How Does One Do It?

well for me, I either use very light colored polish so it's not as noticeable if it does chip off or I only paint my toes :)

Pretty much reiterating what has been said:

Do a basecoat, then 2 coats of polish, and then a topcoat (I like Seche Vite). I skipped the topcoat on my nails this time, and they're already a wreck.

Let each layer dry before applying the next.

I also try to file my nails a day before, as any rough edges can lead to early chips. You can also get buffing blocks to use after filing to help with that.

You can get a gel nail kit at walmart now. It is polish with gel.in it that comes with a light to set it. It lasts 2-3 weeks.

I use the Hoofmaker from Sallys. People who groom horses used this to keep the nail from splitting and discovered that their nails were strong and hard and the cuticles were soft and smooth.

It takes about a month to see results but the nails look like they are fake and they take a beating and keep on ticking. You use it at night before going to sleep and it works. I just need to start doing that again so they look pretty.

You can apply the cream over top your nail polish.

The other S.

two coats of top coat and rubber gloves for housework

course im a nail chewer so i dont paint mine much but i got lots of girls they manage to keep theirs purty

Thin coats that dry completely between coats.

I forget the name of the new thing they use at the nail salons, its a gel coat. The manicure lasts for twice as long and it really works. I think you can buy that stuff too! Otherwise, I don't even try, I just do my toes, I totally irritates me every time I paint and the next day they're chipped.

Gloves and "hard as nails" topcoat".

Wear gloves while you work. It will help protect your nails.

That's all I can think of!

Dawn

When you do a manicure use cuticle remover and then use a scrub brush to get it all off and from under nails.
Start with a base coat -- I use Nail Magic the only place that carries it is Sally's Beauty Supply.
Then 2-3 very thin layers of nail polish then 2 layers of clear nail polish -- top with Nail Magic.
Wear rubber gloves when doing housework and never use your nails as tools. Don't scrape the gunk off the stove top or turn screws with your nails ect. --- Get a tool and do the job correctly.
I find that I need to 'patch' my nail polish twice a week. Simply use the color and fill in chips then top with clear.
You have allow each layer of polish to dry completely before you apply the next layer. It takes me a hour or more to polish my nails. Small secret... wear elastic waist pants or shorts while doing a manicure --- it never fails that I have to go potty every time I do my nails.

Disposable hospital gloves.

Fake nails I think. Regardless of who applies polish, a professional or myself, it will come off in water. I have natural nails which thanks to the fact that I am always in motion, grow quicker than I can break them.

Still the only time I could do dishes without the polish falling off was fake nails. I only had them for a month but they looked perfect for that month.

I don't paint my nails because I play guitar and piano (so my nails are short and ugly) and I work with acrylic paints, so it'd just get messed up anyway. But if I DID, my answer would be: gloves! My mother always wears rubber gloves when she works around the house -- her nails are always pristine!

I wear gloves! I have a pair in all 3 bathrooms and one under the kitchen sink. My hands dry out and my nails get trashed if I don't.

Gloves. I use plastic gloves when working with water and jersey work gloves for basic household cleaning. I try not to get chemicals on my hand (household cleaners, sunscreen, insect repellant), as it makes the polish sticky.

I never have time anymore to paint my nails. Inevitably when I do paint them, somebody needs me. :)

So I rarely do but now when I do, I do them after little one is in bed.

I just did the other day:
-one coat
-let dry
-2nd coat
-let dry
-top coat. this is the secret! ;)

-if you can do a base coat, great. It saves your nails.

-I wear those yellow rubber gloves to do the dishes.
Saves my nails & I use hot water!

Hey, even when I get a professional manicure, it chips within a day or two. I don't even bother.

But, I would recommend wearing gloves while cleaning. That may help keep the polish safe and reapply a top coat every night.

Well... I don't do them much any more, but wearing gloves whever I washed dished helped a lot. I also wear them doing any cleaning etc. - protects the nails (when they are done) but also keeps cleaning chimicals off of your hands.

Like so many other things in life, good nails, a good figure, a good job, a good marriage is a result of a combination of factors (usually the same three).
1. GOOD GENES, if you have healthy strong nails naturally, it is a good start.
2. GOOD MAINTENANCE- this means a healthy diet as nutritional deficiencies, lack of rest, lack of exercise will undermine your manicure, and everything else. You've got to care for your hands and your nails regularly.
3. A BIT OF WORK AND PATIENCE- patience as you apply good quality product, and make sure it dries properly between coats. and hard work (not so hard in this case, a bit of hand cream, and gloves, cotton under rubber if you need to).

Where do I stand on this? I've been blessed with great strong nails, my diet, exercise and rest are in good order. I keep mine short, because that is my preference, and I get them professionally manicured every two weeks, and my feet done every month. NYC is glutted with nail salons, most run "deals" whereby you can get a mani pedi and a 10 minute massage, M-W for $16 ($20 after tip).

Frankly I suck at the DIY manipedi and end up with smudges and smears, or imprints from my bedding. I've largely stopped trying to do it because the results are just disastrous. I've also stopped ironing because, frankly, its cheaper to dryclean than it is to replace a scorched suit.

To err is human. . . .

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Get a Gelish or Shellac manicure. It will last at least two weeks and still look shiny and pretty much chip-free, even through housework. They can be expensive, especially if you aren't working, around $20-25. You might find a Groupon in your area to help. You can buy the Gelish or Shellac polishes and a lamplight on Amazon. Will be expensive at first, but will eventually save you money.

My secret for home manicures is sally hansen-hard as wrap acrylic gel. I use a very pale pink, it really strengthens the nails and it's light enough so that if you do chip it's very unnoticeable due to the light color.
It's not a very dramatic manicure but leaves my nails looking pretty and polished with a light pink. I save the darker colors for a professional manicure.

Do you put a bottom coat, then the polish then top coat?? You should put one layer of bottom, 2 coats of polish, then one layer of top coat. Do one hand bottom coat, then the other hand. Go back to the first hand you did for the first layer of polish then the second hand, go back to the first hand for the second layer of polish, other hand, then first hand for top coat, then do second hand. You can also do one hand completely then do the other hand but just remember to let each layer dry at least a min or two in between. You can get Top to Bottom which takes care of top & bottom coat in one bottle. Seche Vite is a gel top coat that works well too & seems to dry a bit faster. I also use a hair dryer on cool to dry my nails a bit faster than air dry. Remember, nails will still be wet for at least an hour even though they feel dry to the touch, they're still 'wet' enough to chip right away. Also, you may want to try nail enamel or nail shellac instead which tends to last longer & not chip like regular polish. Do you wear gloves when you do dishes?? Try using gloves & see if that helps. Hope my suggestions help. Good luck.

I don't do anything with my fingernails nor manicures.
But I guess my fingernails are tough, they don't get all ragged.
I don't paint my fingernails, ever, because being a Mom, I use my hands for so many things not conducive to painting it.

But yep, as Riley J. said, wear gloves? Those simple cheap household gloves or hospital gloves.

Do the no chip manicure-lasts two weeks even with my awful nails :) worth the $