Any woman who's ever smudged a salon-fresh nail will know the heartache of ruining a perfect manicure.

When you've treated yourself to a shellac manicure, however, your fingertips are faced with an enemy of a different kind: peeling.

On average, a shellac manicure lasts around two weeks, but it's not uncommon to notice your nails flaking after just a few days. And when the peel is on, the temptation to pick is real, which everyone knows you should never, ever do.

There is, thankfully, a quick and simple way to fix your fingertips without jeopardising the strength of your nails for future manis.

The solution, according to nail expert and manicurist Cherrie Snow, is to grab a bottle of topcoat, pronto.

Speaking to Byrdie, Snow advised applying a thin layer of topcoat over your pre-existing nail polish as soon as you start to notice flaking.

And before you hastily whack on a coat in your lunch break, you'll want to note that there's a specific technique to fixing the nail properly.

Snow advises that the key is to 'seal in the edge by painting over the tip of the nail' too, which will ensure your nails last out until you can book your next trip to the salon.

As with most things in life, the trick to preventing a peeling mani really lies in preservation, so you'll want to invest in a pair of washing up gloves and steer clear of opening tough packages.

There's also several simple ways to keep your manicure in tip-top condition on the daily, like keeping your hands moisturised, using SPF and regularly massaging cuticle oil into your nails.

"Apply hand cream after EVERY hand wash, and regularly massage cuticle oil over the gelled nail to encourage flexibility and prevent chipping," Snow explains.

And voila! Mangled manicure no more.

Scroll down for the ultimate mani inspo ahead of your next salon trip...

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