There is nothing quite like having a new awesome nail art design or even a classic French tip manicure. The last thing you’d want is for the polish to chip or a nail to break just days after having a technician work tirelessly on your digits.
Stress no more! We’ve found how to prolong the life of your manicure as long as possible, so you can enjoy your gorgeous nails without a care in the world.
5 Top Tips for Prolonging the Life of a Manicure
1. Select a long-wearing nail polish and top coat.
The type of nail polish you choose will impact how long your manicure lasts. Regular nail polish with a top coat will usually last around seven to ten days, while a gel nail polish or SNS nail powder can last up to two to three weeks, or more.
2. Keep your nails healthy.
Maintaining healthy nails can stop your nails from becoming dry and brittle, which increases their chance of breaking. Vitamins such as biotin (found in foods such as nuts, dairy and veggies like cauliflower), iron (found in red meat and legumes), B vitamins (found in whole grains and dark leafy vegetables) have been linked to maintaining healthy hair, nails and skin.
3. Keep your nails hydrated.
Your nails are like any other part of your body and require moisture to stay healthy. Dry nails increase the chance of breakage or nail polish cracking prematurely.
Before you start giving your hands baths, there is a much easier way. Simply apply a nail or cuticle oil regularly to help bring back moisture to your nails and surrounding skin.
4. Avoid using products with alcohol on your nails.
Alcohol can cause your hands and nails to dry out and can even eat away at the polish. It is recommended to avoid using products with alcohol as an ingredient as much as possible.
You’ll want to keep an eye out for alcohol-based ingredients, such as cetearyl alcohol, in all of your products that come in contact with your hands. This includes your hand creams, body lotions and other skin products.
5. Protect your hands and nails when cleaning.
Everything from washing the dishes and gardening to everyday jobs around the house can impact the finish of a manicure. The easiest way to protect your hands is to always wear rubber or gardening gloves when coming in contact with any chemicals, cleaning agents or dirt.
Bonus Manicure Care Tips & Advice
How long does a manicure last?
The lifespan of your manicure will depend on the health of your nails, the products used, quality of the job done, how fast your nails grow and how you care for them. However, you can expect a standard manicure to last a minimum of two weeks without the need for maintenance.
What steps are involved in a professional manicure?
When it comes to getting a professional manicure, every nail salon will have their own variation, based on these steps:
- Before beginning, the technician will ensure all old nail polish is removed and that the nail is clean and sanitised.
- Using sanitised tools such as a nail file and cuticle clipper, the nail technician will buff and file the nails to the desired shape and push back the cuticles.
- The technician will exfoliate the hands and wrists to remove any dead skin cells, followed by applying a moisturiser.
- The first layer of nail polish applied will be a thin base coat to protect the natural nails.
- Next, they will apply a thin, even layer of the chosen nail polish and allow this to dry.
- A second layer of nail polish will be applied to reach the desired opacity.
- The final step will be a top coat, which will seal in the nail polish to help it last longer and add shine.
What are the different nail shapes?
The first thing a nail technician will ask you is which nail shape you would like. Your choices may be limited if your nails are not long enough, however the most common nail shapes include:
Round
One of the more popular choices, the round nail shape is the same width at the base and tip of the nail and has a rounded tip. This is considered to be the nail shape which is least likely to break due to the rounded end.
Square
Similar to the rounded shape, this is a wide nail shape with a completely flat tip.
Stiletto
A great choice for longer nails, the stiletto nail tapers to a sharp point with long sides.
Ballerina
Similar to the stiletto, this nail shape mimics a ballerina pointe shoe. While it also tapers towards the end, the tip is completely flat
Almond
The almond-shaped nail has long edges and tapers to a rounded, thin tip.
Feature Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels
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