The 5 Day Manicure: 10 steps

Ladies, have you ever wondered how you can extend the life of your regular at home manicures? I know it's very clique, but it's all in the top coat! A base coat is important as well. Using semi-high-end nail polish brands can also help extend the life of your precious manicures. Before I started using a base/top coat, I only was able to get 2-3 day wear out of my polish. The nail polish brand you use is key for optimal performance. Cheap nail polishes will not get you the best results in my opinion. There are great Drug Store brands like Sally Hansen and Revlon, that will get you great results. I have created a couple of tips to help those of you looking for a longer lasting manicure.

1. Use a good quality nail polish brand. (Examples: Essie, OPI, Butter London, just to name a few).
2. Purchase a good quality base/top coat from any brand of your choice. Read labels because each base/top coat offers different performance qualities.
3. Apply your base coat first to your nails in small thin layers.
4. Next, apply any polish/color of your choice in small thin layers.
5. Let your first coat of polish dry.
6. Then apply a second coat of the same polish.
7. Let your second coat of polish dry thoroughly.
8. Add a design (optional)
9. Then apply a top coat of your choice.
10. Dry your nails for 15-20 minutes. Make sure your nails are not still damp from the polish. Check to see if they are dry. Do not engaging in any activities that requires the use of your hands until all of your nails are dry.  

* To dry your nails, use a fan or a blow dryer on a cool setting to help speed up drying time.
* You can use a top coat daily or every couple of days to extend the life of the manicure. This is not necessary though
* You can use the same polish to touch up any chipping you may have.