I've Saved at Least $500 on Manicures Thanks to This $32 Nail-Strengthening Polish

A couple of months ago, I was putting the fitted sheet on my bed (the worst) and while stretching the now-shrunken fabric over my mattress, I broke a nail. Yes, a bed sheet broke my nail. And to be clear, it wasn’t a nice, clean break; my nails were so mangled from nearly a dozen expensive, back-to-back gel manicures that this nail literally ripped up the middle — so much so that it tore into my nail bed. Do I have your attention yet? Good. Because even though this was a gross story, I’m willing to bet that if you clicked on this article, it’s because your nails are in equally rough shape. Or maybe it’s because you’re sick of spending $50 to get a gel manicure that will, over time, make your nails paper-thin. Whatever your reason, I’m pretty certain Chanel’s Le Gel Longwear Top Coat nail polish is your answer, because it was mine. 

I know there are countless at-home gel nail kits on the market, but Chanel’s Le Gel is more than that. It creates a glossy sheen while sealing in nail polish for a manicure that lasts for weeks. (I once gave myself a manicure that lasted a total of 16 days, which is impressive for any at-home paint job.) I also use it as a nail strengthener; its ceramide-filled formula protects unpainted, brittle nails and fills in cracked nail ridges for a smooth, lustrous shine. 

I bought Le Gel a couple of weeks before my aforementioned dust-up with the top sheet. I hadn’t had a chance to give it a trial run, but my nail debacle gave me the perfect opportunity. I was out of real nail glue and needed to find a substitute — fast. I brushed a couple of coats atop the damaged nail and within minutes, the formula dried and created a shield against all of my at-home offenders (bed sheets, dish soap, cleaning supplies, to name a few) and lasted for over a week. I continued to re-apply it until the gumby nail was finally grown out again for a real coat of paint. 

After a couple of successful chip-free, at-home manicures, I realized that this little bottle was not only saving my nails, but was also saving me hundreds of dollars. I decided to sit down and do the math (during one of the busiest work days, naturally). I realized that if my typical monthly gel manicure cost about $50 and the average number of trips to the nail salon was 10 times a year, I was spending at least $500 a year on my nails. My $32 bottle of Le Gel, which I’ve been using for a few months, was letting me put hundreds of dollars back into my pocket. (Aka, more money to buy more Chanel.)

Needless to say, this little 0.4-ounce bottle of polish is well worth the money. And if you’re looking for a more colorful manicure, you can shop a few of my favorite striking Chanel polishes, below.