7 Tricks to Make Your Manicure Last at Least a Week ...

Heavy duty cleaning will wreck your nails. It’s best to take care of those chores before you do your nails. It’s hard for a manicure to withstand cleaning your oven or scrubbing bathrooms. If you have to do that sort of cleaning after doing your nails, wear gloves to protect them. It’s a hassle but it’s worth it.

You’ve heard this time and time again but that’s because there’s some truth to it. Filing in both directions will make your nails more prone to splits and breaking. That’s because when you have nail splits, your nail polish splits away with it. There’re other things that can cause nail splits and breakage to be alert for, too. But you can avoid this one by always filing in one direction.

Gel hybrids are the latest, greatest thing in the nail world. They’re a nail polish that offers the gorgeous shine and long wear of a true gel manicure with the convenience of doing your nails at home. It’s much cheaper to do them at home verses paying salon prices 💵, too. It’s really simple to give yourself a gel hybrid manicure. Simply apply 2 coats of the polish and 1 coat of the special gel polish top coat and you’re set to go. Some gel hybrids to try are CND Vinylux and Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy.

The brand you use makes a difference. Some brands are just better quality than others. Besides the gel hybrids mentioned above, I’ve had good luck with Essie and OPI. Being careful to follow these other tips to extend your manicure will ensure you can get at least 7 days from both Essie and OPI. Another thing to love about Essie and OPI is that they both have an amazing color selection.

This makes such a difference! I’ve tried doing my nails with and without base and top coat and my manicure always lasts much longer when I add these steps. Base coat also keeps the polish from staining your nails. And top coat adds amazing shine. The only time you don’t need base coat is when you use a gel hybrid polish.

There’s a certain ratio you want to follow when you paint your nails. With regular nail polish you want to apply 1 coat of base coat followed by 2 coats of nail color. Lastly, add 1 coat of top coat. This ratio is the recipe for a long lasting manicure. Another tip to follow is to always wait 2 minutes in between coats.

The other main cause of nail splitting and breakage is dry nails. Keeping them hydrated means your manicure will last much longer. I’ve experienced nail splitting simply because of dry nails and that in turn would cause my polish to chip. You can keep your nails hydrated by massaging cuticle oil into your entire nail or using a lotion like Vaseline’s Healthy Hand and Nail. Giving your nails some time off 👏 in-between manicures to recover will also help.

These’re 7 tips to help you get at least 7 days out of your manicure. What tips work for you? I’d love to hear them!