Jun Sato/WireImageSo you're hopping on a plane and peacing out of town for the holidays.
While we can all agree that a much-needed vacation is just what the doctor ordered, it also means that you'll be away from your manicurist for a longer period of time than usual. Sure, going without polish is an option, but there's something that feels innately wrong about sporting bare nail beds during the most festive time of the year.
Since polished digits akin to Miranda Kerr and Gwen Stefani are likely a priority, even on days off, we queried the celeb manicurist team at Enamel Diction for their most-trusted tips on extending the life of your manicure over the break.
Making sure that your nails are in good shape to start with is key to nail polish longevity. The Enamel Diction team recommended enlisting the IBX Repair System to target splits, peeling and ragged edges. "It acts like a double-sided sticky tape to seal the damaged area together," agreed the team.
Before you start your manicure, "apply two applications of CND Stickey Base Coat and really focus on the top half of your nails for extra polish resilience," said the experts. Another pro tip you're probably skimming over: Running the base coat (and topcoat, too) along the free edge of your nails to seal and lock in the color.
Keeping the color in place has a lot to do with avoiding breakage. "File your nails into the shape that mirrors your cuticles, which makes them less likely to break," assured Enamel Diction. If you're away from your manicurist for longer than usual (i.e. the holidays), keep the seal fresh by touching up with a topcoat, like Seche Vite Topcoat. "Reapply a layer of clear topcoat every two to three days to prevent chipping and enhance shine," they explained.
Even if you do take all the necessary precautions to make your mani last, it is just polish, after all, and it will eventually chip at some point. When that happens, get mileage out of your mani by expertly masking chips. If you have a minor crack at the edge, simply file it down and reapply another layer of topcoat, recommended the experts. If your chip is more visible, or even if nails are overgrown, "the best way to distract from a chipped or overgrown manicure is glitter," shared the artists. Besides, "glitter accent nails are very popular at the moment."