How to Fix a Chipped Gel Nail at Home (Without Ruining It)
It happens to the best of us, darling. You’re opening a can of sparkling water, and *snap*. Your flawless two-week gel manicure now has an ugly, jagged chip on the index finger. Before you peel the whole thing off (do NOT do that!), breathe. We can fix this seamlessly.
What You'll Need
Buff the Edges Smooth
Take your 180-grit buffer and gently file the jagged edges of the chip so it sits flush against your natural nail. You want a smooth slope, not a cliff edge. Wipe away the dust with alcohol.
Apply a Patch of Base Coat
Apply a very thin layer of gel base coat *only* over the chipped area and the smoothed edge. Don't paint the whole nail yet! Cure it under your LED lamp for 30 seconds.
Color Match & Top Coat
Dab your matching color into the chipped spot, cure. Then, apply a high-gloss top coat over the *entire* nail to seal the deal and hide the seam. Cure for 60 seconds, and you are back to looking expensive.