I love the french manicure look. I do a pretty rough number on them myself and yet I can keep the tips white for about 2 1/2 weeks before they start to really chip. I am going to school for Art Restoration and Interior Decorating. We do all kinds of stuff w/ paint and power tools, etc. I wear gloves all the time though! I'm the prissy girl in the class

. Then I work part time as a CNA and of course I wear gloves all the time there too. I find that applying a coat of Sally Hansen's Mega Shine does the trick really well. It only takes 60 seconds to dry and really protects your nails well.