This Is the Easiest Way to Fix a Broken Nail at Home
Chanel's nail artist shares her tips to save your manicure.
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It seems like on TV shows, women crying over a broken nail is a played-out trope. But news flash, people! A broken nail really, really hurts. Not to mention, if you get your manicure professionally done, a broken nail can hurt your wallet as well. Here’s the good news: You can fix it—and Betina Goldstein, celebrity nail artist and Chanel collaborator is here to help.
What causes a broken nail?
“A nail could break for many reasons,” Goldstein tells ELLE.com. “Dehydration, vitamin deficiency, trauma caused by improper gel or artificial nail removal, and genetics can all play a role.” But not all hope is lost—“there are multiple solutions for a broken nail,” she adds.
How do you prevent a broken nail?
First, you need to identify the root cause. Chronic broken nails may be the sign of a vitamin deficiency, so check with a doctor. “Proper gel, acrylic, or artificial nail removal is a big factor and one of the most common reasons I see for weakened nails,” Goldstein says. “If you are going to get gel or acrylic, I recommend going to a place that properly removes them, or removing them properly yourself, instead of picking the gel off.” Beyond that, a healthy hand and nail routine (like hers, below) will encourage stronger, healthier nails.
Ahead, Goldstein walks you through how to fix a break step-by-step, so you’ll come out the other side of it with stronger, healthier nails.
These nail-shaped stickers made of super-thin silk will also work to patch a tear. “You bind it to the nail with nail glue, buff the top layer until smooth, and then I like to apply a thin layer of gel overlay to secure it,” Goldstein says. “Reapply until you’re able to cut your nail at the breakage.”
“If the tear is in the middle of your nail bed, I recommend only using sheer polish on top,” Goldstein says. “This way, you can monitor the condition of the nail, and make sure no water steeped through the break, which can cause ‘greenies,’ a.k.a. bacteria that can result in nail fungus.”
Make Sure to Hydrate
“Hydration is also key to fighting future breaks. When nails are dry, they get brittle and break faster. Therefore, it is important to always hydrate your cuticles, nails, and hands. I have a routine I do to help keep my hands and nails hydrated. I start with a good exfoliator or scrub. My favorite is the Osea Salts of the Earth scrub. I apply it to dry hands and scrub my knuckles, all the skin surrounding my nails, and any other dry spots then wash and dry. I follow by a mixture of 100 percent vitamin E oil and my favorite hand cream, the Chanel La Crème Main Nourish-Soften-Brighten.”
Not all Vitamin E oil is created equal. “There are a lot of synthetic versions of Vitamin E oil or, more often than not, it’s a mixture of Vitamin E oil with other oils. My go-to is Rejuvenaturals. I buy it on Amazon and it works wonders for all dry skin. I apply this religiously every night before I go to bed, and any time my hands are dry.”
Meet the Expert
Betina Goldstein is a celebrity nail artist who works with Zoë Kravitz, Camila Marrone, and Margot Robbie, among others. She also invented the Skittles mani and has her own artist-focused jewelry line, Doublemoss Jewelry.
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