Non Gel nail varnish

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I love painting my nails but they always chip within a day. I use base and top coats.

In the summer I tried BIAB (by a professional) but they grew out in 2 weeks - my nails grow fast, and they were so weak and sore afterwards.
I tried nail wraps but similar problems in that it felt like I was wrecking my nails.

Can anyone recommend a nail varnish that I can use that will last more than a few days? I really don’t want anything that requires UV, specialist equipment etc. Just a recommendation for regular mail varnish that lasts!

I painted mine on Friday night and three were chipped by Saturday evening and I’d had gloves on most of the day!

I am sat here painting ny nails for the second time in 2 days so would love to know if anyone else has any good recommendations!

😂Yes!! I think it’s a bit like asking for a unicorn!
I’m 40 and using a year old bottle of Rimmel from Tesco so I’ve been out of the style and beauty loop for a while now. I was hoping there had been some groundbreaking advancements!

Do you use a base coat and also a top coat? I tend to do that plus 2 coats of normal polish (I like Nails Inc and Barry M) and tend to get almost a week before chips. If you use a glitter top coat, slightly longer. Not groundbreaking though I'm afraid!

Haha well if there has then no one has told me 🤣

I find Rimmel and Essie pretty good for not chipping, but they still need a couple of coats.

I discovered Seche Vite topcoat and base coat on Mumsnet. It really does work - I usually go at least three days before the first chips, and then they are only tiny and can be touched up. I think the brand of nail varnish does make a difference, too. At the moment I'm using Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days, Max Factor Max Effect and L'Oreal with good results.

Nail Kind polish is lovely and lasts pretty well. Barry M is also good. But I really think they are much of a muchness and it's all in the prep. Get a cuticle pusher and make sure you get all the cuticle off your nail bed, and make sure you keep the polish on your nail bed only and none gets on the skin. Also cap the free edge of your nail. And use a base and top coat and thin layers, and make sure every layer is dry before applying the next.

That said, no nail polish has ever lasted more than 3 days on me, my natural nails are weak and bendy!

Just ordered some seche vite 😊 never heard of this before.

Thank you for the tips and recommendations! I’ll be trying the Seche Vite too.

You’ll never get anything like 2 weeks out of normal polish. I have a month on/month off with gel Tom give my nails time to recover.

The Rimmel 2 step gel polish lasts well, if you follow the instructions properly (thin coats of paint, prep beforehand, always use the topcoat). It’s not really gel, just normal polish but is quite good.

Essie and Barry M are pretty good too.

Nails Inc is good. Lasts longer with base and top coat but I’m on day 4 with neither and no chips.

I’ve given up with base coat and top coat… I think it just makes it all too soft.

My favourite nail varnish is cheap and cheerful Barry M. 2 coats with proper drying time in between. This lasts a few days then I add another coat if there are any chips and get another few days out of it. I file them regularly (I need short nails for work)

I use a base coat, then only use Essie for colour - 2 coats and let everything properly dry in between. Then finish with a topcoat - Nails Inc Kensington Caviar. Usually last a week

I like Zoya, Essie or OPI, and I always use Essie Good to Go quick drying top coat. I prefer it, I didn't find Seche Vite as good. I normally get 5 or 6 days out of polish, with maybe a bit of tip wear, but no chips.

OPI. It’s the best. Two coats minimum. Don’t overload the brush. Their top coat or Seche Vite. I’ve also used Chanel which is great too. Essie is a good brand too but I’ve only used their pinks!

I've stopped having gels because the removal was wrecking my nails. I paint my nails with OPI varnish and use their base and top coats. If it's a light colour I can sometimes get away with 4-5 days before reapplication.

Nailberry, two coats, seems to do ok for me.

The Manicurist. Base coat, two coats of polish and their top coat. It’s so much better than Seche Vite and gives a shiny finish like gels.

Leighton Denny with their varnish that doubles up as top and base coat. I can get a week out of it and I never wear gloves for washing up.

I just stopped getting gels a few months ago and have been using essie repairing base coat and then essie varnish. For the first time in my life my polish has been lasting a week (longer sometimes).

Previously I've chipped within hours, I'm not sure if it's the products or the fact that my manicurist has taken off a few layers of my natural nails or a combination but I'm really impressed. The base coat dries really matt which seems to grip the polish well.

I'm a gel girl myself - use peel off base coat for ease

But if I ever run out and have to use normal nail polish then seche vite is the best top coat ever!! Easily Lara 7-10 days

100% Essie Gel Couture range. It’s a regular nail polish (no curing) but you need to use the matching top coat with it. Two coats on top of a base coat then finish with the top coat and I can get 7+ days wear easily. Then just wipe off with regular nail polish remover. I have gradually worked through all my other polishes and replaced with these.

Otherwise the Sally Hansen insta dry top coat (red bottle) is excellent on other standard nail polish (but the Essie one gives more of a glossy gel like finish)

I have used Essie Mademoiselle religiously for about a year now. Always lasts at least 7 days. No base coat or top coat.

Sally Hansen miracle gel or Essie gel couture. Both very good but the Sally Hansen one is slightly better because the colour seems to fade from the end rather than chip so looks better for longer. Both of those are a 2 in 1 base and colour and then use the top coat from the same range. I usually get about 5/6 days of almost perfect looking nails from both of these so I just do my nails weekly now.

I like Nailberry.
I always do across the top and under the tip and well (before 2nd coat) and it seems to keep it looking fresh longer