HELP!!! My nail varnish just won't stay on!

Teasey

I know this may seem like a silly problem but....

Basically, I've been a nail biter all my life and through a lot of effort and willpower I've recently kicked the habit

However, after years of abuse, press-on nails and full blown acrylics/gels for FAR too long my poor nails were in an awful state so I've made a really big effort to be nice to them and really look after my new long fingernails

The problem is, nomatter what I do I can't seemd to get my nail polish to stay on! I'm loving all the really nice bright colours at the moment and I'm trying to take advantage but it barely lasts an hour when it chips really badly or else peels off completely. My nails are quite thin and bendy so this might have something to do with it (Oh the remorse.....!)

Now i could just be a nail polish rookie but I'd be really grateful for any advise you can give!

Twee.

Vitamin E supplements are good for nail growth. But for a quicker fix I'd say do two coats of your coloured nail polish and then top it off with a clear polish. Usually works for me.

jellie

how many coats do you use? i usually paint once, dry, paint twice, dry, paint with clear.

Teasey

Vitamin E - interesting. Must look into that

I usually do 2 coats plus a coat of clear or the Sally Hansen Miracle Growth. It doesn't really help - I think it's actually worse the more coats I use.

I think it might be something to do with the condition of my nails cos it seems to be only the tips that the polish won't cling to - I presume the damage done by all the falsies might not have fully grown out yet and the tips are still suffering

I'm SO dissappointed cos I really want to show them off after all the hard work!

Michellenman

Yeah the false nails have probably caused damage that hasn't grown out yet, takes 6 months generally for nails to grow from root to tip.

I've found that paintin my nails with a clear coat just after I get out of the shower and then allowing it to dry before painting with 2 coats of colour and then another top coat generally does the trick.

Perfectil tablets are good for nails too. And hair and skin actually.

TheIronyMaiden

Like most people that replied, the trick is usually how many coats you put on. Two thin colour coats and a top coat is the best way to do it. Oh and ALWAYS remember to use a base coat, if you don't your nails get all stained, especially with the brighter colours!

It can also depend on the brand of nail varnish, some are just crap and will chip off regardless of how you apply it. My favourites are revlon and maybelline, both have really nice colours and I usually get about 5 or so days wear out of it!

Michellenman

Barry M nail varnishes are very chip resistant too if applied well.

Pythia

You are possibly putting the nail varnish on too thick. Try less paint on the brush.

beauty101

Try (lightly) buffing the nails before u paint...apply a thin layer of base coat...leave 5 mins...apply a thin 1st coat of polish...leave 5 mins...apply 2nd coat...leave 10 mins......apply thin layer of topcoat...leave 2 mins...add a few drops of oil and try allow time to dry sufficiently!

Usually this never fails..I'm a beautician!

Novella

If you paint over the end of the nail, it shouldn't chip as easily. As in, don't just paint the nail, go over the tip and then paint the underside!

Teasey

Thanks everyone