I consider a fresh coat of brightly colored polish the little black dress for your nails. But on the other hand… chipped nails are the enemy of dressing well. Perfectly polished nails not only say that you are well dressed, but will get you one-step closer to head-to-toe gorgeousness.

If you dread the sight of chipped polish and fading nail color, use these tips to make your nail polish last longer and dress  your nails beautifully.

Use quality nail polish.

Nail polish formulations are not equal.

Up the nail polish ante and buy the 8-dollar polish instead of the one-dollar cheapo at the drugstore.

Drugstore nail polish is not off limits, but Essie and OPI are two nail polish brands that manicure divas depend on regularly.

Apply fresh nail polish to your nails.

Nail polish expires one year from the time you first open your bottle of beauty. But if you polish your nails frequently or keep it sequestered in your medicine cabinet, your polish may dry out sooner.

To make your nail polish last longer, use a fresh bottle of nail paint that does not stick to the brush in thick clumps and blobs of ooey gooey polish.

Remove the oils from your nail bed with white vinegar.

After a fresh wash of your nails and hands to clean your nail beds, dip your fingers in white vinegar to remove any traces of natural oils.

The nail polish will adhere to your nails when there are no traces of oil, dirt or soap. The white vinegar is a little smelly, but any oils left on your nails will prevent the nail polish from sticking…and chipping.

Apply nail polish like a professional manicurist.

Prep your nails with a base coat, before applying your color. Use a steady hand to apply your nail polish to the nail bed.

Starting in the middle of the nail, apply small thin layers of polish to the nails. Do not apply more than two coats of polish color to your nails.

Apply a top coat to your nails to seal the nail polish.

The top coat is the most important step to make your nail polish last longer. Brush the top coat at the base of the nail and extend it over the edge of the nail. Apply it slightly under the tip to prevent chipping.

Dry your nails completely.

Your nails may appear to be dry after 15 minutes, but don’t be fooled by the touch test.

Plan to keep your nails free from touching car keys, typing text messages on your Blackberry and putting on jewelry for at least one hour.

Two more tips to make your nail polish last longer:To speed up the drying time, after 30 minutes of air-drying, submerge your nails into a basin filled with ice-cold water for 30 seconds.Apply one swipe of topcoat every morning to extend the life of your manicure until your next pampering session.