Nail polish doesn’t always last as long as you would hope. It often chips or starts peeling around the edges after only a day, or smudges as it dries.

Luckily you don’t need a huge kit to help polish last longer. A few basic products can make your home manicure last a lot longer.

  • Nail Polish Remover
  • Cotton Pads or Lint Free Wipes
  • A Nail File or Emery Board
  • A Gentle Buffer Block
  • Base Coat
  • Top Coat
  • Quick Dry Top Coat
  • Cuticle Oil or Hand cream
  • A small clean up brush

What Should Beginners Buy First?

If you are a complete beginner, you can start with:

  • Nail polish remover
  • Cotton pads
  • Nail file or emery board
  • Gentle buffer block
  • Base coat
  • Top coat
  • Cuticle oil or hand cream
  • Small storage pouch or box

What Can You Skip At First?

You don’t need everything straight away.

  • Salon-style kits
  • Electric nail files
  • Lots of specialist treatments
  • Too many different top coats
  • Complicated nail art tools
  • Lots of polish colours