I've found that adding a layer of cheap glitter or clear figernail polish adds just a little bit of extra protection to the paint on a jig head. With the polish on top of the paint, the jig can take a little bit more punishment before it chips. They still chip, but they seem to last longer.

I have a jig fishing book at home, cannot remember the author. He says he wishes he would have never started painting the heads on the jigs he makes. The paint chips off and becomes ugly looking to the customer. He stated that on his own personal jigs he did not even paint the jig heads. It was the fur or marabou that attracted the fish, not the paint on the jig head. I am sure their are some jig masters on this board who can tell you more, this is just what I have read.

Yeah, I tie them both ways, painted and not painted. I also am considering the beads like First cast uses. The chipping of the paint is annoying, but I keep painting 'em when I tie 'em, and the polish helps.

I don't know if it makes a big difference or not. Twice though, I've been using a white jig with a pink head for about half an hour and not a bite. I switched to a white jig with a green head and on my first cast and on my 4th cast after switching have caught fish.

Ocus ... a way to avoid this altogether, at least for some colors, is to bypass paint and use the Pro-Tec powder paint. There is nothing else out there that will give you that type of durabilty. Good luck!