ugh i have the same problem with nail polish. i h8 it. i'll paint my left hand with my right and it looks great, right? then i fuck my right hand using my left so i just take it all off. pretty much all my polish goes to waste that way.
i like using clear polish for that reason. or this stuff:
http://pics2.ds-static.com/prodimg/464484/300.JPG
not only do nails look clean and pretty, but chipping is never visible. chipped polish reeks of grungy teenager to me probably because i always sported nasty chipped polish in h.s.