In the post covering five of our favorite goth nail polishes from mooncat, we also talked about how nail polish is a more affordable luxury these days. Are you looking to elevate your wardrobe without investing too much? If so, painting your nails is the perfect way to accessorize in a budget-friendly way.
But even a simple at-home manicure still cost money and take time, which are both precious commodities. Why not learn how to get the most out of each stroke of paint, then? You don’t need to go to a nail salon to get the goth nails of your dreams.
In this post, we’ll take you through ten of our favorite prep steps that will help your next round of nail polish last longer. These are easy, cost-effective and fairly accessible tips.
We’ll cap off the list with three of our favorite nail polish brands, too. After all, you could have the best prep in the world and an under-performing formula will still cause problems.
Tip 1: Use rubbing alcohol in prep
You should always be wiping your nails down with rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol before a manicure. This is true whether it’s gel or not. This step does a few important things:
- Clears your nails of any lint or dust
- Strips the natural oils from your nail
- Clears away any bacteria
It’s important for the overall cleanliness of your nails, and it also gives your polish a stronger grip. While natural oils protect your nails and keep them healthy, polish will also struggle to stick to it. Note that you want to use rubbing alcohol here and not acetone, too. Acetone is a different chemical with an entirely separate purpose.
Tip 2: Don’t skimp on the base coat
We’ve all wondered it before. Does a base coat really make that big of a difference? Is it worth shelling out extra money?
Well, yes. Professional manicurists all use base coats and it’s not just a trick to get you to buy more product. Base coats do a few important things. This includes protecting your nail from damage via the polish itself and creating an even base. The bumpier a base, the more likely you are to get early chipping.
Tip 3: Don’t skimp on the top coat, either
This is a “just do it” thing. It only adds a few extra minutes to the overall process of painting your nails. And again, as with base coats, top coats are something the pros always do. It gives your polish a more professional finish and preserves the color longer.
On top of that, top coats can help you add some versatility to your polish. Change up the look of one polish by using different textured top coats, like pearlescent or mattifying ones. This saves you from spending on entirely new bottles of polish.
Tip 4: Be selective with all of your products
We know that not all polishes are created equal, but the same goes for top and base coats. For that matter, this applies to any other tool or product you use when painting your nails, really.
When searching for a base coat, look for products that are grippy and strong, since they’ll hold your color in place well. Base coats with anti-chip ingredients help manicures last longer, too. Personally, we love Holo Taco’s Long Lasting Base ($13), or mooncat’s Hardcore Base Coat ($14).
For top coats, you want to make sure it works well with the type of polish you’re using (i.e. matte lacquer versus metallic lacquer versus gel and so on). Check for the level of protection it claims to offer against smudges or chips. Pay attention to dry times, too. Our personal favorite is mooncat’s Speed Demon Top Coat ($14), which is great for glossy finishes and lacquer polishes of all sorts. It dries down in a minute or less, so it’s perfect for the impatient souls among us who hate having to be careful with freshly done nails for ages.
Tip 5: Don’t paint your nails after a shower
Extended exposure to water, especially warm or hot water, causes your nail beds to expand and softens the nail itself. Not only do you risk trapping a bit of moisture under the polish if you apply it right away, but the polish itself will move and warp as your nails shrink back to their usual size. This sets you up for chips and cracks to start forming right away.
You also shouldn’t shower right after painting your nails, with experts citing that you should wait around 1 to 2 hours before hopping in after getting your nails done.
Tip 6: Reapply your top coat
For best results and the longest possible wear, you should really be touching your top coat up every 2 to 3 days. If you have a fast dry one, this only adds a few extra minutes and one extra step into the overall routine, and you get a manicure that lasts much longer in exchange.
Tip 7: Avoid painting over your cuticles or skin
One of the biggest reasons for chipping is the seal between the polish and your nail breaking. Typically, this happens as your nail begins to grow out and the bottom edge starts to lift. But if you paint over your cuticles or the skin on the sides of your nail, the polish there will eventually lift or rub away, taking polish on your actual nail along with it.
Tip 8: File your nails correctly
First off, you always want to file your nails in the same direction. If you don’t, you risk essentially shredding the nail, which weakens it and makes it more prone to breaking and chipping later down the line.
The shape you file your nails into matters, too. Your nails will be easier to maintain if you opt for a slightly round or oval shape with straight corners that have been filed so they aren’t sharp.
Shorter nails are also easier to maintain polish on, so take that into consideration. If you’re someone who likes longer nails, you may have to choose between longer-lasting polish or nails at your ideal length.
Tip 9: Mix your polish properly
First, you always want to mix up your polish before using it so you’re getting the most even spread of product. But if you shake your bottle, you may actually be introducing microscopic air bubbles that will cause your polish to chip faster. Instead, try rolling your bottle to get the polish mixed.
Tip 10: Stick to thin layers
The thinner the layer, the less clumping you’ll deal with, which is a major cause of chipping. Thin layers also:
- Dry faster
- Let you have more control over color build-up
- Gives you the chance to tailor your polish thickness
Professional salons sometimes add nail polish thinner to nail polish because it keeps the formula easy to work with, prevents clumping, and allows for effortlessly thin layers. Some suggest adding a drop of acetone, but the chemical components in acetone will break down your polish over time, so it’s not recommended.
Our Favorite Polish Brands (With Goth Options)
Now that you know how to make your manicures last a little longer, here are a few brands you can take a peek at. Not only are they extremely high quality, but they’re smaller businesses run and owned by women and POC individuals. They have some killer options for goths, too, with plenty of rich, dark, and morose colors.
mooncat
(mooncat.com)
We’ve already stepped a toe into professing our love for mooncat when talking about 5 of our goth favorites. Even so, we believe it deserves another mention. Not only are the color payoffs amazing and the (vegan and cruelty-free) formulas divine, but mooncat donates a portion of all proceeds to the care of shelter cats.
We will note, however, that this is a higher-end product and the prices tend to reflect it, with most polishes running you at least $16 or more.
Holo Taco
(holotaco.com)
This is Simply Nailogical’s flagship polish brand, and it’s popular on the nail polish scene for a reason. The formulas are buttery smooth and stick to nails well. There are plenty of colors that would suit goth wardrobes, too.
They’re 10-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. The base and top coat options are solid. It’s a little less expensive than mooncat, too, so it’s great if you want more options for less dollars.
DEMIblue
(demibluenaturalnails.com)
This brand prides itself on being vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and a 21-free formulation (meaning it doesn’t include 21 different ingredients considered toxic). It offers a wide array of colors, so goths in many different sub-genres can find a little something here.
Not only that, but through its nonprofit initiative DEMIblue Cares, DEMIblue supports health initiatives for under-served minority communities, with a focus on breast cancer.
The Longest-Lasting Nails for Your Goth Look
Having a solid, long-lasting manicure isn’t something that you need nail salon money (or time) for these days. These 10 easy steps alone can help you elevate your at-home nail routine without needing a single expensive nail oil or vitamin to do it.
When you use these tips in tandem with a really good polish from a solid brand, you’ll find your nails lasting through a surprising amount of wear and tear. Of course, it also helps if you can take steps to protect your nails, like wearing rubber gloves when doing the dishes and touching up chips as soon as they appear. But if you’re short on time, this list is a great place to start.