If you’re anything like me, you’ve been trying to find the best long-lasting nail polish for years.
There is nothing more frustrating than going to all the effort of giving yourself a manicure at home only to have it chip the next day. My signature nail polish colour is also bright red, which means any chip is instantly noticeable.
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I’ve set out to find the best combination of nail polish products to make my manicure last longer and I think I’ve finally found the winning combination.
First step: shape your nails
File your nails into your preferred shape and use cuticle oil to soften your cuticles so you can use a cuticle stick to push them back over the bed of your nails – just make sure you never cut your cuticles! I used the OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go.
Second step: prep your nails
Don’t skip this step! We are all too eager to rush ahead and hope the topcoat does all the work but if you really want to make that polish last, you’ll want to wipe your nails with white vinegar before you apply anything else. This gets rid of any natural oils or product residue that would prevent polish from sticking.
Step three: apply a basecoat
Just like a face primer helps foundation stick and stay longer, a quality basecoat acts in the same way for your nail polish. Apply it to dry nails and reapply a second coat around the tips and edges of your nails that are more prone to chipping. I used the Jessica Cosmetics Restoration Basecoat to prime my nails for painting.
Step four: apply your nail polish
Choose a quality nail polish to apply over your basecoat. I selected my favourite OPI nail lacquer in Big Apple Red. Apply a thin first coat to your nails, don’t worry about making it perfect, your second coat will get any tricky spots you missed. You just want to avoid painting it on too thick. Allow to dry and apply a second coat.
Step five: apply your topcoat
Once your nail polish is completely dry you can apply your topcoat. The Jessica Cosmetics Thick Plumping Topcoat landed on my desk recently and I was excited to see if it would deliver the gel-look finish it promised. I wasn’t disappointed! You need to apply 8-10 strokes of the topcoat, under and over the nail while tracing around the edges to seal the finish and then allow to dry. The finish is very glossy and did give it a plump gel-like look which I’ve found prevented chipping.
Step six: take a moment to admire your handiwork
If you want them to stay as shiny and chip-free as they are at this very moment, you’ll want to do the following:
- Wear gloves when you’re washing up.
- Wash your hands with soap and avoid hand sanitiser as it will dry out your nails and ruin your topcoat.
- If the tips of your nails start to chip you can file them down and apply another topcoat while taking care to seal around the edges again.
There you have it! My tried and tested at-home manicure routine and the products you need to make your nail polish last.
Do you have any other tips for making your nail polish last?
