A simple hack to extend your manicure

Before heading out to Vegas last month on a work jaunt, I spent what was left of the weekend frantically running errands: getting my nails done, my limbs waxed, my hair colored and my eyebrows groomed. Did I mention that this was a work trip?

It’s only when under threat of exposing myself to strangers (or professionals) that I manage to haul ass to the salon to get my body buffed and waxed to a polished shine. Otherwise, I let the jungle on my legs and brows grow out till wildlife begins to migrate in that direction.

Yet no matter how much prep is involved, my manicure rarely makes it past the week. I’m lucky if it lasts five days. There are a few tricks to extending your lacquered nails’ lifespan. Some I’ve learned through trial and error. Others gleaned from friends who encounter the same problems when traveling. Chipped nail polish is a bitch to correct on an appointment-packed trip. Also: it looks unprofessional. Shaking hands with someone in a suit while attempting to mask black nails chipped to the extreme often requires deft social skills.

Man in suit: Nice nails.

Me: Thanks.

Man in suit: Are you goth?

Me: No, just poor.

Here a few tips so you can avoid that conversation:

1. Applying top coat over the edge of the nail protects it from chipping. Short, choppy strokes, while quick in application, also ensures a short shelf-life. Smooth, easy application all the way past the edge of the nail, even just underneath, can add a couple days to your manicure.

2. Reapply a top coat every few days to extend lifespan. I was at Celine Lopez’s house, getting pampered with a home service mani-pedi. (We were multitasking and watching Veronica Mars on DVD.) A regular traveler, she saves trips to the nail salon simply by duplicating the top coat every few days. “Regular wear and tear thins out the top coat, so just adding another layer every few days keeps it fresh and protected,” she tells me.

3. This goes without saying: invest in a good top and base coat. This is the Holy Grail of nail management. Sally Hansen is known for being one of the best in business. Also: Use quality polishes. I made the mistake of purchasing a P30 bottle of polish in a hue called Touch of Tan. After one measly application, the formula had bubbled. My nails looked like it had herpes. Proceeded to re-dub the polish as “Touch of Pox.”

4. Give a five-minute breather — at least — between polish applications. Letting it dry between layers gives the polish a greater chance of setting and adhering to the nail.

5. When dealing with opening bottles or fidgeting with sharp objects, use a towel or tissue to protect nails. This is common sense, but after chipping my nails after forcefully prying open a can of juice, I realized not all of us are good friends with common sense. (I can only claim a passing acquaintance.) Which is why, as soon as this is printed, I plan to tape this list to my fridge.