Something That Keeps the Polish on Your Nails?

good morning M.,

I am a licensed manicurist and I have a few suggestions. First, my clients who are nurses, either have acrylics or usually avoid the french manicure due to this problem. The frequent hand washing is obviously the main problem. If you are going to continue to give the french tip a chance, I would recommend that you do a couple of different things. People assume that it starts withthe top coat...that is incorrect. Before you polish your nails at all, first remove the natural oil topping of your own nail by gently buffing the entire nail surface to a smooth finish with a "white block buffer." If you think about it, it is just as the salon does to prep your nail with artificial nails....removing oil to promote bonding. Then, use something like a NON moisturizing nail polish remover to remove excess dust and oil, then use a base coat. Some are more flexible than others. When a base coat says something about strong, it can be too brittle. Look for a product that says "rubberized." (such as ORLY rubberized base coat) I have attached a link to 2 polishes that I have had hundreds of success stories and people who absolutely swear by it. Also, every day or 2, add a top coat to your polish, and begin again after a week or so...whatever works for the condition of your nails. I recommend a product such as "nailtek"-(http://cgi.ebay.com/2-TWO-Nail-Tek-QUICKEN-5-oz-nailtek-T...)

Good luck to you!!

Hello- I am also a licensed nail technicion and chip skip from OPI is my favorite! I agree with Angela using the block buffer to prep is a good idea, then you would put on the chip skip by OPI, you dont want to forget the base coat b/c this helps hold the polish on, kinda like a double stick tape I always tell my clients. Then you can apply your french tip then use one coat of top coat and dont forget to seal the tip of your nail with the top coat as well.
Places like Trade Secret in the mall sell OPI nail products, or you could stop by a local salon/spa and they more than likely will sell OPI there as well.
Hope this helps!
~S.

You should be able to find a clear, protective top coat of polish at whatever store you buy your regular polish from. The trick is to get the top coat not only on top of the polish, but on the very end of the nail and a little underneath the tip. This sort of seals it in and keeps it from chipping so quickly. Eventually the part on the ends of your nails will wear off, and it'll chip, but how long it takes depends on how much work you do with your hands.

Have you tried Avons new peel and stick nail polich?