We all love to be germ-free, but overdoing it on the hand sanitizer isn't conducive to a long-lasting mani. "The alcohol in hand sanitizer can dry out your nails and polish making them dull and ready to chip," says celebrity and fashion manicurist Jackie Saulsbery. Instead, she recommends opting for a mild hand soap and warm water whenever possible.
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You don't wear gloves when washing dishes
Remember how your mother or grandmother always put on a pair of rubber gloves before she washed the dishes? She did this to protect her hands and likely her nail polish too. "Not using gloves when washing dishes or cleaning can wreak havoc on a manicure," warns Saulsbery. "The water and soap can dry out the manicure, making it less shiny and likely to chip." She recommends investing in a good air of rubber gloves, like Casabella Waterblock Gloves, $6.99, or asking your roommate or partner to cover the chore for you until you take your polish off.
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Your diet is lacking
You probably already know that your diet affects your skin, but it also affects your pretty much every other part of your body too, including your nails. "Not eating enough protein can hinder the growth of nails and genes also play a big part in having brittle nails," says Saulsbery. "A biotin supplement, like Olly Undeniable Beauty, $11.89, is a great way to strengthen nails and promote growth." She also recommends drinking lots of water to help keep nails and cuticles hydrated.
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Your nail plate isn't prepped or dehydrated properly
Filing and pushing back cuticles are two of the first steps in a manicure. "The nails plate must be lightly buffed and all oils must be wiped from the nail plate with remover or alcohol," says celebrity manicurist Sunshine. "The nail plate must be very clean, as this allows the base coat and nail polish to adhere to the nail plate and not lift or chip off the polish."
Image via Imaxtree
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The salon is diluting the polish
In an attempt to make polish last longer, some salons will actually dilute it by adding remover or nail polish thinner. Sunshine says this merely changes the consistency of the polish, thinning it out too much and causing it to no longer adhere to the nail well, and lifting and chipping. "If you think your salon is doing this, you may want to bring your own nail polish to your appointment," she adds.
