Fashion

The One Thing To Do If You Break A Nail

by Lindsey Rose Black

Is there anything worse than putting on a cozy oversized sweater and accidentally snagging and breaking a nail? If you've experienced this, then you know the answer is (hell) no, which is why I'm sharing the one thing to do if you break a nail. It's weird, wacky, and 100 percent effective.

Before I dive into the one thing to do if you break a nail, keep in mind the tutorial below will only work for natural nails. If you have a gel manicure, check out how to remove a gel manicure instead or head to a salon.

Believe it or not, the one thing to do if you break a nail is reach for a tea bag! Any tea bag, really. You'll be creating a "tea bag nail wrap," which will seal up the tear in no time.

Beyond a tea bag, you'll need standard manicure supplies like cuticle scissors, a nail buffer, and clear top or b coat. Start by snipping off the edge of your tea bag and shake the tea out (or pour it into a pot and brew yourself a cup!). Next, cut a small piece of tea bag to cover a little more than the size of the tear. Follow it up by painting a coat of clear coat over the broken nail, top the tear with the tea bag piece, and let dry. Finish with one to two more coats of clear coat over the nail and tea bag. Once everything is dry, cut/buff off any overhanging tea bag paper and that's it!

If you want a visual break down of how this happens check out the vid below:

Note: The video also uses nail glue, but I've found that a good base coat works just as well.

As for my favorite products to use for tea bag wraps...

ZOYA Anchor Base Coat

Anchor Base Coat, $10, ZOYA

All of ZOYA's nail polishes are vegan, and this base coat is super sturdy without being overly sticky.

PG Tips Tea

PG Tips, $7, Amazon

OK, it totally doesn't matter what tea bag you use, I just happen to find PG Tips super delicious.

Tweezerman Eco-Friendly File

Eco-Friendly File, $4, Tweezerman

Yay for this file being completely biodegradable!

Tweezerman Stainless Steel Cuticle Scissors

Stainless Steel Cuticle Scissors, $20, Tweezerman

These stainless steel cuticle scissors last a lifetime.

Want more beauty tips? Check out the video below, and be sure to subscribe to Bustle’s YouTube page for more hacks and tricks!

Images: Courtesy Of Brands