Make Your Manicure Last 10 Days

If you go to a salon, consider bringing your own bottle of polish. Nail salons notoriously add thinners to extend the life of old enamel, which can change the color and cause bubbling and peeling, says Jane Park, creator of Julep Nail Parlors in Seattle. Generally, when stored in a cool, dark place, your polishes should last at least a year. One cool color to try: OPI Nail Lacquer in Ski Teal We Drop, $8.50, a deep sea blue we love for fall.

"If there is residue [moisturizer, oil, water, etc.] on your nails, it will prevent polish from adhering," says Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics. Before polishing, wipe nails with lint-free cotton pads and an acetone-based cleanser. Try: Essie Nail Pads, $10.

Try: CND ScrubFresh Nail Surface Cleanser, $22.

Some nail techs file across nail beds before polishing, roughing them up so the lacquer clings better, but this can do real damage. Instead, use a base coat that feels a little tacky when dry; it grips polish better. Try: Borghese Magnetico Adhesive Base Coat, $9.

Nail and cuticle oil is the fastest way to get much-needed moisture into your nail bed, preventing peeling and splitting. Unlike traditional lotions and moisturizers, nail oils are formulated with ingredients such as vitamin E and jojoba oil that can penetrate deep into the nail, beyond the layers of polish. Plus, perfumes and alcohol in many hand lotions can actually dry out your cuticles and crack your polish, Park says. Try: an oil like Julep Essential Cuticle Oil, $9, twice daily.