How to glue, tape, and mend nails so they stay long and strong

Broken nails. Don’t you just hate them? They can have your long, beautiful manicure ruined in a split second. But what if we told you there was a way to fix them? Broken nails don’t have to be your manicure’s chopping block! From permanent to temporary solutions, we’ve got the best and easiest ways you can fix a broken nail just about anywhere.

Things You Should Know

  • Glue a small strip of a tea bag or nail silk wrap to your nail to seamlessly patch a break or tear.
  • Wrap a piece of clear tape around your broken nail for a quick fix when you’re out and about.
  • Use press-on nails to cover up a broken nail without sacrificing your manicure.
1

Try the tea bag method.

3

Wrap your nail in silk.

4

Strengthen your nail with dip powder.

5

Put on artificial nails.

  1. A set of press-on nails can cover tears and imperfections. If your nail falls off completely, don’t sweat it! Wipe off your nail polish and glue on artificial nails to hide that one nail is shorter than the other. This isn’t a permanent fix, but it can give you a longer manicure while you wait for your nail to grow.
    • Help your fake nails last longer by gently pushing your cuticles back after you get out of the shower before you put on the nails.[4]
    • Never cut your cuticles away, as this could cause an infection.[5]
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Tape the nail together.

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File or cut the nail down.

  1. When all else fails, trim your other nails to match the broken nail’s length. Some nails are too far gone to fix, and that’s okay! Skip the glue and shorten your overall manicure by cutting or filing your nails so they’re all uniform. No one will be able to tell if one nail is broken.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    I have a cracked toenail but no damage on the nail bed. Is it ok to apply nail gel over it until it grows out?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Use the glue only on the nail not between skin and the nail to avoid infection. Keep your nail and toe clean with daily washings with soap and water. Additionally, soak your feet in salt water, pat dry and apply petroleum jelly, cover with non-adhesive bandage for overnight to speed up nail growth. You can also take vitamin B complex to promote healthy cell growth and aid in nail repair.
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About This Article

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Medically reviewed by:
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 1,266,351 times.
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Co-authors: 18
Updated: March 13, 2023
Views: 1,266,351
Article SummaryX

If you need to quickly fix a broken nail, cut a small piece of clear tape so it’s just big enough to cover the tear. Lay the tape over the tear in the nail and press it down firmly so it adheres, then trim away any excess tape. If you have nail glue, you can create a longer-term solution by gluing down a small piece of a tea bag or coffee filter over the tear. Once the glue dries, apply a clear coat of nail polish over the entire nail, including the patch. If you need to repair a detached nail, read on!

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