How to Fix A Broken Nail at Home

Well now you've done it. You broke a nail. You don't want to cut it off because then you'll have one stumpy nail .  Let me show you a quick way to fix a broken nail.

Here's the scenario:  You're about to embark on a weekend filled with glamorous activities including going to the theatre, attending an art gallery opening, followed by drinks with a one eyed Count, and shopping for solid gold polo ponies.

Then you break a nail.

Now what?? Your manicurist is having her elbows liposuctioned and her assistant is doing a week long "cleanse" that's left her incapacitated and confined to one specific room in her house.

Well lady, you're gonna have to repair your own nail.  

If you want this trick to last even longer use it in combination with an LED light & gel nail polish.

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How to Fix a Broken Nail

Fixing a broken natural nail (this isn't for acrylic nails) can be done in a few minutes if you have the supplies on hand. The technique is a like a silk wrap, but done with the woven fabric of a tea bag which is remarkably strong.

The fix will last about 2 weeks, giving the broken part strength and allowing your nail time to grow out.

Materials Needed

• Scissors
• super glue (brush on super glue is the easiest to use)
• a teabag
• tweezers
• nail file
• nail buffer

Instructions

(if you're bendy enough you can use this same technique to fix a cracked toenail.I recommend using super glue for a broken nail instead of "nail glue" because there's no need to buy something special.

Super glue works perfectly well and contains the same main ingredient as nail glue.

STEP 1

Gather your supplies: scissors, superglue, a teabag, tweezers and a nail file. (also a buffer if you have one)

STEP 2

Cut your tea bag to the size of the nail bed that's broken.  In my case it's the teeny, tiny pinkie nail.

STEP 3

Apply a small drop of Super Glue to your nail. You probably only have regular squeeze out super glue at home. Order a bottle of brush on super glue for future breaks. It's easier and more precise to apply.

Like so.

STEP 4

Swish it around your nail so it covers the whole thing.

STEP 5

Using your tweezers, place the tea bag on your nail bed.

It's a bit messy but that's O.K.  It's all getting covered up.  Also, if your break is a bit further up on the nail than mine, you can cut your tea bag slightly larger so you can wrap the tea bag onto the underside of the nail as well, creating a stronger mend.  My break was right down to the quick so this technique couldn't be used.

STEP 6

Grab your Super Glue again and put another drop of glue on.  Spread it around.

Now your broken nail is technically mended.  Kind of like fibreglassing a boat.

STEP 7

Using a buffing stone if you have one, buff the nail smooth once your glue is dry.  Do this gently, you don't want to tear through the tea bag.

STEP 8

Follow up with the polishing side to make your nail bed as smooth as you can get it.

STEP 9

Apply a coat of clear nail polish to only the mended nail.  While you're at it, do your best to avert your eyes from the horror of your cuticles. 

STEP 10

Once it's dry, apply another coat to the mended nail, plus the rest of your nails.  You'll therefore end up with 2 coats of base on the mended nail.  This will help make it smoother for your nail polish application.

STEP 11

Apply whatever nail polish you think will be The Count's favourite.  If he is the much sought after one-eyed Count, you can probably get away with only putting nail polish on one hand.   Resume your super glamorous activities as planned.  Phew.  Disaster and embarrassment averted.

Will a nail just heal itself?

As much as we'd like them to, a broken nail can't magically heal itself like skin can. 

Nails take a month to grow 3-4 mm.  If you took 2 sticks of dry spaghetti and stacked them they would be around 4mm wide.

If your nail has fallen off completely it'll take 6 months for it to fully grow back.

How to fix a broken nail without glue.

If you don't happen to have crazy glue or nail glue around there are 2 other ways you can fix the nail.

1. Instead of sticking the tea bag with glue, use regular clear nailpolish. It won't be as strong as the glue, but it will do a good job of making the tea bag stick.
2. If you're just looking to make your nail last a few days you can also stick a fake nail on top of it.

TIP: This above technique with nail polish will work even better if you use gel polish and cure it under a UV light.

Your mended nail will last and look good for weeks!  Unless you're a peasant and partake in things like cleaning up chicken coops.

If, in addition to chicken coop cleaning, you also partake in gardening, building, mixed martial arts, dish washing, and general real life stuff, your nails will probably look a little more like this after the weekend.

(if this look offends you you really should look into a home kit UV lamp and gel polish.)

Notice however, how the mended pinkie nail is still in (relatively) perfect condition.   In my opinion, by and large, these hands are still perfectly acceptable for a night out with royalty.  Provided the royals are drunk.

And blind. 

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