The Seven Day Manicure

When it comes to manicures, I’ve tried them all. After a year of gel manicures and over a year of acrylics, I’m back to my own nails. Although it’s certainly freeing not to be tied down to a two-hour fill-in session, making a regular or home manicure last a week is an art in and of itself.  These tips will help keep your nails in tip-top shape.

1. Pick a Light Color, But not Too Light: Picking a dark color or even a very light (white-based) color will make any imperfections, like chips, very obvious. Pick a natural color like a beige or a faint pink. My favorites are Essie’s Mademoiselle, Sugar Daddy, and Spaghetti Strap.

2. Keep them on the Shorter Side: Longer nails are prone to cracking and chipping, especially if your nails are on the weaker side. Keep them short and each of a similar length.

3. Clean with Gloves On: Nothing ruins a manicure faster than contact with cleaning fluids like bleach. Buy yourself a pair of heavy duty cleaning gloves and wear them whenever you clean or wash the dishes.

4.Keep Nails from Contact with Hand Sanitizer and Hand Creams: These are things we are prone to using every day, but avoiding the nail area when you apply them will help keep your manicure from breaking down.

5. Apply a Top Coat or Nail Strengthener  Every Other Day: Purchase a clear nail strengthening top coat from a beauty supply store or your local nail salon and apply it every other day.  Not only will it keep your nails looking shiny, but the product buildup during the week will keep your nails strong and less likely to break or chip.