Anyone else REALLY bad at not chipping their nails? For a while it got to the point where I would completely forgo getting my nails professionally done simply because they would usually chip or smudge before I even left the salon. I initially thought it was perhaps my own clumsiness and that if I had the grace and poise like, say, Audrey Hepburn then perhaps I could get my mani to last more than a day.
Turns out I'm not alone! This is probably one of the most often asked questions I get from friends, how to get nail polish to last longer and what products work best.
We are human after all, to prevent any chipping would practically require wearing gloves all the time and submitting to the lifestyle of a hand model like Kimbra Hickey who was paid a mere $300 to model for the cover of Twilight or this hand model who constantly wears gloves and refuses to do simple tasks like opening doors and cooking. God forbid she should ever get a paper cut. QUELLE HORREUR!
Anyway, my first recommendation to friends who complain of their manicures lasting less time than my ex boyfriend did is to opt for a gel based nail polish like CND Shellac or OPI's Axxium, both of which I've tried and swear by.
Up until now, both have had a somewhat limited selection of colors, but as the polish has become more popular, people like myself have been DEMANDING more colors and they've listened.
The only issue with these polishes is that they are gel based and do require curing with a UV light. Since most people (myself included) don't actually have a UV light on hand for the occasion it means that the polish can only be done by a professional. Luckily salons all over have started to include this service, and even though it may be a bit pricier than a regular mani, the results are TOTALLY worth it. We're talking nail polish that lasts 2 weeks, no chipping--and this (coming from me--a complete klutz) means a huge deal.
I wouldn't even bother with regular polish anymore if I wasn't addicted to changing it up, like, everyday. Trust me Shellac or nothing.
does it last even on nails that aren't the strongest? I have a problem that my nails peel and are always a bit bendy even when i take vitamins and things.