How to Get 7 – 10 Days from Your Nail Polish!

An excerpt from “The Secret to Beautiful Natural Nails” by Alicia Lyons

I’ve been manicuring for 25 years.  In that time, I’ve learned a lot about nails, both natural
and artificial, and more than most nail technicians.  I’ve recently come to the realization that natural nail care has become a lost art.  Well, it’s time to reveal some of the secrets that I have learned about natural nails.  Let's begin with nail polish or as some people call it “nail varnish”. 

Normally, when you polish your nails, the polish will start to peel in approximately 2-3 days.  How would you like to get 7-10 days wear from your polish?  It's possible and I've even known women that have gotten three weeks wear from their polish with NO CHIPPING & NO PEELING!!!    While I feel that three weeks is too much growth, the possibility of getting 2 weeks wear is highly appealing.  In order to do this, there are a few things that need to be done to prep the nails and then to maintain them. 

When it comes to polishing your nails, a woman should have a minimum of 2 coats of clear polish on her nails at all times to protect them from the elements and to add strength and thickness to the nail.  If you wish to wear a color polish, use a base coat and a top coat with a minimum of 2 coats of colored polish.  Be aware that 4 coats of polish will usually take an average of one hour to dry in order to not smudge them.  If you have a hand for it, a French manicure is quite lovely, again using a base coat and a top coat.  If you don’t have a hand for a French manicure, try getting a white tip the old fashioned way, use a white pencil under the nail and then use a clear or sheer polish over your whole nail.  The whole idea around wearing polish is that it protects your nail from external damage.

But before you can polish the nail, you must first prep it.  Prepping means that you make certain there is no oil in between your natural nail and your base coat of polish.  Have you ever seen polish peel up in one big sheet?  That is because there was oil between the base coat and the natural nail.  Even though it is important to oil your nails, the oil doesn't belong on the surface of the nail just before the polish is applied.  The oil can be removed with an oil-free polish remover, alcohol or just washing your hands well with soap and water.  I personally prefer using a lint free wipe and acetone polish remover and/or alcohol.  Besides removing oil from the main part of the nail, you also need to remove the oil from around the cuticle area and also from around the tip of the nail.  Be certain to not touch your nails just before the polish is applied or you will put the oil back on your nails.  

When you apply polish, be careful not to get it into the cuticle.  A heavy amount of polish in the cuticle also increases the risk of your polish peeling, but this time from the base of the nail.  Polish does not have to be right next to, almost on the skin, to perform favorably or look good.  Don't be afraid to have a thin line next to your cuticle that doesn't have any polish on it.  The best way to keep polish out of your cuticle to begin with is to place your polish brush in the middle of your nail and then gently push it back towards the cuticle, keeping it just a hairline away from it.  It is okay to have a good bit of polish on the brush but the trick is to keep it out of the cuticle.  If you do happen to get the polish on your skin, have an orangewood stick available to remove it before it dries.  Another trick to keep polish out of the cuticle is to apply your clear topcoat over the color polish you got on your skin and then wipe both off with an orangewood stick.  If these tips still don’t seem to help, a polish corrector pen will do the trick nicely.

                Also, when you polish your nails, it is important to "cap" your nails.  This means that you will apply your polish in your normal fashion (from your cuticle area to your tip) and also apply your polish around the very tip of your nail where you file your nails.  This will seal in the natural nail to protect it from wearing down and prevent the nail from peeling.  I suggest doing this with the base coat, at least one coat of color and the top coat. 

                Here is the most important part to keep your polish on for longer than 2-3 days.  You will need to maintain this “cap” by replacing it about every other day.  The cap needs to be replaced because you wear it away as you touch things.  Keep in mind that everything you touch acts as a natural nail file.  Your clothing, the table top, the computer keyboard, and the worst one of all, paper!  Replace the “cap” by applying more clear polish down your nails over your existing polish and around the very tip of the nail.  Start this the day after you originally polished them.  This will not only replace the cap, it will also add strength to your nail.  It is this cap that will help keep your nail polish on longer.  By “capping” your nails, you will get 7-10 days wear from your polish.  Don't believe me?  Try it with red polish or the darkest color you like to wear.  You’ll love the results!