Quick Fixes for Nail Problems

Whether big or small, a broken nail is never a good thing, especially when you're about to go out for the night. The next time you have nail problems, try a few of the following quick fixes.

The easiest fix for a broken or snagged nail is to cut or file down the nail until the affected area is gone. However, sometimes that's not possible to do without exposing your nail bed, and other times it can simply ruin your entire manicure to have one of your nails much shorter than the rest. So if you want to maintain a uniform look across your nails, you should repair the tear.

With clear nail polish and a tea bag you can solve your problems. Trim a piece of the tea bag (you can also use a coffee filter if you don't keep tea in the house) sized to cover the break or crack in your nail. If you have nail glue, you can use a little on one side of the tea bag, then stick the patch on the crack. Glue isn't necessary, though; if you don't have any simply paint the entire affected nail with clean nail polish. While it's still sticky, carefully put the patch on top of the break. To cover the patch, paint a couple coats of colored nail polish over the nail.

If you tend to run into nail trouble a lot when you're out and about, start carrying a tube of nail glue and an emery board or nail file in your purse. When you spot a crack, put a spot of glue on the break, and file the area until it blends.