Nails 101: Prepping Your Nails For a Long Lasting Mani

How can I get a mani to last longer? How can I avoid nail polish chipping? Hello friends! Today I want to talk about some frequently asked questions in regards to making your mani last. A good manicure starts with a good base. 

While some people prefer going to a salon to get their nails manicured, not everyone has time or money to make it to a salon. Or maybe it's just not really your cup of tea. Doing your own manicure at home does not have to be daunting task. Also, it gets easier with practice ;)

Today's blog will focus on how to prep your nails at home for a long-lasting manicure. 

I have included a video tutorial on this topic, so if you prefer, feel free to watch the videol :) Of course, there is more in depth information on this blog than in the video. 

​Firstly, know that in order to really have a good base, you may need to go out and get some manicure products. A lot of things you may already have at home, but some things you may need to go out and purchase. 

Another thing I'd like to mention, is that I am not a licensed nail tech, and my advice is from my own experiences. I try to find a balance between having healthy nails (which is a whole other topic) and using polish. I feel like it's important to mention this, because many people may not agree with what I am writing. Again, this is for people who want to make at-home polish manis last. 

• Step 1: clean-up your cuticle area

First thing you should know, is that the "cuticle" actually only refers to the dead skin at the base of your nails, which is sometimes is only fairly visible. The visible skin is the fold, which is attached to the eponychium. To clean-up this area, use a cuticle pusher tool (you can purchase a metal, plastic, or wooden tool at almost any drug store) to gently push back the live skin, and expose any dead skin that may be attached to the nail plate. It should be done gently enough that you don't tear any of your skin. You can now use a cuticle remover cream or liquid to help dissolve the remaining dead skin, or use your cuticle remover tool to gently scrape it off. I prefer the cuticle remover liquid for this. Once you've removed all the dead skin, rinse your hands and allow to dry.

"You should never cut the live skin at the base of your nails." That is something that you have hopefully heard, because it's true. But, if you have excessive, overgrown skin that is just sticking out after you've pushed it back, it's okay to cut with cuticle nippers, as long as the skin is dead, and you do it carefully. Only cut what over hangs, and do not get close to live skin. Once the dead skin has been completely removed, you have a clean nail plate to work on. You may also clip off any hang nails.  

*I push back the skin at the base of the nails about every 1 - 2 days to help keep the skin from growing onto the nail plate. This is just how often I do it, based on my nail growth. IMPORTANT!!! - keeping my cuticles pushed back, not allowing them to grow out over the nail plate is what keeps me from clipping them, since they never get long enough to cause a problem. All I do is remove dead cuticle tissue as needed. Most of the time, it's as easy as scraping it off after I have showered, as the skin becomes thin and dry enough to easily flake off.

• Step 2: File and shape your nails.

For this I like to use a 180 grit file, although depending what I have on hand, sometimes I use a 240 grit file, which is finer. Basically, just file your nail to the desired shape and length. I also like to use a fine, smooth buffing file to smooth out the edges, for an even cleaner finish, either in a 240 or 280 grit. I do this because I think the polish adheres better at the tips, but that may just be in my mind. I know for sure, though, that smooth tips don't snag on things, so I always do it.

• Step 3: Lightly buff the shine away from your nail surface

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE... this does not mean to get carried away with filing. You don't want to damage your nail, just give polish a surface for it to really hold on to. You just want to take away the shine of your nail ever so lightly. For this I would use a 240 or 280 grit file buffer. Apply soft and even pressure and let the buffer do the work for you.

• Step 4: Cleanse the nail plate of any dust

Once you are completely ready to start applying base coat or polish, cleanse your nail plate. The best thing to use is alcohol wipes, or alcohol with a cotton wipe. Not only will this remove dust and lint, but it will remove oils and dehydrate the nail a bit, which helps with polish adhesion. Now you're ready to start painting, *Note- after I do this, I like to apply some sort of primer. For natural nails and regular polish, I like to apply OPI's Chip Skip to the ends of my nails. If I am doing a gel manicure, I apply a primer, typically using the brand of the same gel polish I would be using.
​

• Step 5: Apply your favorite base coat

So this one can be tricky, because, not all nails are the same. We all have a specific nail chemistry, and not all base coats work the same for everyone. I say just try one and see how that goes. If you notice it peeling or cracking off within a couple of days of applying polish, you may need to try something different. My only advice on this is make sure you are doing your manicures in the same routine, so that you know that it for sure is the base polish that isn't working, and not user error, or something else.

Lastly... Again, please remember that this is based on my experience, not just on my nails, but on doing manicures for friends as well. Sometimes, different products work better for other people, so I always keep that in mind :).

I hope you enjoyed this post, and please let me know if you have any questions

<3 Mely