How to Make Nail Polish Last Longer
When you don’t have time to step into a salon or a professional manicure simply isn’t in the weekly budget, it’s time to go back to basics and give yourself an at-home manicure. Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially if you’re battling shaky hands and cracking, peeling and chipping after a few days. If this sounds familiar, you’re probably in need of some tips for how to make nail polish last longer. Ahead, Maybelline’s nail care experts share their advice to elevate your DIY manis using Maybelline fast gel nail polish, as well as before-and-after nail care.
7 tips for how to make nail polish last longer
If you’re in search of advice to extend the life of your nail polish, you’re probably wondering ‘how long can a gel manicure last?’. Well, there are a few variables like the health and strength of your nails, but the major factors are the type of nail polish and the application technique. With the right formula and application, you might be able to stretch your DIY manicure out to a week or more. When you’re painting your own nails, long wear gel formulas are your best friend. As for technique, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for our top 7 tips for how to make nail polish last longer without chipping.
1. Prep your nails
Just like our makeup and skincare routines, our nails need a little bit of prep to keep our manicure in pristine condition. Before applying any type of Maybelline gel nail polish, make sure your nails are filed and clipped, then focus on cleaning your nails and cuticles. This helps to remove any trace oil and dirt so your polish has no problem clinging to its canvas.
2. Apply a base coat
If we go back to the makeup metaphor for a moment, we can think of our base coat as our ‘primer’. But our base coat does more than make nail polish last longer, it also acts as a barrier between the nail and nail polish. This helps stop damage and staining – a major pain when you want to wear a different colour for your next mani. Apply one even base coat to a clean, dry nail. We know it’s tempting to go right in with your coloured polish but give your base coat a couple of minutes to dry.
3. Choose the right nail polish colour
While we love a vibrant red or a moody black moment, chips, peeling and nail growth tend to be more noticeable on darker colours. Your choice of nail colour is ultimately your preference, but to extend the wear of your polish, we suggest opting for subdued, neutral colours like our Fast Gel Longwear Nail Lacquer in ‘Nude Flush’. We love this shade for at-home manicures since it hits the neutral brief but still offers a whimsical shimmer.
4. Use a long-lasting gel nail polish
A long-lasting formula is the key to make your nail polish last longer without chipping. Gel nail polishes can grip the nail better than regular lacquer formulas; they’re also more flexible, so when they dry, they’re less likely to chip. Our Fast Gel formulas are fast drying with an extreme shine finish that gives you up to 10 days wear. This way, your manicure stays fresh for longer.
5. Be careful with your application
Now for the hard part… perfecting your application technique. Mastering how to make your nail polish last longer takes practice, so we’ve assembled our top tips:
- Before touching your nail with the polish brush, be sure to wipe off any excess in the inner neck of the bottle.This helps give you a light, even coat.
- Start with a stripe of polish down the centre of your nail.
- Gently curve your brush to coat each side of your nail, trying to avoid the cuticle area. Maybelline Fast Gel formulas have a cuticle-shaped brush to make this step a little easier.
- After this coat, wait at least 2 minutes before applying your second coat of Maybelline gel nail polish.
6. Apply a top coat
Your top coat is going to help seal your nail polish and prevent chipping. Depending on the look you want to achieve, you can reach for either a shine or matte finish. Apply one coat of Fast Gel ‘Top Coat’ and allow it to dry for a few minutes. To prolong your polish, you can also make top coat touch ups every couple of days – think of this as manicure maintenance!
7. Look after your cuticles
When it comes to DIY manicures, we’re all about cuticle care. Before you start your next manicure, you might want to soak your fingers in water so you can gently push back your cuticles. This will make your nails look longer and help you avoid getting polish on your cuticles. Speaking of, if you do get nail polish on your skin, hold off on tidying up until all your coats are dry. Then, you can simply wash your hands in warm water to lift any nail polish or take a cotton bud soaked in nail polish remover to clean up the edges of your nail.
