3 Tips To Make A Pedicure Last Longer, From A Nail Expert 

Pedicures generally last longer than manicures...except in the summer. Whether you're spending more time poolside or strutting around the city sandal-clad, chances are your pedi will chip away at what seems like warp speed. 

And call me dramatic, but is there anything worse than a cracked and frayed pedicure smack dab in the middle of open-toe season? (I realize a subpar polish game is not high on our world's list of problems, but let a beauty gal stand on her soapbox!)

You'll also want to hydrate your toes with cuticle oil and hand cream (ideally one that absorbs quickly so you don't have to deal with greasy fingers while you paint), but you don't want any oils and butters lingering on the nail plate. 

"You really want to get any oil or lotion off the nails before painting, as this creates a barrier between your nail and the polish, so it does not properly adhere and will ultimately chip or peel," Lin adds. "At our studios, we clean the nails two times before applying polish to remove excessive oil and lint," she notes. 

I personally love a good foot soak—so does Lin, who recently launched a heavenly Ancient Rituals Foot Soak, featuring an herbal mix of warm coconut milk, fresh cucumber, fresh ginger, and goji berries—but try to stick to a pre-pedicure ritual if you can. 

Says Lin, a proper pedicure (which includes a base coat, two coats of polish, and one top coat) takes around six hours to fully set, and you'll want to avoid soaking your feet in water during that time. 

You'll also want to avoid wearing tight shoes or encountering any textured surfaces that can potentially dent the polish while your toes are still vulnerable for at least six hours. "This will ensure a long-lasting, pristine pedicure," she notes.

Here's a tip you might have heard for overall polish longevity: Reapply your top coat every two to three days. "The top coat has two functions," says Lin. First, it protects your nails from UV light, which can dull the polish over time. 

Second, "Nail polishes react to the air and eventually oxidize over time (which means the color changes)," she notes. "To preserve the vitality of the color, you'll want to reapply the top coat every two to three days, as this will create a barrier to the elements and help prolong your pedicure color."