Nail polish help!
Heather D.
Okay, so I've finally grown my nails long for the first time since I was a baby (I've had a terrible habit of biting.picking them which I've finally broken!), and I'm obsessed with painting them pretty colours. But, the polish always peels off. And not little bits - in whole sheets, almost like stick-on polish (like Sally Hansen Nail Strips). It is driving me crazy. I can't have a polish on for more than two days without it peeling off entirely. I've tried different base coats, different top coats, different brands - high end and drugstore - nothing changes. It all peels off - it is no longer funny! Originally, it was great, I could change my nail colour every two days, often without having to get out acetone to take it off; now, it is just frustrating - since I am still sort of getting out of the habit of biting them, I like to keep them coloured so I remember not to bite them all off.
Has anyone got any ideas on how I can make the colour last longer? I've tried pretty much every brand of basecoat, and several different top-coats - I'm more looking for something different, something I might not have thought of! And I'm especially interested in more affordable options!
Julie G.
I can't help you - but it helps me to know my daughter isn't the only one!
I'm fed up of layers left all over the bath after she's been in!
Emmyann07
try using nail file to rough up the surface of your nails. It gives the polish something to grip to... same idea as sanding wood before you paint.
You'll also want to use a single base coat, 2 coats of your color and a single finishing coat... and really let each coat DRY before applying the next
Olivia H.
You may be using a cheap or old polish. Make sure the nail polish is a nice brand and the bottle isn't more than 2 or so years old. Make sure you shake the bottle gently before applying because it can the polish can settle. Apply polish in several thin coats rather than one thick coat, making sure each coat dries before adding the next. It also helps to add a clear top coat when your done. If you don't let the polish dry between coats, it will become one thick coat, which makes it way easier to peel up. Spend a good 30-60 minutes not using your hands and letting them dry, like watching TV or listening to the radio. This always works for me.
Before I paint my nails, I usually use a 4-part buffing wand to even them out and then I shape them with a fine file.
I have used 7 year old polishes before and had great results, but I have also gotten horrible results with new bottles. I prefer Rimmel, Pure Ice, and Jordana nail polishes. They seem to work the best.
A
One tip I have is to make sure your nails are clean and dry when you paint them. After buffing and shaping, I wash my hands with mild soap making sure to scrub my nails. I'll towel them dry and then give them 5 or 10 minutes to air dry completely. Putting a lot of time and attention into your at-home manicure routine will pay off. Always use a good base coat. Usually the same brand as the color you're going to use will give good results, though I mix brands a lot and get a good turnout.
Summer K.
I am a cosmetologist go to sally's get pure acetone wipe your nails before you polish it takes all the oil off... and if you want something to help them grow stronger and faster get Nail Magic its like five bucks well worth it I had the same problem.... but Nail Magic is the best ever lol. and as far as the polish.... it varies you can pay 15 bucks for a bottle and it does the same thing... I personally use Orly... and no basecoat... DO NOT use a base coat just a top coat
Arty Kitkat
I saw an excellent tutorial online ages ago and they recommending cleaning your hands well first (don't put moisturiser on as it makes your nails oily and nail varnish comes off easier), buff nails and then paint 2 - 3 thin coats completely covering the tip of the nail. It will make your finger tips messy but you can get the excess off with a cotton wool bud and nail varnish remover.
__Mel__
If you buff your nails, then clean them with pure acetone, then put a base coat on before.. The polish should stay on.. and also put a top coat on over
Rough up your nails a bit and apply 2-3 coats then a top coat
xoxo- Brook
the idea of buffing your nails+ drying each layer+ nice new nail polish (opi, china glaze, orly..?) should dove your problems!
Sarabi E.
I never buff my nails, though i should hahaha.
I clean my nails with acetone then apply a clear basecoat (usually sally hansen but sometimes random clear polish).
let it dry ENTIRELY. It shouldn't be sticky to the touch. I usually wait 2-5 minutes. Apply the color in several coats, waiting between coats for drying. Then apply a top coat (i use sally hansen or Fresh Paint's "finished"). Let your hands rest for as long as possible, but definitely invest at least 10-15 minutes to be sure the polish is completely dry. After that avoid banging your nails (it'll chip) or soaking them for extremely long periods of time (it'll peel).
Sometimes it's just the nailpolish. Delia's nail polish peels super easy -_-
Thanks for all the advice - as yet, still getting peely polish though 
I tried roughing my nails a bit before I put it on, that just changed how it peeled off - kinda went all flakey, and would come off patchy (which IMO is worse than peeling off whole - at least then I can just put new polish on straight away!), and tried not using a base coat - that was a bad plan, my nails got really badly stained and it took weeks for them to return to normal colour! Tried new polishes, and have had the same reaction from brand new $2 stuff that I had to brand new Orly and OPI *shrug* At this point, seems like something I'll just have to live with!
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