Does your polish chip as quickly as fresh paint in the rain? Weakened nails, express preparation, or small daily habits that seem harmless... all these factors sabotage the tenue of a beautiful manicure. Keep cool! Here is a guide to understand why and how polish chips, along with valuable tips to enjoy a vibrant color that resists everything!
To remember:
- Polish that chips almost always comes from a neglected detail at one of the 3 stages: before, during, or after application.
- Before: soft, brittle, or split nails (weakened keratin) prevent the polish from adhering.
- During: insufficient preparation or incorrect application compromise tenue.
- After: hot water, household products, and micro-shocks accelerate chipping.
The solution: careful preparation + expert application (application in 4 layers) + daily protection.
Why does my polish chip?
Polish that chips after just a few days is often the result of a neglected detail at one of these 3 stages: before, during, or after application.
Before application: weakened nails
Soft nails, brittle or split, are one of the main causes of polish chipping prematurely. The cause? Keratin, an essential protein that structures the nail, can be weakened by various factors:
- a deficiency in vitamins or minerals, especially zinc, iron, or vitamin B,
- repeated small shocks or bitten nails,
- a lack of hydration that promotes the appearance of microcracks, invisible to the naked eye, which prevent the polish from adhering properly.
👉 To go further: our dedicated article on nail keratin, to better understand its role and how to strengthen it.
Need to boost your keratin proteins to regenerate your nails? Choose the Keratin Booster.
(@look8thenails)
During application: insufficient nail prep or poorly applied polish
Keep in mind that the tenue of the polish is decided even before the first coat! Several factors can disrupt your plans:
- Insufficient preparation: cuticles encroaching on the nail surface, a plate that is not degreased or not roughened enough, these are what can prevent the color from adhering.
- Inappropriate polish application: layers of polish too thick, insufficient drying time in open air or under LED lamp, absence of base coat and top coat, all errors to avoid if you want to achieve your manicure by the book.
- Uncoordinated products: mixing several brands can harm tenue. Within each range, product formulas are designed to work in perfect synergy and optimize their performance.
A clean and even surface is the key to optimal tenue of your polish.
After application: actions to avoid
Even a perfect application can chip if the manicure is not protected. Here’s what to avoid at all costs:
- Prolonged exposure to hot water (washing dishes, hot bath or hot shower) can slightly expand the nail and lift the polish layer,
- Household products can alter the polish surface,
- Micro-impacts (like opening a can or typing on a keyboard) can damage the edges of the nail.
Hot water, housework, sudden movements: protect your manicure daily. (@Unsplash)
How to prevent polish from chipping?
The good news? A few easy steps are enough to extend the shine of your beautiful manicure.
Prepare your nails like a pro
Before reaching for your polish, give your nails some attention. After filing your nails, take care of your cuticles: apply a little emollient to soften them, then gently push them back. Using an appropriate file or buffer, polish the nail surface to even it out and open the keratin scales to promote polish adhesion. Finally, don’t forget to degrease your nails with a degreaser or a gentle remover.
👉 We tell you more in our article on nail preparation!
Before the color: time for the right habits for perfect adhesion.
To summarize:
- Before application: nails weakened by a deficiency (zinc, iron, vitamin B), repeated impacts, bitten nails, or lack of hydration causing microcracks that prevent adhesion.
- During application: cuticles overlapping the nail plate, nail not degreased or not roughened enough, layers too thick, insufficient drying, absence of base or top coat, or mixing several brands.
- After application: prolonged exposure to hot water, contact with household products, and micro-shocks.
The right application routines
Whether you prefer classic polish or semi-permanent polish, the basic rule is the same: an application in 4 layers of polish.
With classic polish
- Apply a layer of base coat to smooth the surface and improve the tenue of the polish.
- Apply two thin coats of color, edging the nail (a brush stroke on the edge to seal the color).
- Finish with a thin layer of top coat to protect the manicure from shocks and add shine.
- Let each coat dry 1 to 2 minutes in open air, checking that the last applied coat is no longer sticky before applying the next.
Base coat, two color coats, top coat: the perfect formula for a successful manicure.
With semi-permanent polish
- Apply a layer of protective base (base coat) suited to your needs and dry under LED or UV lamp for the indicated time.
- Apply the polish in two thin coats, making sure to edge the nail, and dry each coat under the lamp for the indicated time (1 to 3 minutes depending on the lamp’s power).
- Protect with a layer of top coat to seal the color and add shine, making sure to dry this last layer under a UV or LED lamp.
To gather the base, color, top coat, and lamp, you can also start with a Green Flash™ semi-permanent polish kit.
With semi-permanent polish, the same routine applies with drying under a UV or LED lamp at each step.
Taking care of your nails daily
Nothing beats giving your nails regular care that makes them stronger to extend the life of your manicure.
Make sure to hydrate them daily with a cuticle oil, such as Huile Verte, which deeply nourishes and hydrates the nail and its surrounding skin.
If your nails are fragile, if they tend to be soft, brittle, or split, opt for a treatment with suitable care, to be determined by performing a Nail Diagnosis. A 2-week care routine will be recommended to restore strong nails on which the polish lasts longer.
And to nourish and enhance your nails in one step, turn to the care polishes Active™. Unique formulas, hybrids between care and makeup, that deeply treat natural nails while offering a beautifying effect. These polishes apply very easily, without base or top coat, dry quickly, and each targets a specific action. Tested & approved!
Green Oil, Active care polish: even without polish, your nails deserve a tailored routine.
Protect your manicure daily
Finally, to extend the tenue and all the shine of your mani, here are some simple and effective tips to apply daily:
- Wear gloves for dishwashing, cleaning, DIY, or gardening.
- Apply a new layer of top coat (Green™ or Green Flash™) every 2-3 days.
- Limit prolonged contact with hot water.
👉 Also read: How to improve the tenue of my polish
Prepare, protect, make it last: the Starter kit Green™ & Starter kit Green Flash™ have everything you need.
A polish that chips is not inevitable. By combining careful preparation + expert application + daily protection, you will get a radiant AND long-lasting manicure. Our bio-sourced & vegan polishes are designed to work in perfect synergy, from base to top coat. Result: a bright & shiny manicure that lasts a long time, without flaws 🥰
To summarize:
- Preparation: file, soften cuticles with emollient then push them back, polish the surface to open keratin scales, and degrease the nail.
- Application in 4 layers: base coat, two thin layers of color (covering the nail edges), then top coat — drying for 1 to 2 minutes in open air (classic polish) or 1 to 3 minutes under LED/UV lamp (semi-permanent).
- Daily care: hydration with Green Oil or Active™ care polishes that can be applied without base or top coat.
- Protection: wear gloves for household chores, reapply a layer of top coat every 2-3 days, limit contact with hot water.
- The bio-sourced and vegan Green™ and Green Flash™ polishes are designed to work in synergy, from the base to the top coat.
