last a fortnight in under an hour, and that is fully dry with no extra time. Taking it off is a bit of a faff but mainly I just keep doing infills so I don't need to.

Barry M with Seche Vite on top lasts a few days, any with glitter in last ages (and can be really hard to remove).

I tend to use Essie, Barry M and Rimmel, but they all last about the same (a week or so with lighter colours, 3 or 4 days with darker ones, I keep them short which helps I think).

Wipe nails with polish remover then basecoat, 2 colour coats and a topcoat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry which I think is better than Seche Vite. Whole thing takes about 10 mins and dry in another 10. I don't let them dry between coats, start each new coat immediately after the last nail of the previous coat.

Essie in the main, or Maybelline (poudre rose only) 7 day polish. Both with a topcoat or they do chip after a day or two.

Does it damage your nails @JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon

I like some of the gel colours and finishes, but have never dared try them.

Essie and Barry M for me too, always with base coat and top coat (the Barry M Plumpy topcoat is my favourite, although Sally Hansen used to do a great one in a mirror bottle you couldn't see through, which became so annoying I stopped buying it).

I bought some glittery polish in New York years ago from a brand called Deborah something and it was great. I wish I could remember what it was

Opi colour with Sally Hansen top coat.

I tend to use OPI, essie, Barry M most regularly. I don't mind ciate, zoya and rimmel too. The key with seche vite is to always wrap the tip (paint along the very edge of your fingernail and onto the underneath bit) and I usually use seche restore as well to keep the bottle fresh. If it gets too thick and gloopy then it shrinks on the nail and I get a weird residue round the edge. I've not found another top coat that matches seche for speed+glossiness so will keep an eye on this thread for any other recommendations!

I change my nails every 3-4 days just cuz I like it though so can't really comment on what works best if you're looking for a 5 day+ mani.

Barry M gel polish for me - love their colours too

@CheeseMmmm that’s such a great background story! Love that he made so many people so happy

@ArabeI

Does it damage your nails *@JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon*

I like some of the gel colours and finishes, but have never dared try them.

No not at all, however removing them can. If you try to pick or peel it off it trashes your nails. Using acetone to remove them can be hard on your nails, but that's not dissimilar to with normal nail polish and you end up doing it much less often. Gel nails last over a week and can be infilled a few times.

I probably soak mine off maybe every other month but I prefer mine a bit thicker so don't mind multiple infills and I can make them last a fortnight now too.

Those of you who manage to keep polish on for longer that a day - do you find the one thick coat is better than two thinner coats? (Plus top coat of course in both cases)

I use cheapo Rimmel 60 second stuff. I get a couple of good days out of it, and then a third with a 2 minute chip-repair session. I'm not very careful and always forget to use rubber gloves around the house, so reckon someone more careful would get an extra day.

Revlon, love the Revlon Red and the polishes tend not to dry out even after a very long time.

The Rimmel 60 second is quite good with a Sally Hansen top coat.

Not a fan of Nails Inc or OPI, always find they chip.

Now off to look and buy some Barry M!

Most of mine are Barry M, Essie and Rimmel. I do a base coat, two coats of colour and a quick drying top coat.

I find sometimes it lasts really well - nearly a week without chips - and at other times starts chipping next day. Autumn/winter time is worse, maybe something to do with the conditions (colder, more humid?) when I apply the polish. I've just got in the habit of doing my nails every 4 days or so and that's fine, they always look neat.

Essie
Barry M
Sally Hansen

I think Sally Hansen are the best, tbh.

I use Sally Hansen gel shine top coat, it really seals and shines, on top of either Sally Hanson, Opi, Nails Inc or Essie. I use Essie smooth-e as a base coat. Two thin coats of colour.
and I wear gloves for housework and don’t use my nails as tools. It can last all week. My nails grow too quick for gels.

Nails inc kale base coat or Kensington caviar base coat

Any colour polish I like, mixture of Rimmel (genuinely high quality formula, nice colours, great brush, cheap), nails inc colours, Essie

Nails inc Kensington caviar top coat.

The base and top are very important. I get at least a week out of mine and I have a pre-schooler so constantly washing my hands etc.

I love the gel effect ones from next. Loads of lovely colours with a "gel" top coat you buy separately and mine always lasts a full week before I just remove with polish in the normal way. Pretty bottles too!