If you’re still going the DIY route for your manicure, you know you want to keep your hard work intact for a week (or more, if you’re really careful). Our hands can go through the wringer—especially now—with all the hand washing and sanitiser application that are a must to protect yourself. Here’s what you can do to prevent your nail polish from smudging or chipping and make that mani last.
1) Wipe your nails down first
Even if you don’t have any nail paint on, using nail polish remover first is key. This helps wipe away any natural oils from your nails, which can get in the way of your nail polish adhering properly to the surface. But unlike what you may be used to at the salon, it’s best to skip a soak. A water bath will cause your nails to expand and when they dry and shrink down, the polish can crack.
2) File your nails right
The right way to even out your shape is by filing in a single direction. Going back and forth with the filing tool can cause the nails to break and get brittle. “Filing your nails regularly help prevent them from breakage, which in turn contributes to less chipping,” advises Dr Kavita Sheth of Kavi’s Nail Care. Try and file them in a shape that mirrors your cuticle to prevent breakage.
3) Try a shorter length
If regular chipping is driving you mad, you may want to consider your nail length. “A short to medium length of nails is recommended as it makes them more manageable, they won’t bend easily and are much easier to clean.Shorter nails are also less likely to break, peel or chip,” recommends Neelam, nail technician at Jean Claude Biguine Salons.
4) Don’t skip the base coat
A nourishing, high-quality base coat is a sure-shot way to make your manicure last longer. Not only will it strengthen your nails, but it will also protect them from stains and lead to a much smoother nail polish application, which basically means less chipping.
5) It’s all in the application
Too much polish on the brush will lead to a bumpy finish that takes forever to dry. The key is to take just enough polish on the brush to cover the entire nail in one coat. Make like a pro and paint your nails in three stripes—one on each side and one down the middle. More swipes than this will lead to streaky and uneven application. Then make sure you wait for at least two minutes before applying your next coat—the longer you wait between coats, the better.
6) Seal off the edges
A clear topcoat is a must to ensure that polish lasts long. Once you’ve applied it over your last coat of colour, a good trick is to swipe on some extra along the tips as well as over the bottom edge of your nails as these are the areas most prone to chipping.
7) Glitter is a good idea
Shimmery shades are a good choice because they last much longer. “Glitter polishes have a thicker consistency and they adhere to the nail well, preventing chipping, which also means that the nails grow better too,” explains Dr Sheth.
8) Work on maintaining it
Both Dr Sheth and Neelam are unanimous when it comes to this special trick of using nail hardener—apply a coat and repeat application after a couple days again. This should help your manicure last well for a good week. Apply nail oil daily to prevent your nails from drying out and split
