10 Tips to Make Your Nail Polish Last Longer

Image by Element5 with Unsplash

And then the wear and tear start to happen, and even just the littlest chip can rip that small feeling of warmth away.

Luckily, there are a few actions you can take to make sure your manicure stays fresh and lasts longer than a couple of days. 

Moisturize
Make sure you have cuticle moisturizer on deck and add it to your daily routine. Cuticle moisturizer or oil will help your fingers avoid the raggedy hangnail look and keep them looking fresh!

Remove oils from your nails
Use white wine vinegar or nail polish remover on your bare nail to remove any natural oil buildup. Oil buildup can create a layer between the polish and your nail that prevents the polish from sticking as well as it should.

Wash your hands
Make sure you wash your hands before adding paint to get dust particles off. If dust gets trapped under the polish, the polish will chip at a much quicker rate.

Image by Jakob Owens with Unsplash 

Avoid the cuticle
When you’re adding the paint to your nail, make sure you avoid getting it on your cuticles. Getting paint on your cuticles can create a small air pocket and lift your polish off your nails causing it to chip quicker.

Don’t shake the bottle
Instead, roll the bottle in between your hands to get it moving. Shaking the bottle creates more air bubbles which can make your manicure chip off your nails.

Buff your nails
Make sure you buff your nails before adding polish, so they are all one even platform for the polish. If you don’t, there can be bumps and ridges on your nails causing the polish to push up more and break quicker. 

Image by Daiga Ellaby with Unsplash

Cut your nails shorter
By having shorter nails, you are less likely to hit them against things, which in turn helps you keep the polish on for longer!

Multiple thin coats
When you’re applying the paint, instead of doing one thick coat, do a few thin coats and let them dry in between. This way they dry faster, and you reduce the chance of smudges.

Color matters
The color that you pick for your manicure can make or break it. Lighter colors tend to look better for longer because you can’t tell if they chip a little as easy as you can with darker colors.

Apply a topcoat
Reapply a top coat every few days. This will act as a sealant and help protect the polish from chipping, as well as keep the shine lasting longer.