What's the best way to apply nail polish so it will last?

It's important to make sure nails are clean and smooth when you apply the polish. If you have ridges or defects in the nail that buffing won't resolve, then try a primer coat of a product that fills ridges and smooths before you apply nail polish. Many nail polish brands are equally good, but you might want to check the ingredients as some contain fairly toxic substances like toluene and formaldehyde. L'oreal is one brand that doesn't contain these poisons. After applying your polish and allowing it to dry thoroughly, a clear top coat is great for sealing your color and providing and extra layer of protection for your color.

I don't like to spend alot of money on nail polish so I just buy the cheap brands like Wet N Wild and NYC Cosmetics. I find they work fine. You probably have something on your nils before you apply the polish. Even just the tinyest bit a nail polish remover or hand lotion residue can ruin your nail polish, so before applying wash your hands well and make sure you nails are totally dry. If you are still haveing problems try wiping your nails with a cotton pad witha bit of rubbing alochol on it before applying nail polish to gauruntee that there is no skin oil or anyhitng on your nails to prevent the polish from bonding properly.

First soak your hands in some soapy water (or after a bath will work.) Then trim, file, and buff your nails. Then use a product to moisturize your cuticles - Sally Hansens is great. Then push back and trim your cuticles. Next wash hands very well with a nail brush (or an old toothbrush will work) to remove all oils. Dry them very well. Apply a thin base coat and take it over the tips of your nails. Then apply two thin coats of your favorite color. Make sure you roll and don't shake your color. Allow each coat to dry completely about 5-10 minutes depending on the brand. Make sure your polish is fresh and not thick on the brush. After applying the color finish with a top coat and again take it over the tips of your nails. Wait about five minutes and use Sally Hansens quick dry or baby oil over the tops. My favorite brands are Sally for base and top coats and Revlon for color. They can last a year or even more if you keep the lid on tight and don't leave the brush out for too long at a time. I've found that the Quick Dry type don't last as long, if you are really worried about longevity. Just throw it out when it looks thick on the brush - you can try adding nail polish remover but it'll never be the same, it looses its luster. Good luck.

I love Sally Hansen, Essie and OPI. Those are very good brands for nail polishes. Sally Hansen has a great base coat and top coat too! I would use a base coat first before applying the color, then I would apply two layers of colors, and follow by a top coat. I find that this way the color can be kept at least for 5-6 days.