Having the perfect nail color or manicure can make all the difference to how you tackle the day. But busy moms who cherish their small amount of free time need to make the most of each manicure. That precious hour of salon bliss is hard to come by; more mileage out of your nails and toes is critical. Here are some pretty easy ways to make your manicure last longer and look better, too.
Prepping your Nails
Nail prepping is an essential step for long-lasting manicures, and one of the measures your nail technician can take is to remove the oil residue completely. Oil residue can make it difficult for your base coat to adhere to your nail properly and can even cause ripples when nail polish is applied.
You can also remove residue at home by using a combination of vinegar and nail polish remover on your nails. Push your cuticles back before you start applying your base coat because if the nail polish sticks to your cuticle or skin, it can cause the polish to lift and even crack on your nails.
Buffing your nails can also help give your nails a smoother surface and make the nail polish application much smoother and easier. Keeping your nails short and keeping your natural nail shape is perfect for long-lasting manicures.
Choosing the Polish and Manicure
Many of us buy nail polishes from a lot of different brands because let’s face it, not all the colors we want are carried by the same brand most of the time. But when it comes to making your nail polish stick for longer, going with the same brand for base coat, nail polish, and topcoat will allow your nail polish to ‘meld’ together much better. Different brands have different combinations, and it ultimately makes your nail polish crack quicker.
Quality of ingredients matters, so request a well known, high quality brand at the salon. The two most popular quality brands are SNS for dip powder or gel, or OPI for lacquer or gel polish. Some salons will steer you to a cheaper brand, while charging the same price, but gladly use the requested brand if you just ask.
Before you step into the salon, know which manicure you’ll want. The types of manicures in 2021 is vast. Hands down, a gel or dip powder manicure are the two longest lasting, with dip slightly edging out gel. Either will last for 2 weeks ‘officially’, but word on the street is that getting three weeks is common.
Consider as well the time it takes to apply and dry. Both dip and gel will be dry instantly. Sitting still waiting on polish to dry can be torture for a busy mom who needs to get on with her day. Gel takes just a few minutes longer to apply than a dip manicure due to the curing time in the UV light. Traditional polish may be fastest to apply, but will not last and takes too long to dry.
Application Tips
It’s hard to keep your manicure intact when you’re doing your daily chores; no manicure can truly last through the trial of ‘washing the dishes’. Using protective gloves when doing household chores can also go a long way in preserving your nails. When applying polish, it’s important not to forget the tip of your nail. Make sure you get those edges! Not only does it make your nail polish look seamless, but it also makes your nail polish harder to lift.
You may resort to using the blow dryer to dry your nails quickly, but this will only lead to your nail polish becoming brittle and eventually cracking off. If you’re rushing for time, try drying your nails with cold air instead of hot.
Daily Maintenance on Top
If you have the time, applying a thin layer of top coat daily or every other day can also prevent your nail polish from chipping off. It gives your nails an extra gloss, too, making them look chic and sophisticated.
Avoid Hot Tubs and Drying Chemicals
Putting your manicure through hours in hot water is another way to make them chip easily. So, it’s probably not a good idea to be soaking in that bathtub or hot tub for hours on end, because you’ll most likely end up seeing bits of your manicure floating in it by the time you get out.
Even though sanitizing is truly crucial even now, over-sanitizing can cause your nails to dry out, and your nail polish to chip off. It’s a better idea to use soap and warm water to wash your hands if you can, instead of using sanitizer.
Glitter is King
And when all else fails, there is always glitter. Glitter nail polish is notoriously hard to take off and will give you the perfect pop of bedazzle you need in your life.
While we are on this eternal journey of figuring out what the secret is behind having a good, and long-lasting manicure, these hacks should help you out in the meantime. Because everyone deserves a feel-good manicure to boost confidence.
