You have just painted your nails. Only a few hours later, the varnish begins to chip. Put an end to it! These 13 ingenious hacks make nail polish last longer!
You do not want gel nails from the nail salon? You do not care about manicure from the studio and prefer to do your nails yourself?
What sounds very good at first, could upset you terribly again after a few hours. Namely, when you want the nail polish to last longer. But it simply does not.
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Maybe you know this situation:
The new nail polish colors of the season are here. Beautifully sorted by color, they are on the shelf. They sparkle, have a great appeal and you want to grab right away.
But should you really buy one? After all, you're sure to be annoyed again if you don't manage to make the nail polish last longer.
Psst: This is the perfect nail polish color for your skin tone!
Anyone who does their own nails knows these thoughts all too well.
Why does nail polish chip so quickly?
Typing on the computer, eating, picking up objects, and really any activity where our hands are involved - all of this ensures that manicures don't look good for long.
We bump our nails with every movement, no matter how small. Often you don't even notice it - but you can see the result pretty soon in the chipping nail polish.
But do not despair: there are some tips and tricks that can make your nail polish last longer.
These hacks show that nail polish is anything but just a quick brush stroke across the nail. Making nail polish last longer is a bit of an art.
How do I prepare my nails for painting?
To make your nail polish last longer than a bad relationship, you should prepare your nails for a manicure. Here are a few tips that will help you:
First of all, you need to make sure that your nails are completely smooth and free of grease. If necessary, you can remove dirt and oil residues with soap and water or use antiseptic alcohol.
If you like it especially natural, you can also resort to apple cider vinegar to degrease your nails. Make sure your nails are filed as round and smooth as possible. This will give your nail polish the perfect base.
And last but not least, treat your nails regularly to a moisturizing treatment with nail oil. This prevents split ends and breakage and ensures healthy and strong nails.
13 ingenious hacks that make nail polish last longer
Are you ready? Then let's get started. The good thing is that you can do most of the tricks very easily.
1. clean your nails thoroughly
Before applying the nail polish, you must remove all greasy residues. The fingernails must also be cleaned of nail polish remover residues and dirt particles.
For the nail polish to last longer, it needs a grease-free base. Use water and soap for this.
The nail must be absolutely grease free and dry before you can start.
Tip: Nail polish remover with acetone can make nails brittle. Prefer to buy products without acetone.
2. degrease nails with apple cider vinegar
To degrease your nails, you can use a simple home remedy. Namely apple cider vinegar. Rub a few drops of it on the nails and then wipe off again.
3. roughen nails so that nail polish lasts longer
You can do this, but you don't have to. If you decide to roughen up: Always use a base coat! It evens out the unevenness. This makes the nail polish last better.
Tip: I ordered this base coat from Amazon.
However, if you degrease the nails well, you can do without roughening.
4. nail oil for more moisture
Yes, that's right! The oil makes nail polish last longer. With the nail oil you ensure that your nails enough Humidity get. This is important because Dry nails splinter much faster and the paint is difficult to hold.
Tip: After removing the old polish, pamper your nails with nail oil. You can order the oil from Amazon. Let the nails also times longer time unvarnishedso they can recover. During this time you can also apply a nail hardener. It makes the nails stronger and helps against brittleness. I ordered mine from Amazon.
5. primer for more durability of nail polish
Get into the habit of applying a primer before each time you paint your nails. This protects the nails from unsightly discoloration. In addition, the color can be applied better and more evenly. The nail polish can last longer.
Tip: You can also buy the primer online.
6. do not shake the nail polish
If you shake the small varnish bottles too hard before applying them, you will bring Air bubbles in the nail polish. They make it difficult to apply the polish evenly.
Tip: Roll the nail polish very slowly up and down between your hands. The heat of your hands makes it liquid and distributes the contents.
7. put on several layers of nail polish
You should never apply too thickly. Neither in life nor with nail polish. Much better it is the nail polish in 2-3 very thin layers to the nail. After all, double holds better than single.
In addition, the layers of nail polish cover better and enhance the luminosity of the color.
How to finally get out of the habit of biting your fingernails!
8. let the nail polish layers dry
Leave each layer enough Time to dry. To be on the safe side, 10 minutes per shift.
Then apply the next layer. This makes your color particularly even and the paint does not crack as quickly.
But be careful: do not dawdle while applying. If the varnish dries while it is still being applied, it will stain.
9. always wipe off one side of the brush
Streak the brush of the nail polish thoroughly each time on one side from. Apply the varnish with the side that has not been wiped off. So you never have too much and never too little varnish on the brush.
10. apply nail polish crosswise for more durability
Yes, read correctly! Make sure, however, that you apply the last layer of varnish horizontal on the surface. This is a particularly good trick to prevent the polish from splintering. The last layer ensures that the nail is sealed.
Tip: Nail polish chips most quickly on the index finger and thumb. You should give these fingers an extra layer of horizontally applied nail polish.
11. let the nail polish dry
And really well. If you color your nails regularly, you know it can take a long time. Plane enough time to paint the nails in.
By the way, tips like "Hold your hands in cold water then the nail polish dries faster" or "Dry your nails with a hairdryer" are total nonsense.
These two tips ensure that the varnish dries even more slowly. In order for the paint to become solid, the solvent it contains must evaporate in the air. This is not possible with water or by breathing on it.
Tip: If you're in a hurry, you can use fast-dry sprays. They shorten the drying time of the nail polish by half. You can buy a Spary like this online.
12. who regularly paints, makes it more difficult chipping
Every 3 days you should apply a new layer of nail polish. However, a very thin one. So the shine is refreshed again and you get a good protection against chipping.
13. protect your nails
Wear gloves! No, not all day :) But during tasks like washing up, gloves protect the delicate nails. Water makes our nail bed swell and thus the varnish to burst.
Tip: Better to shower than bathe.
There are skin care products that attack the nail polish. A typical example is sunscreen. It can even discolor the polish and falsify the color.
What are the alternatives to classic nail polish?
There are so-called "nail wraps", which are practical adhesive foils that you simply stick on your nails. This works super easy and fast, and they are available in many different colors and patterns.
Another alternative is gel nail polish. This is more or less like a mixture of classic nail polish and plastic. The gel polish is applied to the nail and then cured under a special lamp. The result is super durable and looks like freshly made even after weeks.
And then there are "Nail Polish Strips". These are also adhesive foils, but here color and pattern are already printed on them. These are also easy and quick to apply and often last longer than classic nail polish.
These are just a few examples, there are of course many more alternatives, depending on what you like best and what best suits your needs.
Why does nail polish last longer on the feet?
Surely you have already noticed that the nail polish on your toes lasts longer than on your fingers. This is because our feet touch fewer objects and are often covered by shoes.
Still, there are a few tricks to make the nail polish on your toes last extra long. As with your fingers, you should take proper care, apply a base coat and top coat, and use high-quality nail polish.
And after applying the nail polish, be sure to allow more time for it to dry. After all, the pressure of shoes can damage the varnish if it is not yet completely dry.
Our conclusion
Often it is only one or two small changes that ensure that nail polish can last longer. Take enough time next time and try one or the other tip. So you have long friends with your new nail polish.
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