Tips to make a mani last (not gel)

Is there anyway to get a manicure to last longer than 2 days without doing gel? The thought of the UV lights just sounds so damaging to not only my skin but also the nails themselves.

Tips to make a mani last (not gel)

I wont put my hands under UV light. I always pick a color with losts of sparkles. I find the sparkles really cling and stick to my natural nail. I've had a mani last almost 2 weeks. If I see it chip I brush clear polish over it help preserve

Re: Tips to make a mani last (not gel)

I don't get a manicure often, but the last time I went there was an option for a manicure that would last 7-10 days. It was five dollars extra and the colors were more limited, but it did really last an entire week before it chipped. I am always doing dishes, cleaning up after the kids, and typing on the computer at work, so I was surprised. I've seen this option at a couple of nail places. They used a different type of base and top coat.

Tips to make a mani last (not gel)

While I do like the gel manicure and get them often lately because it's just easier, when I do get regular polish I just touch it up every other day. That's the only way to make it last. As PP said polishes with sparkle seem to cling more and it's not as obvious when it starts ti chip. Same with sheer colors.

Re: Tips to make a mani last (not gel)

I never go for manicures, I always do it myself at home and my polish always lasts for a long time (never tried gel, don't think I ever will). Right now I still have the polish I put on on New Year's Eve and aside from a little bit of growth on the bottom and a tiny bit of tip wear, my nails still look pretty great. Here's some basic tips -

- even if you have no polish on your nails, still give them a good swipe of polish remover to take off any oils that may be on there.
- always use a base coat. I never used to do this back in the day but it really does make he polish adhere to the nail
- better to apply 3-4 thin coats than 1 thick coat of polish. That's basic but a lot of people don't realize that!
- polish the tip of your nail as well (the free edge of it) -- it helps with tip wear
- don't wait for your nails to dry to apply a top coat -- do it right after you're done with the polish
- also swipe the top coat over the free edge of your nail where you polished it earlier
- don't wash your hands in hot water for a few hours after you do them...lukewarm or cold is best
- bring your own polish if you go to a salon. Salons tend to add thinner, which messes with the formula and causes wear.