My BIAB / gel nail era ends with 2025. What at-home polish actually lasts more than a day?

[AccidentallyOnTrend]

Just that, really. I’ve always been epically lame at anything vaguely girly and lack any kind of “doing my own nails” knack — they always end up looking like they have been painted by a five-year-old wearing a pirate eyepatch.

That would be fine, but they also chip and peel and flake within a day – does anyone have any recs for really decent polish that actually stays on? I figure even splurging on a few bottles will be quickly offset by a month or two not paying any more valuable life hours and hard earned £££ sat in salons that smell like car paint.

The seche vite top coat is a game changer, makes it last. Look up videos, put lots on and another coat a few days later.

OPI nail envy.

Essie gel couture.

Nailberry polish is brilliant

Following. Nail polish never seems to last a day with me!

I buy nail wraps off Etsy, they always last a good couple of weeks, especially if I add a layer of clear polish.

This

I love Essie and even if it does chip you can give it a quick touch up

Ive been paying £25 a time for gel nails at the nail shop

They last days, if that!

The nail shop mentioned a stronger gel nail that is twice the price but apparently is 'infillable' and lasts for ages, will try to find the name x

Essie gel couture.

@mumofoneAloneandwell really? They only Last a few days? And they are gel?

That was the same for me too, never more than a week and usually less

I think if your gel polish isn't lasting a week they are doing something wrong mine are still going strong at 4 weeks although have grown out.

Yes!!!

I had them done on friday 19th
Dec 23rd they were chipped and peeling!!

I accept that I can be rough - i was packing a suitcase and braiding hair

But still!!

I always assumed it was something I was doing /not doing as other people got there's done at the same places and they would last ages

@mumofoneAloneandwell i've asked a lot of questions about nails on here on the last few weeks but I'm pretty sure that's really rubbish. There's no way anyone's paying for a manicure to last as long as you did it at home with ordinary polish, maybe your salon isn't using the proper stuff.

@AccidentallyOnTrend I was going to get my nails done before Christmas. Dithered, ended up going to a walk-in place and walking out because of the smell. I do not remember it being that bad before. It was like being overpowered by fumes.

I haven't done it for a few years though. (well not in the salon, a person I know who was training has done it for me but it was just me and her home). But yeah, I definitely don't remember the smell being that bad the last time I went to the salon.

I put Nails Inc gel-look gold polish on in mid December and it lasted more than a week! I was really surprised. I used a base coat from manucurist.

Builder gel probably. It's amazing. I go every 5-6 weeks and get a colour that tones with natural nail bed so it grows out well.

Base coat, a couple of coats of polish then a top coat - make sure each layer dries properly. Wear gloves when washing up and gardening etc.

I gave up gel polish due to nail damage - these started split and peel.

My husband bought me ‘polishey’ this year. They are nail felt tips. Use the base coat, colour your nails like you would with felt tips and then top coat. Perfect!

Edited: wrong tense!

The key to lasting polish is base coat and top coat.

I'm using Opi base coat at the moment.

You can get polishes that are like gel but don't need the light to cure.

I find it's fine to do base on all fingers, then first thin coat polish, second thin coat polish, third coat if colour is thin, and top coat. I don't wait for the coats to fully dry between each application. That would take ages.

Mine last a week and I'm pretty hard on my nails.

Nail wraps last longer for me. Had a recommendation on here for Bewitched Digits and they are good. Last about couple of weeks usually.

Essie base coat/ x2 coats of polish/ gel setter or top coat / platinum top coat = a good week chip free 💅🏼💪🏻

Ooooh thanks all! From scanning the thread Essie seems to come up repeatedly. I’m using Essie To the Rescue since having the Builder/BIAB gel filed off (poorly). Not impressed at all but appreciate it’s a treatment not a polish per se.

Will browse Opi/Essie base coats and polish + seche vite

Seche vite is brilliant. I get gels done now but they last 4 weeks. Essie + seche vite would last 2 weeks on my fingernails and forever on my toes!