From Flawed to Flawless: Repairing Broken Nails Like a Pro
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Author : RHJC-David
Update time : 2024-01-29 17:13:29
Having beautiful, long nails can make you feel put together and confident. But when disaster strikes in the form of a broken nail, it can quickly unravel that feeling. Whether it’s an annoying split or a tragic nail detaching entirely, broken nails happen to the best of us. As a nail technician, you know that cracks and chips are no match for your repair skills. And clients prone to breaks can also learn professional techniques to fix their nails at home. From proper preparation to expert bonding methods, this comprehensive guide will transform flawed nails into flawless ones.
Identifying Common Broken Nail Types
The first step is understanding the different types of broken nails and their causes. Knowing what you’re dealing with allows you to select the best repair strategy. Here are three main categories:
Splits and Cracks
Fine cracks [nail drill] and larger splits [repair] are caused by dehydration and damage from gels. They appear as lines across the nail and can run vertically or horizontally. Repairing [broken nails] these issues involves nourishing treatments.
Chips and Breaks
Partial or full breaks result from trauma and catching on objects. The nail detaches partially or fully, leaving a missing section. Solutions include gluing [tips], patches, and filing. According to experts, brittleness causes nails to peel, split, and break more easily. Factors like over-washing, medical conditions, and aging can contribute.
Lifting Gel Manicures
When gel is improperly applied or cured, it can raise the edge of the nail plate. This appears as an opaque, whitened nail bed with lifted corners. Fix by gently removing the gel, performing repairs, and applying a new manicure.
Prepping Nails for Successful Repairs
Before beginning repairs, nails must be prepared to optimize bonding and sculpture. Here are three key steps:
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Remove any oil, dirt, or debris left on the nails. Then disinfect properly with solutions like Salon Care’s Prep Spray or CND’s ScrubFresh. This prevents infection while clearing the way for repairs.
Filing and Shaping
Use professional nail files and buffers to smooth uneven edges and give proper shape. Create a uniform free edge, evenly tapered sidewalls, and thin edges for seamless repairs. Cuticle oil keeps nails flexible and less likely to break. For fixes, push-back cuticles allow products to penetrate the nail sufficiently.
Cuticle Care
Conditioning oil softens and nourishes the nail bed for a healthy foundation. Gently push back overgrown cuticles as well. This allows repair products to be readily absorbed for maximum bonds and adhesion.
Mastering Bonding and Sculpting Methods
With prepped nails, select bonding and sculpting methods to repair breaks flawlessly. Use glue, press-on, and overlays to fix cracks or replace fully detached nails.
Applying Nail Glue
For minor cracks, implement glue such as Nail Bliss Brush-On. Apply two brushed coats, allowing each to dry thoroughly. Then buff gently to smooth and polish as usual. The bond remains intact for up to two weeks.
Filling Gaps
For larger splits, fill the space with materials like tea bag strips, silk nail wraps, or patching powder. Apply nail glue, adhere the material, smooth with extra glue layers, and polish once dry. Tea bags provide undetectable repairs as they grow out with natural nails.
Press-On Nail Coverage
When nails fully break or detach, press-ons act as great temporary replacements. Apply glue-on sets until the natural nail regrows, keeping uniformity and protection. Expert tips like gently pushing back cuticles can help press-ons last even longer.
Building New Nail Extensions
For permanent repairs, rebuild the nail with acrylics, gel overlays, or dip powders. These provide durable extensions that blend seamlessly with natural nails. The expert application creates beautiful, long-lasting enhancements. Save broken nail pieces to use as templates for perfectly matched extensions. File the fragment to fit the free edge and replicate the shape.
Utilizing Your Nail Drill for Repairs
Electric nail drills aren’t just for enhancements. The right bits and techniques allow for fixing cracks and sculpting flawless repairs. Here are three applications:
Shaping and Customizing
Apply shaping and customizing drill bits post-repair to refine length, uniformly smooth surfaces, and remove excess material. Gradually step down grits to achieve your desired finish.
Cleaning Under Lifted Gel
If gel begins lifting from the natural nail, specialized cleaning bits help gently remove the product to expose fresh nails for re-prepping and reapplication.
Seamlessly Blending Artificial & Natural Nail
Low-speed smoothing and buffing bits help flawlessly blend repaired nails by removing visible seams and evenly adjusting thickness. This creates beautiful, undetectable enhancements. “Take the edge off raised or mismatched artificial nails by gently smoothing them with finishing bits,” says manicurist Kudo Emi. “Smooth application helps the new nail seamlessly become one with the natural nail.”
Achieving Beautiful, Natural-Looking Results
What good are repairs if they visibly appear as fixes? Use these techniques at the end for natural-looking nails:
Color-Matching Gel Polish
Test gel polish colors against the natural nails to find an exact shade match. Apply two coats to camouflage repairs and cracks for an even, uniform look.
Sculpting a Realistic Cuticle Line
Use a small liner brush dipped in clear gel polish to define the cuticle area. Gently pull downward to create a tapered sidewall that avoiding leaving visible seams between natural and repaired nails.
Creating a Healthy Shine
Gently buff away dull spots on repaired nails before applying a nourishing gel top coat like Gel Couture’s Formula 2-in-1. The vitamins and calcium promote nail health while the slick shine disguises fixes.
Before & After Transformations
Seeing success stories provides inspiration and ideas for future repairs. Here are two client examples with tips from their manicurists:
Susan - Crack Repair
"Susan was growing out a beautiful set of stiletto nails when she caught one deep in a car door. The sharp point cracked down past the free edge. Using glue alone gave her only days of wear before re-cracking. But implementing silk wraps and tea bag patches kept the cracks seamlessly repaired for weeks as her nail continued to grow out strong and resilient.” - Mary T., Nail Technician Expert Tip: Alternate repair methods like wraps and patches for long-lasting crack fixes.
Jenny - Broken Nail Replacement
"When a heavy shampoo bottle dropped directly on Jenny’s big toenail, the trauma caused the entire nail to detach from the bed and hang painfully loose. After safely removing the nail, we cleaned and prepped the nail bed. Then a custom-fit gel tip overlay was expertly sculpted using the broken nail as a size template. Now you’d never know anything happened at all!” - Paula G., Pedicurist
Expert Tip: Save broken nail pieces to replicate size and shape for flawless-looking replacements. So next time you or a client experience the dreaded broken nail, don’t fret! With the right preparation, bonding techniques, specialist drill tools, and expert tips, you can transform any nail flaw into a beautiful, long-lasting, natural masterpiece. Just follow these proven repair methods to go from flawed to flawless!
