I have the same problem with oily nail beds too. Only once in my life did I have a manacurist who knew how to do it right - and she taught me. Now when I paint my own nails using her method, the polish will last a good 3-4 days easy before the first chip (as long as I'm not doing dishes all day long or something). Once she moved away, I've tried to explain to other manacurists the process but they screw it up and it will only last a day, maybe two.

Here is the process my GOOD manacurist did for regular polish that works the best! First, wash your nails and scrub real good using a nail brush with soap and water. Dry with clean paper towel (not a used regular towel that may have oil from previously handling). Once you've cleaned and dried your nails DO NOT EVER touch the nails again or you will transfer oil right back onto them. Step two, use a nail drying product. This usually comes in a normal type bottle but it's a liquid almost like water. You just kind of slop it all over your nails. This is yet another drying agent along with the soap you just used. Third step - use "Bonder" as the base coat. It includes a ruberized agent in it to allow your nails to be pliable without breaking the polish. Then finish with regular polish and top coat.

The problem with most nail salons is after they clean your nails, they like to run their hands over your hands transfering oil right back to your nail bed and negating the whole purpose of cleaning them to get the oil off. I've tried to explain this to them but they undoubtely hold or touch my hands in a way that just puts their oil right back onto my hand.

Thanks for the info about the salon in Negril. I think I've heard of it. Good to know so that I can just have them taken off if they start peeling. I think I'm going to give this a try. And maybe give it a try before I go too just to make sure!