Yeah I'm looking at getting into the entire make up and nail polish too. I'll likely be watching a football game at the same time despite not really caring for sports, may have a bottle of whiskey near. How's them Buffalo Bills? Not that i really care. It's something I want to do, I just need to get beyond the mainstream programming I've been subject too. That alone should be a good thing. Tips anyone?

This is how I do a basic manicure:


1. wash hands and nails, just to remove any dirt. Sometimes I also clip and file my nails, but I like having long nails, so I usually don't.
2. push back the cuticles. I use a cuticle remover to soften the cuticles, but warm water can be used too.
3. go over each nails with a bit of acetone to remove oil (it's the main ingredient in most nail polish removers, I use pure acetone because it's cheap and my nails and skin can handle it).
4. basecoat - two layers of whatever colour I want - topcoat. Now you're done, and you can fix any messes around you nails with a q-tip dipped in acetone (or nail polish remover.)

To make sure each coat is dry before applying the next, I let two nails touch. If they're kind of sticking together, I'll wait a little longer. I find that this helps a lot. If I make sure that each coat is completely dry before going on to the next, even the cheapest polish can last at least 3 to 4 days.
Another thing is that the polishes that says "fast drying" or whatever has a tendency to chip quickly no matter what. I can't remember exactly why, but if I recall correctly it has something to do with what's in them to make them dry faster.