Do you know the feeling: you've just spent a significant amount of money on a manicure that was supposed to please you for a week (or even two if it's gel), and soon you notice cracks and chips in those perfectly shaped nails? There can be many reasons why a manicure loses its staying power. In this article, we have prepared 23 professional tips that will help your manicure to stay flawless for as long as possible. 

Apart from the obvious steps like filing and trimming your nails, there is the importance of several important procedures. We recommend washing your hands thoroughly before a manicure and cleaning the nail surface with alcohol rather than acetone. Alcohol removes excess oils and makes the nail surface perfectly clean, which helps the nail polish hold better and prevents it from chipping off quickly. 

While long nails look very spectacular, they are not always as durable as short nails. Short nails are less likely to break, chip and peel, making them more resistant to damage. Therefore, you should favour this style when trimming and filing if the longevity of your manicure is important. 

Choosing a topcoat for your nails is more than just choosing between a matte and glossy finish. It is important to consider its resistance to chipping, protective and strengthening properties. An additional advantage will be the presence of moisturising components, which will provide care for the nails. After all, a quality top coat not only completes the manicure, but also helps to prolong its perfect look and maintain the health of the nails. 

We all know that it's what's on the inside that matters, not the outside, and manicures are no exception. Although often blamed solely on the polish or top coat for the lack of longevity of a manicure, the base actually plays an equally important role and this step is often underestimated. By using a quality base, you can significantly extend the life of your manicure, giving it a flawless look for a long time. 

While the idea of starting your manicure with a refreshing hand bath may be appealing, it's best to forgo it. We recommend avoiding liquid products on your nails and cuticle to ensure that your coverage lasts. The drier the surface of the nail, the better the adhesion to the polish will be. 

Top coat is not just a finishing touch, but an important element in a manicure. To keep your manicure perfect for as long as possible, apply a top coat every 2-3 days. This regular maintenance will not only give you extra shine, but also bothспечит защиту, предотвращая сколы и продлевая стойкость маникюра. 

Sometimes when we notice a chipped nail, we may roll our eyes irritably, quickly forget about the problem and get on with our day. However, if you take care of the repair right away, you can keep your manicure in perfect condition. The sooner you fix the damage, the better: if you leave the chip unattended, there's a risk of starting to tear or tear it off, which will cause even more damage. Fixing it quickly will not only prevent the damage from spreading further, but will also help extend the life of the manicure as a whole. 

Protecting your hands from water, harsh cleaning products, and physical activity is always a smart move, but it's especially important to pay attention to this in order to maintain a perfect manicure. To prevent damage to your nails and cuticles, it's important to use quality rubber gloves every time you do household chores. Not only will this help protect your manicure, but it will also keep your skin healthy by preventing dryness and irritation caused by exposure to chemicals. 

Prolonged exposure to water can cause nails to weaken, similar to the way skin becomes wrinkled after prolonged exposure to water. When nails come into contact with moisture for long periods of time, it penetrates beneath the surface of the nail polish, contributing to premature peeling and brittleness.
Despite their apparent hardness, nails are made up of several layers that can absorb water. When your hands are left in water for long periods of time or you take a hot bath, your nails begin to expand, absorbing moisture - and when they dry out, shrink. This constant expansion and contraction can cause your nail polish to chip and weaken its staying power.

TIP: We're not saying you should give up bathing completely - the key here, as with everything else, is moderation. 

Waiting for nail polish to dry is almost like watching paint dry. But unfortunately, it's an unavoidable process if you want your manicure to stay perfect. Did you know that most nail polishes don't dry completely for almost a full hour after application? It may surprise you, but even if your nails seem dry to the touch after just a few minutes or after using a drying agent, they still don't fully cure. So it's important to keep this in mind and be extra careful until the polish is completely dry. 

Bright, deep and dark shades of manicure certainly attract attention and create an expressive image. However, they have the property of quickly showing regrowing nails, cracks and chips. In order for the manicure to remain beautiful and long pleased with its appearance, it is better to give preference to calmer colours - pastel, neutral shades or classic French manicure. Such options not only look stylish, but also hide imperfections, allowing you to enjoy a perfect manicure for longer. 

