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

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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.

You have to prep your nails! Get one of those 6 sided files and make sure your nails are smoothed, buffed etc. I keep my nails as short as possible and polish lasts a week. If my nails grow then it chips much easier. Also my mantra is ‘my nails are not tools’… I’d never open a parcel with them, or food packets etc (bar a bag of crisps or something) and always wear washing up gloves when cleaning etc.

my favourite polish at the moment is actually the own brand one from Next.

Ah I have some Mylee wraps if anyone has used them let me know your thoughts. I am another one ditching the biab for natural nails now. One of my nails started lifting at the side and when I took the biab off my nails were bad. Thin and sore. I had switched salons and the last person filed the biab off and it was a forever app. The previous salon used a machine which was super quick and seconds on the nail so I didn't feel it damaged my nail or nail bed.

I've been using the manicurist raspberry active and it really does help. I am trying to use cuticle oil and hand cream too. I am a picker of the sides of my nails too. Urgh, terrible habit.

X

I use the ordinary Essie polishes (because of the huge range of colours - I buy from Nail Polish Direct) or Zoya. Zoya is amazing. I use an Essie base coat, and Essie Good to Go top coat (which dries polish really quickly and in my opinion is far superior to Seche Vite). My nails last 6 to 7 days, with just a little tip wear, which is easy to touch up.

Do nail wraps damage your nail bed?

I really hoped that gel nails would lose popularity. I had them for a short time after having chemotherapy which wrecked my nails. However that was nothing compared to what gel nails did. I think there is nothing nicer than natural nails.

Agreed @FrenchBunionSoup - the OPI. serum transformed my peeling nails.

Nope. I suppose if your nails are pitted/peeling from the gel and you rip off the wrap, it would do. But use a clear base coat (anything) and then the wrap, and use the brand’s remover or soak them off and you’ll be fine.

Lily and Fox nail wraps with Orly Bonder underneath and Sally Hansen top coat on top. Lasts WEEKS.

No, if you use a base coat and remove slowly. I used to have BIAB but got bored of the appointments and the cost so grew it out- I didn’t want to get it filed off as it damaged my nails before.

The nail wraps look good and by the time they are ready to come off I am ready for a change. They last well but not as tough as gel. I use nail oil to get them off, just make sire you do it slowly. One time I rushed and it did damage them a bit.

I’m keen to give nail wraps a try. Which brands are you all using?

I’ve succumbed to peer pressure and bought two Glaize sets of wraps to try when I next need to go anywhere where usually I’d have my BIAB redone!

Essie but main thing is to let each coat dry for ages. If it chips just take it off and redo. I’ve put a layer of sparkle over red for Xmas nails and it’s lasted through a lot of wear!

I use Essie mademoiselle. No base coat or top coat. 2 coats. Lasts a week. No chips.

Glaze is expensive but other nail wraps never fit my fingers so I think Id have to custom size. Even if they last 2 weeks, that's not much less than a monthly salon trip.

Rimmel 60 Seconds and I will die on this hill.

I got Sassy Saints nail wraps for Christmas and have been really impressed so far! So easy to apply.

I tried Bewitched Digits nail wraps and thought i did all the right things - pushing back cuticle, swiping nails with nail varnish remover before application, finishing with topcoat - but within hours 3 of them kept coming off!

They stuck back on easy enough. But as MOTB next day, it was alarming to find one or other on my dress, or the tablecloth... and annoying to have to keep checking!! Otherwise they looked great, and were easy to remove when I wanted to.

I see other PPs saying their nail wraps didn't budge. Does price make a difference, do you think? At £2.99 BD are cheaper than most, especially Glaize. They seem to be the exact same product. But is it a case get what you pay for?

Sally Hansen or OPI

I meant to as OP, why are you stopping biab? I've got it twice now and my nails feel amazing, but I was a terrible nail biter.

Glaize gel wraps are very easy to apply, can personalise size and they are shiny like gels. No uv lap needed just press on. Have been very pleasently surprised. Easy removal too. No acetone, polish remover and foil faff!!

I’ve got orly bonder base coat plus essie gel polish and top coat arriving today… I’ll report back!

I found nail wraps really soft and easily dented. Nothing like the finish of gels. Kinder to nails, though.

I've not applied the nail wraps i have but will update. If I ever use a colour polish I do use a quick dry drop or paint on. I have a Mavala one but happy to try another recommended brand. Xx

Got this essie one

My Sassy Saints wraps are still going strong after one week, even with my less than perfect application.