Waiting 15 to 20 minutes for your nails to dry in the salon is only the beginning of the waiting period.

The colour is exquisite. The nail art is sublime. You step out the door of the salon, reach for your keys and – whoops, there goes your perfect manicure.

A good salon manicure (the traditional polish kind, not the gel kind) can last as long as a week, but you can wreck it in just a few seconds if you aren’t careful.

Professional nail artists have seen it all, and they’ve got some smart tips for keeping nails in tip-top shape.

How Long To Sit Tight In The Salon

Once the manicure is done, you’ll be tempted to dash out and get on with your day, but don’t do it. Thea Green, founder of British beauty brand Nails.Inc, said,

“Plan to sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes after your manicure is finished. That’s usually enough for polish to be touch-dry, but not fully set. I always say: ‘Dry to the touch doesn’t mean dent-proof.’”

As Green noted, those minutes of sitting are only the beginning, and it will take some time before you’re completely in the clear. “Even though the polish may look dry on the surface, it actually takes several hours to fully cure,” said nail artist Britney Tokyo.

How To Pregame The Polishing

Before polish is applied, get your game plan for leaving in place. If you wore a coat or jacket into the salon, put it on now.

But wait, there’s more, according to Julie Ventura, Orly Beauty’s global education manager: “Pay for your manicure before........

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