Rubbing your nails with vinegar before a manicure helps remove excess oil and acts as a natural cleanser. To do this, simply apply some vinegar on a cotton bud and gently wipe each nail. Allow your nails to air dry - this way they will be perfectly prepared for a manicure. After that, apply a base coat, coloured polish and top for a flawless finish. 

Sometimes, without noticing it, polish can get on the cuticle or skin. Try to minimise such occurrences as this can break the seal of coverage between the polish and the nail. When polish comes off the skin or cuticle, it can start to peel off the nail as well, negatively affecting the longevity of the manicure.

TIP: We recommend giving your nails a regular rest between manicures. It is best to remove the polish every week to give your nails time to ‘rest’. Wearing polish for too long can dry out the nail plate and cause white spots. 

This may seem obvious, but in practice it can be hard to avoid. Even if you don't chew your nails, the habit of biting your cuticle or the skin around your nails can significantly ruin your manicure. Therefore, try to avoid putting your fingers in your mouth. For many people, nail biting is an unconscious nervous habit. At such moments, you should try to shift your attention: focus on your breathing (for example, take three slow inhalations and three exhalations). You can also use bitter polishes, which will help you get rid of this harmful reflex. 

It is common practice to tap or shake the lacquer bottle in the palm of your hand to obtain a more even colour and to extract the last drops from the bottle. However, this method can lead to the formation of air bubbles. And while they may not be noticeable when the nail polish is applied, over time, bubbles can cause your manicure to chip more quickly.

TIP: Instead of shaking or tapping, gently pump the bottle between the palms of your hands in a smooth motion to achieve an even distribution of the contents. 

Do not use a hairdryer to dry your nails! Warm air does not speed up the process, but can slow it down. It is best to use cool air or simply a fan at room temperature for more efficient and safer drying. 

To speed up the drying process of your nails and avoid unpleasant dents, try this method: fill a bowl with ice cold water and immerse your nails in it for 3-4 minutes. As soon as water droplets start to collect on the surface of the polish, it means that your nails are completely dry. This method will not only speed up the process, but will also strengthen the nail polish, making it more resistant than the usual air-drying method. 

When applying polish, it's important to gently wrap it around the tip of the nail, following its natural curve and going slightly below the edge. Stopping the polish directly at the tip can lead to chipping and cracking quickly. However, when the polish wraps around the edge of the nail, it creates a protective ‘seal’, greatly increasing the durability of the manicure and preventing damage.

Polishing the nails helps the nail polish to last better as it removes natural oils that can interfere with its application. It also helps to close micro-cracks and damage caused by the use of a nail file, thus creating a smooth and clean base for the polish. 

Pulling back the cuticle not only visually lengthens the nail, but also improves the adhesion of the polish to the nail plate. This results in a longer-lasting manicure, as the nail polish is less prone to peeling and stays looking perfect for longer. 

Salons often add a drop of acetone to a bottle of nail polish for several important reasons. Firstly, acetone makes the nail polish more fluid, which makes it easier to apply and promotes even coverage. Secondly, this consistency prevents lumps and improves the adhesion of the nail polish to the nail, which helps the manicure last longer and keep it looking fresh. 

Painted nails should be thought of as jewellery, not tools. Instead of using them to open soda bottles, it's better to use a special knife. To keep your manicure in perfect condition, avoid washing dishes by hand, preferring a dishwasher. If you don't have such a machine, be sure to use gloves, as we mentioned earlier, to protect your nails from damage and prolong their flawless look. 

Whether you trust your favourite salon or prefer to do your manicure at home, false nails are the perfect solution for when you need to get your nails done quickly. No more worrying about chipping or snagging - they always look flawless and hold securely. 

✅ Use a base and finish coat to protect your nails and increase the durability of your manicure for a beautiful and long-lasting manicure.

✅ Using gloves when washing dishes and cleaning helps not only to preserve your nails, but also to prevent damage to them, keeping them healthy and beautiful.

✅ Before applying nail polish, it is important to remove all natural oils from the nail surface. This will ensure better adhesion of the nail varnish to the nail plate and prolong the durability of the manicure.

Read also: How to Keep Long Nails Strong and Healthy: 7 Most Effective Ways