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.
Image via Imaxtree
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The nail polish is low quality
It's true that some polish brands are better than others. "Some brands boast about being free of certain chemicals, which is great as long as they still work," says Sunshine. "Some are 5-free, 7-free and now even 10-free, which essentially means they are free of certain chemicals that are deemed harmful." While some brands do a great job keeping the integrity of the polish, allowing you to have a healthier product that lasts long, other brands fail the wear-test, says Sunshine. Some really good chemical-free polishes that she recommends include Zoya, Deborah Lippmann, Sally Hansen, Ginger and Liz, and Chanel.
Sure, your corner salon might be cheap and quick, but it just might reflect the quality of your mani. "Often, little hole-in-the-wall salons are unventilated and there is absolutely no quality control," says Hipp. "It's pretty commonplace for inexpensive salons to bring in illegal ingredients and fill them in bottles we recognize, especially with base and top coats." For this reason, she recommends taking a little pouch of your personal products with you to the salon so you know exactly what's being used every step of the way.
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The polishing method is poor
If you're continually dealing with chipping nail polish, don't be so quick to blame the salon — or the polish. "Painting nails is a real science; every step has to be done perfectly to ensure the longest lasting application," says Hipp. Sunshine agrees, adding that polish should be applied in thin layers without touching the cuticle area and capping the free edge. "Capping the free edge protects the polish from wearing off the tips," she says. "If polish touches the cuticle and dries, it could cause the polish to peel off."
