There’s nothing more disappointing than putting on a beautiful nail polish only to see it chip away after just two days on your nails. If you love giving yourself at-home manicures but you can’t stand to see them fade, there are a couple of ways you can maintain their look. In the end, you won’t be afraid to show off your nails halfway through the week. Apply a top coat daily.

CollegeFashion.net reports that a top coat is necessary to help your manicure endure daily wear and tear. While it may be a pain to sit through the process and let your nails dry all over again, it’s worth keeping them looking great. Keep your cuticles out of the way.

It’s important to maintain your cuticles in order to give your nail polish the best opportunity to stick around. To ensure that they’re soft and make them easier to keep out of the way, use a product such as BORGHESE Spendide Mani Smoothing Hand Creme SPF 8. Groom your nails before polishing.

Cut and shape your nails accordingly before applying any polish for the best results. Shaped, short nails can help you achieve a clean, flawless look.