Manicure quick fixes

May 10, 2011 7:00 AM by Laura Williams, M.S.Ed.

Posted in Beauty & Style / Manis, Pedis & More

Fix Your
Manicure Fast

Smears, chips and broken nails are all an unfortunate side-effect of a perfect manicure. The next time you notice a minor manicure emergency just before you head out the door for a big event, don't worry -- these quick manicure fixes will put your nails right in no time.

Touching up nails

Smeared or chipped Polish

Women-on-the-go know that waiting for nail polish to dry isn't always an option. Unfortunately, polish that hasn't completely dried is susceptible to smearing. If you notice that your freshly-applied nail polish has smeared, there's no need to worry; simply follow these steps:

Dip the pad of another finger into nail polish remover
Use that finger to lightly rub the smeared polish, removing it from your skin without damaging your paint job

If the smear has affected the consistency of the polish on your nails, giving it a "rippled" affect, simply perform the following:

Dip the pad of another finger into nail polish remover
Lightly rub that finger onto the ripplied or uneven nail polish, buffing the nail color and smoothing the polish

This will also help even out the nail polish color, but if too much color is removed in this process, that's easily fixable, too:

Place a drop of same-colored nail polish onto the spot in question
Allow the polish to completely dry -- allowing several minutes for the process to complete
Dip the pad of another finger into nail polish remover
Lightly rub that finger over the spot of fresh nail polish, buffing out the edges and evening the consistency of the polish
Apply a clear top coat to seal your nail color

Perform these same steps if you've chipped the polish on an older or completely-dried manicure.

Broken nails

The steps you take to fix a broken nail will vary based on the severity of the break. For a nail with a minor chip or rough spot, use an emery board with a very fine grit to even out the tip. Make sure when you use the emery board that you don't "saw" the board back and forth across your nail, thereby only filing your nail in one direction.

For a more severe tear, you'll want to hold the nail in place temporarily with nail glue. Place a drop of glue on your nail at the point of the rip or tear, then place the torn part of your nail on top of the glue. Hold the nail in place for one to two minutes before applying a small coat of polish over the top of the tear. If you still have uneven edges around the broken nail, smooth out the edges by following the steps for fixing smeared or chipped nail polish.

Polish refresher

If your nail polish is starting to look a little dingy but you don't have time for a full manicure, all you have to do is freshen up your polish. Choose a nail color in a sheer, pearlescent shade, similar in color to your current nail lacquer. Spend 30 seconds applying a fresh coat of this pearly shade over the top of your nails. By choosing a color close to your current manicure, the polish will look smooth and even, while the pearly highlights will make your fingers look shiny and bright.