9 Ways To Make Your Manicure Last Longer

December 5, 2021

The right manicure can be a great form of self-expression and creativity. When your nails are polished and shining, it can help to give you the confidence to take on the meetings, activities, and celebrations your busy day has to offer. Whether you get your nails done at the salon or you’re all about the DIY, making your manicure last is a great way to save time and money and keep your nails looking chic and clean.

Nailboo is here to help. We believe high-quality, long-lasting nail art should be available to everyone. That’s why we carry manicure tools and easy-to-use nail dip kits that you can begin trying out from the comfort of home. It’s also why we’re sharing our favorite tips and tricks for achieving gorgeous manicures and ensuring that they last.

Ways To Make Your Manicure Last Longer

You have many different nail styles and types to pick from, and each requires its own care and upkeep. They also last naturally for different lengths of time, depending on the application process, nail material, and more. Here’s a look at some of the best ways to extend the life of your at-home manicure.

1. Remove Your Nail Polish Properly

You want to make sure all the existing nail polish is off the surface of the nail before you begin the next application. While it may be tempting to chip away at the old polish, try to avoid doing so.

This can cause damage to the nail and make it difficult to get that clean surface for the next application. Removing the polish properly helps to keep the nail healthy and ensures you get a solid seal, so it will last longer and look great.

2. Prepare Your Nails

In addition to removing your nail polish properly, you also want to take the time to prepare your nails for a fresh coat of polish. Moisturize the skin around the nail beds, gently file and buff, and apply your oils. If you are going to push your cuticles back, be sure you always use the proper tools for the job, and keep all of your tools clean and sanitized to help prevent infection.

3. Apply a Base Coat

There are many benefits to applying a base coat before you add your color. To start, it can protect the nail from getting stained, especially if you’re using bright or dark colors. They’re also rich in vitamins and nutrients that can help to protect the surface of the nail. Base coats will give you a solid surface on which to paint your preferred color, which can help it to last longer.

4. Apply and Reapply Top Coats

In addition to applying a base coat before you put on your nail polish, you’ll also want to apply the top coat once the paint is on. Top coats help to protect your manicure, prevent chipping, and reduce damage from UV exposure and other environmental factors that can wear down the brightness or affect the shine of the manicure. You’ll actually want to apply a top coat every two to three days after the initial manicure, to help protect the paint for longer.

5. Stick to the Nail

Painting our own nails can be tricky, and sometimes polish can end up in places it doesn’t belong, like the skin around the nails. It’s a good idea to wash off any excess paint as soon as you’re able. Once the paint dries and starts to peel, it can actually take the paint off the surface of the nail with it. Liquid latex can be used to protect the skin around the nail from polish.

6. Protect Your Nails and Nailbeds

In addition to protecting your nailbeds during the manicure, you want to protect them afterward, as well. Always wear gloves when using caustic chemicals or spending time in cold environments, and moisturize often.

When our nails are exposed to extreme temperatures or drying ingredients, they can become brittle and irritated, causing the nail or the skin around the nail to dry out and crack. This can damage existing manicures and make it challenging to get smooth lines the next time around, so invest in good hand cream and swap hand sanitizer for soothing soaps.

7. Avoid Biting or Chipping the Nail

It’s important to avoid biting your nails as much as possible. When we bite the nail, it’s very easy to go too low to the surface of the nail and expose the soft tissue below. You also introduce a host of bacteria from your mouth to the surface of the nail—and vice versa—which can lead to irritation and possible infections. If you have a stubborn hangnail, use the right tools to remove or cut it properly and keep them sanitized to avoid any inflammation.

In addition to nail-biting, another common habit is chipping. We often don’t even realize we’re chipping away at the polish on our nails until the manicure needs repair. If you notice you do a lot of nail-biting and paint chipping that shortens the length of your manicure, try to get to the cause of the behaviors or find more positive ways to manage them through the use of fidget spinners or other tools.

8. Follow the Shape of Your Nail

You can help to keep the nail strong and prevent damage or breakage by always following the shape of the nail when you trim or buff your nails. While many styles of applied nails are available in different shapes and lengths, your natural nail does have an organic shape. The more closely you follow that shape during your manicure, the stronger your nail will remain and the longer your manicure will last. You have lots of great options for shorter nail styles and designs.

9. Paint the Tip

We often don’t consider the very tip of the nail, but applying paint to the tip can make a big difference. The tip of the nail is prone to damage, exposure, and catching, but a thin layer of paint can help to protect it during use and extend the life of the manicure. It’s also a great way to add a little something special to your next design with fun nail tip styles. If you’re worried about making a mess when you paint the tip of the nail, simply add a few drops to a non-soluble surface and gently dip your tip into the paint.

Conclusion

You deserve a manicure that can really keep up. The good news is, there are many ways to extend the life of your manicure and get the most out of your favorite looks. Always follow proper manicure care by removing your nail polish properly, using clean and well-sanitized tools, and applying oils and moisturizers. A base coat can seal in the paint more efficiently, and a top coat will help to protect your nails from the elements, which is why you’ll even want to reapply it.

These simple and easy steps are just a few of the ones you’ll find here at Nailboo. We’re the team you can trust when you’re ready to try out the nail dip process, and we make it easy to get salon-quality looks without the salon-quality costs. No matter what your next manicure might hold, Nailboo has you covered for tools, paints, guides, and more.