How To Repair A Nail

My nails have moments of growing and looking lovely, all longish and even, then one by one they'll break (usually from cleaning and gardening).  I've noticed breakage usually happens as the menstrual cycle approaches as well. Does this happen to you? And breakage begins on my dominant hand first then the other hand until all but one or two long nails remain. Admittedly I am very rough and tough on my nails (gardening, exercise, cleaning).

When they break it is mostly likely at the base of the nail edge, near the nail bed. A painful break if the nail peels back. Ouch!

To repair a nail you will need:

• A tea bag
• A quality nail file
• A quality nail glue
• Scissors
• Wooden cuticle stick or toothpicks
• Tweezers

To begin remove any nail polish. Empty the tea bag contents into a bowl, you can drink these leaves later or make a cup of tea and drink while you repair your nail. Cut a small piece of fabric from the tea bag, around 2-3mm square or rectangle. You don't need much and can cut several small pieces in case you think you will require more (it's always good to have a few small pieces ready to go).

Applying in small batches works best because tea bags aren't very flexible and tend not to curve around the nail, but set firm and straight.  Large pieces do NOT stick to the nail well so stick to small pieces.

If you already have a previous nail repair file this down gently first with a white block file.

Apply a tiny dab of glue to the broken area, then using tweezers pick up the small piece of tea bag paper and place over the glue.  Blow for a few seconds and use the toothpicks, wooden cuticle or tweezers to press the paper in place along the edges.  Press down and hold for a second or two then release, continuing to do so until the glue is dry and the paper is set in place.  Don't hold too long or the glue will stick to the items used to hold the paper down.

File down lightly with a white block file then apply cuticle oil and varnish.

step 1: nail break

step 2: smooth area with soft file

step 3: apply glue

step 4: prepared bits of tea bag cut into small millimeter pieces

step 5: apply small piece of tea bag to glued area

step 6: allow glue to dry

step 7: buff area to smooth

step 8: polish area with a polishing buffer