As cliché (and dramatic) as it may sound, as women, breaking our nails is one of the most tragic beauty troubles we face. After trying our best to grow out long, natural nails, they suddenly become weak and brittle, occasionally cracking at various points.
And while strengthening nail polishes preach that they’ll help to repair and reinforce weakened nails, we’re not quite sure how effective they are and what type of chemicals are involved.
However, not to worry beauty lovers, as there’s an unexpected, inexpensive, and all-around awesome nail hack that will change your manicure woes forever: Tea Bag Wraps.
For years, we’ve known the benefits of tea, but now their light, paper wrapping can be equally valuable. Found in the comfort of your own kitchen, trimmed tea bag wraps are the key to strong, long nails.
By following a few easy steps below, you can strengthen and reinforce brittle nails in this creative and impressive beauty hack:
Step #1: Start with a Clean Slate
Starting off, make sure all nail polish, hand lotions, and excess oils are stripped from your nails. To ensure that nails are completely bare, you can use nail polish remover to lightly clean the surface of your nails.
Step #2: Trim the Teabag
Focusing on the size of your own nail, cut the dry tea bag into a rectangle to create the ‘wrap.’ Consider the width and length most fitting to your natural nail, as you don’t need to cover your entire nail with the teabag, only the area that’s weakened or cracked. Some recommend only covering half the nail, or just the broken area, with the tea bag wrap.
Step #3: Apply Base Coat
While some people choose to use glue, I recommend using a clear base coat as it tends to be less damaging to the nail. Plus, it can be easily removed with nail polish remover. After applying the base coat, wait for it to dry to a tacky, sticky finish, meaning that the layer has not completely dried and is still somewhat malleable.
Step #4: Use Tweezers to Apply Teabag
Now, using tweezers, place the tea bag wrap over the break or weakened part of the nail. With tweezers, you are able to precisely pinpoint where you want to apply the tea bag, and then using the flattened part of the tweezer head, smooth down the wrap to ensure all bubbles and bumps are removed for a clean finish.
Step #5: Final Touches
Once the teabags are all applied successfully and dried completely, use a buffer to smooth it all out. If you don’t have a nail buffer, a nail file will also do the trick, as the goal is to buff the tea bag wrap seamlessly onto your nail. This way, you can’t tell where the tea bag wrap has been applied and your nails have a smooth, natural finish on the surface. Once your nails have been leveled to your satisfaction, add one more thin layer of base coat polish to seal it all together.
Step #6: Add a Pop of Color
At this point, your nails look natural and fabulous. And, you can easily leave them like this, or you can take your manicure to the next level by adding a pop of color. Simply pick a color of your choice and paint as usual.
Finding inexpensive and effective beauty hacks are useful for any beauty lover. After following these few, simple steps, your nails will be left longer and stronger than ever. Plus, once your ready for a polish change, the teabag will easily come off with nail polish remover, without harsh chemicals and scrubbing.
Try these tea bag nail wraps for yourself and let us know what you think!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
