6 EASY TIPS FOR HOW TO CREATE A LONG LASTING MANICURE AT HOME

if you’re looking for a cheat code for how to create a longer lasting manicure, you’ve come to the right place.

read on and unlock what we’d call our “not-so-secret secrets” for how to create a long lasting manicure at home.

1. PREP LIKE A PRO

before any painting, create the perfect canvas with a little essential pampering.

  • shape + file: grab your SHAPESHIFTER nail file and gently file your nails in one direction.
    • using rough nail files (think emery boards) and filing in two different directions can create micro cuts in your nails, weakening them and causing breakage. because it’s made from glass with a superfine grit, our SHAPESHIFTER crystal nail file allows for safer, smoother filing. less breaks mean less chips, which mean longer lasting manicures.
  • clean up cuticles: with your BOUNDARY PUSHER in hand, very lightly and very, very gently push back overgrown cuticles.
    • gently pushing back overgrown cuticles will help clear your nail for easier painting, without harming your paws.

2. REMOVE ANY EXCESS OILS AND MOISTURE

grab your preferred lacquer remover or acetone and apply it to a cotton swap. even if you don’t have any lacquer on, wipe your nails down to remove any dirt, oil, and excess moisture that could get between your nail and your base coat.

    • doing so will create a better foundation for your base coat to adhere to, leading to, you guessed it, a longer lasting manicure.

3. COVER YOUR BASES

grab your favorite mooncat base coat and apply it to your nails.

  • why do you need a base coat? base coats act as a protective barrier for your nail. they also help create a smoother foundation, allowing lacquer to adhere to the nail better and last longer. our base coats are also formulated to help strengthen the nail, minimizing breakage in the process.
  • which mooncat base coat is right for you rn? spoiler: you really can’t go wrong. but… if your nails could use a little blurring filter IRL, grab our lightly-tinted, ridge-filling GETTING EVEN NAIL PRIMER to create the smoothest base. choose HARDCORE BASE COAT for a protective layer that also strengthens and helps promote growth.

4. LACQUER MINDFULLY

once your base coat has fully dried (key) grab your favorite mooncat nail lacquer and get painting. during application:

  • don’t overwork your coats. think of 3 swipes max as the ideal target (challenging, we know). our lacquers will self-level as they dry, so no need to make each coat totally perfect.
  • let each coat dry *fully* before doing another. you’ll need to wait ~at least~ 2 minutes. trust us, it’s v worth it. (byeeee, nail indents)
  • wrap the tip of your nails: consider this *THE* anti-chip hack: if your nails are long enough, it’s essential to seal the edges of your nail (aka wrap your tips) with every coat. the tip of your nail is the most prone to chipping, so having more of that area painted will help it chip less.
  • try not to flood your cuticles: try to paint as close to your nail bed as possible without actually painting any skin. if you paint your skin, the lacquer won't stick as well and will create an area that could easily start to peel. need to correct some accidental painting? just dip THE VANISHER in lacquer remover and clean things up while the lacquer is still wet.

5. NEVER SKIP OUT ON TOP COAT

once your last coat of lacquer has dried fully, lock in your look with SPEED DEMON TOP COAT, being sure to wrap your tips again.

  • why do you need a top coat? top coat serves as a protective layer for your mani, helping prolong its wear and prevent breaks and chips. it’ll also help smooth your lacquer strokes out and make your mani look super glossy.
  • reapply every few days: if you want to prolong your look, reapply your top coat every few days to re-seal it and protect it from chipping. it’ll also give it a nice, glossy refresh.

6. CARE FOR YOUR LACQUERED CLAWS

your job doesn’t end there. it’s important to keep your nails and cuticles moisturized to prevent them from drying out and becoming more prone to splitting and breaking. we recommend using our NAIL ELIXIR ~ at least ~ 1x per day – but feel free to reapply as much as needed.

ready to conjure some longer lasting at-home manicures? our long lasting essentials await. from glass nail files, glass cuticle pushers, base coats, top coats, and nail oil, shop all the best mooncat nail essentials here.

Back to all

Related Articles