How to Make Your At-Home Manicure Last Longer

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If you are looking to save a trip to the nail salon and also save some money by giving yourself a manicure at home there are a few tips you can follow to make sure your at-home mani lasts just as long as the salon version.

I love my nails 💖💗💘💅🏻 @trustfundbeauty "I'm Kind Of A Big Deal" (from ipsy bag) – @sally_hansen "White On" – @ilnpbrand "Juliette" #valentinesday #valentinesdaynails #athomemani #manicure #nails #nailsofinstagram #nailart #instanails #notd #love #mommytime #metime #pamperyourself #trustfundbeauty #trustfundbeautyimkindofabigdeal #sallyhansen #sallyhansenwhiteon #ilnp #ilnpjuliette

A post shared by Shannon Allen (@makeupbyshannon13) on Feb 4, 2018 at 1:37pm PST

Wipe Nails with White Vinegar – After removing your nail polish and before applying a basecoat use a cotton swab dipped in white vinegar and wipe down the nail. This will remove any polish residue and also remove any natural oils that could cause nail polish to chip quicker.
Apply a Double Basecoat Layer to Nail Tip – Before applying basecoat to the whole nail apply a layer to the top half of the nail and allow to dry before applying another layer over the whole nail. Nail tips are prone to chipping thanks to typing and texting!
Don’t Shake Your Polish Bottle – Shaking your bottle of nail polish can result in air bubbles forming and unfortunately air bubbles lead to faster chipping. Instead roll your nail polish bottle between your hands.
Dry Nails in Iced Water – To help create a stronger polish finish dip your fingernails in a bowl of iced water to dry the polish. This will also help the polish dry faster.
Wear Gloves When Doing the Dishes – Pop on a pair of rubber gloves whenever you will be doing the dishes, or cleaning bathrooms. Harsh cleaning chemicals and hot water can cause painted nails to chip in an instant.

Today’s nail of the day is ‘blue-la-la’ by @essiepolish. I have been eyeing 👀 this gorgeous light blue since it came out but I was finally able to locate it in a Walgreens! Definitely different than other light blues I own an very easy to work with!! It’s not patchy at all and self-leveling. It’s not a thick formula but it isn’t super thin either. I’ll take some outdoor pics tomorrow, but these are indoor. Coats: 2 Top coat: HK Girl by @glistenandglow1 #essie #essielook #essielove #bluelala #lightblue #pastelblue #winternails #wintermani #january #uñas #yassss #loveyourhands #nailpolishaddict #nailpolish #nailporn #nailoftheday #instanails #nailsofinstagram #nailsonfleek #bright #nofilterneeded #manicure #athomemani #freshnails #winterblues #blue #pastel #love #silvousplay #essiesummer2017

A post shared by @ nailpolishgeek23 on Jan 30, 2018 at 6:29pm PST

Apply a Layer of Topcoat Every Two Days – To keep nails looking shiny and to protect your polish apply a layer of clear topcoat every other day.
Use a Mild Soap and Apply Nail Oil Daily – Skip the harsh antibacterial soaps that can dry out your nail bed and instead opt for a gentle, mild soap. A good nail oil applied every night before you go to bed will help keep the nail and cuticles moisturized meaning your nails are less likely to split or break.

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A post shared by Anthea Bouzaid (@antheasjamsnz) on Feb 2, 2018 at 7:14pm PST

Opt for Lighter, Natural Nail Polish – If you want to stretch out your time before polishes opt for a lighter, natural nail polish color that won’t show chips as clearly as darker, or more vibrant colors.