How to Make Your Manicure Last Longer on Short Nails

Short nails chip mostly at the tips, where they meet keyboards, phones and doors. These habits keep a manicure looking fresh for longer.

When you paint

• Clean the nail plate well: oil from hand cream is the number-one cause of early peeling.
• Use a base coat; colour grips it better than bare nail.
• Keep every coat thin and let each layer dry.
• Cap the free edge with base, colour and top coat.
• Let the manicure dry fully before washing up or showering.

Day to day

• Wear gloves for cleaning and washing dishes.
• Use the pads of your fingers, not your nails, to open cans and press buttons.
• Refresh with a thin layer of top coat every 2–3 days.
• Apply cuticle oil in the evening, away from the free edge.

Track what works

Every set teaches you something. Note the base coat, colour, top coat and how many days it lasted. Patterns appear quickly: some top coats last twice as long on the same nails.