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Stocksy

Grabbing your keys, adding to your grocery list, replying to that time-sensitive text.

Those all sound like innocuous day-to-day activities…unless you’ve justpainted your nails.

Two hands, one holding the brush from a nail polish bottle and the bottle and cotton rounds are to the side

Stocksy

Of course, life happens, and sometimes it happens to your nail polish.

Sometimes you’re better off starting over from scratch.

If you’ve already fixed a chip once, it’s best not to go in for another round.

Close up of a chipped nail with pink polish

Dee Mills / Byrdie

Rudman advises just redoing your whole set whenever possible.

(As an alternative, you could opt for a touch of nail polish remover.)

Belakhlef recommends Orly’sShining Armor Long Wear Top Coat.

Woman buffing the polish on chipped nail polish

“When your nail breaks, it is weak and dry.

“I suggest using nail oil or serum.

I use Chillhouse’sOn the Mendkit on my clients who need treatment.”

Woman adds nail polish to her chipped nail polish

Dee Mills / Byrdie

Then, buffer the nails.

Woman adds topcoat to her freshly re-painted nail

Dee Mills / Byrdie

A final look at the repaired nail among the other polished fingers

Dee Mills / Byrdie