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7 Tips To Make Nail Varnish Last Longer

By on January 9, 2014

It might as well be a fact that women love nail polish. Even if they don’t like wearing it, they’re sure to love admiring it. There’s just something about the way it illuminates our fingernails and draws attention to them.

If you’re a fan of wearing nail polish you’ve probably not only fallen in love with it but also cursed the stuff too. We’ve all been there, me included, we’ve all spent a ridiculous amount of time making sure our nails are painted with perfect precision and then, all too soon, the varnish begins to chip. Sometimes it can take a day or two and sometimes it happens within a few short hours – either way it’s incredibly frustrating.

I love painting my nails but sometimes I have to wonder What’s the point?. It’s not like it’s going to last long anyway. I’m not ready to give up on nail varnish just yet though and that’s why I’ve been busy researching these seven great tips to make your nail polish last longer. I’ve tried and tested them all and believe it or not, they work!

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Always Start With Nail Polish Remover

If your nails are bare to begin with then this tip probably seems silly to you. It did to me too but trust me on this. Always, always rub some nail polish remover over your nails and fingertips before you start painting. This will remove any excess oils from your skin and nail beds which could potentially do damage to your newly painted nails.

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Use A Base Coat

Using a clear base coat not only gives you a smooth surface on which to paint your color but also helps to protect your nails. Some nail varnishes can be tough on your nails and can leave your nails discolored after you remove it, especially darker ones. The base coat stops the varnish from touching your nail, preventing a possible chemical reaction.

You’ll notice a wonderful difference when painting onto a base coat instead of the nail. The finished result is much smoother as the base coat has already covered any cracks or dents in the nail which could cause chipping or peeling.

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Add A Bit Of Sparkle

I’m not sure if it’s a fact or not but I’m sure we can all agree that sparkly nail varnish is a nightmare to remove. This may seem like a curse but, if we want out nail varnish to last longer, it can also be a blessing. Using a sparkly nail varnish will ensure your nails stay luscious for longer, even if it is for the most annoying of reasons.

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Keep The Layers Thin

When applying color, it’s always recommended to paint on two layers to make the color stand out. Instead of applying two reasonably thick coats, I recommend applying three or even four incredibly thin coats. The thin coats tend to crack and chip less opposed to thick ones but because you’ve put more layers on you still get the same shining color.

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Allow Your Nails Plenty Of Time To Dry

This tip is key. You can do everything else right but if you don’t allow your nails enough time to dry then it was all done in vain. Even if your nail varnish claims to be dry in 60 seconds, for your nails to last a fair amount of time you need to ignore this. Try to avoid doing anything much for at least an hour, the longer the better. If you’ve got some TV to catch up on or a new film to watch then now’s the time to sit down and relax. Plan to paint your nails when you can afford to take an hour or two out of your day and simply do nothing.

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Moisturize

Make sure you keep your hands well hydrated for the entire time you’ve got nail varnish on. Dried out cuticles and skin will irritate your nail varnish, ultimately chipping it. If you moisturize often and keep your hands soft then you avoid this and, even better, your hands will look and feel gorgeous.

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Use A Top Coat

Finally, make sure you always use a top coat to protect your color. I don’t just mean when you first paint your nails either – try applying a top coat once every three days (or quicker if you think your nails need it) and your nail varnish will be protected and look fab for much longer.

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As an added extra, I will say you’re always better using a good quality nail varnish. Don’t go for the cheapest one on the shelf – even if you follow all these tips, your nail varnish will still wear off as quick as it always did if you buy cheap. You get what you pay for and when it comes to nail varnish that saying is especially true.

Let me know if you have any tips to add, I’m curious to know and my nails would much appreciate it.

Happy painting!

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(All images via Pinterest.com)

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