Most girls prefer to have long nails. It takes several weeks to grow them. However, the structure of the nail plate is such that they often crack and break. There is a way that allows you to hide the crack that appears; it involves using silk. To do this, you need to know how to use silk to repair nails.
Broken nails
The appearance of cracks is caused by the abuse of shellac and extension procedures, as well as poor nutrition. Weak plates begin to break, and this ruins the manicure. Sometimes the nail cracks closer to the base or in the middle, which is accompanied by discomfort, and pain appears when touched. There is no need to cut it off; it is best to seal the affected area. Here you can use adhesive-based silk to repair nails. It will help temporarily strengthen or repair the surface. The silk that covers the nail plate creates a protective layer that prevents it from deteriorating further.
You may be interested in: Gel polish “Formula Pro”: reviews, varieties, nuances
The work will take very little time, and the result will last about 7 days. This is done until the nail can be cut without pain. Silk is used to make it easier to grow nails. To strengthen them, cut off a piece of fabric that follows the shape of the nail plate. If you perform this procedure every month, or maybe twice, then even brittle and crumbling nails will grow healthy and strong.
You may be interested in: Glitter varnishes: what are they, advantages, ideas and how to apply
How to use
Of course, any manicurist can quickly fix the problem of a cracked nail using silk. But there is not always time and opportunity to get to the salon. The repair procedure is elementary in its simplicity, so it is very easy to learn how to do it yourself. This is especially beneficial for those who have weak and brittle nails. In addition, the material purchased once will last for a long time. For emergencies, it is better to always be prepared and have everything you need at hand:
- special silk on an adhesive basis (in a roll);
- glue with bio-composition;
- anti-adhesive composition;
- manicure scissors;
- buff and files (120 and 220 grit);
- disinfectant
It is more convenient to purchase all this in one set, rather than buying separately. Once you have the necessary tools, you can repair the crack yourself at home. But you need to figure out how to act in order to properly and permanently seal the damage.
The process is carried out in the following sequence:
- treating a broken nail with a disinfectant and degreaser;
- giving a piece of silk the shape of a nail;
- applying glue to the crack and placing a piece of fabric on it using a pusher;
- After the adhesive base has dried, the excess layer of glue is removed by filing away all the resulting irregularities.
After such strengthening, the nail will remain intact in appearance for up to 4–7 days. Of course, if you are careful when handling it in everyday life.
For greater strength, it is worth gluing another silk strip across the one that was applied first. After drying, the nail with patches is polished with a file until smooth and a layer of fixing varnish is applied on top. To make the nail last as long as possible, it is best to glue the entire plate with silk. Additional coating with varnish, glitter or stickers can perfectly camouflage a silk patch.
If extended nails or chips on a natural nail plate are being repaired, the silk is additionally strengthened with gel polish or acrylic. You should not restore a nail with silk if there is damage to the skin or if there is a bleeding wound. This may cause harm to the injured surface. It is better to immediately seek help from a specialist.
Material characteristics
Before you learn how to use silk to repair nails, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with its characteristics. This material is a natural fabric woven from soft threads. They, in turn, are made from silkworm cocoon fibers: 75% fibroin and 25% sericin. Although this fabric is soft and thin, it is very durable. It is considered the most suitable for nail repair. Silk in manicure is used if:
- cracks on the free edge or on the nail covering the nail bed;
- chipped nail extensions;
- a broken piece of the free edge of a natural nail.
They strengthen thin and brittle plates. It is also used as a material for extensions. Runail silk for nail repair has an adhesive base. When applying, you should detach it from the base and secure it to the nail plate. Can be used with:
- gel polish;
- gel;
- acrylic.
This material acts as an elastic spacer between the plate and the glue. When a crack is sealed only with glue, a crack will soon appear on the nail again. Although glue is a hard material, it is characterized by brittleness. Silk does not have this quality.
Extensions using silk fabric
Silk is not suitable as the main material in this process due to its softness. But it will serve as an excellent substrate for gel or tips and will help speed up the extension.
- First, you need to process the plate with a file and degrease it;
- Glue on a strip of silk. Once dry, stick the tip to the end of the free edge of the fabric;
- At the last stage, the surface is sanded and the joint is treated with gel or acrylic.
The process of strengthening or building up can be easily done at home, without going to studios or salons.
Repair technology
Now you need to learn how to use silk to repair nails. First you need to prepare the broken area of the plate. To do this, use a nail file to make several light movements, starting from the cuticle, and move towards the free edge. Thus, the edges of the fracture are trimmed, and the surface gets rid of shine. After this, degrease with nail polish remover. Then cut off the required amount of fabric to cover the crack. Treat the broken area with glue and attach the cut piece of material. In order for it to lie flat on the nail plate, you need to use an orange stick. After the glue has dried, the excess must be removed. For this procedure, a nail file is used to process the resulting bulge. After treatment, the surface will become smooth. Then you need to cover all your nails with a textured varnish with tiny sandy or shiny particles. This will help hide the unevenness, and the fabric and glue will adhere more firmly to the crack. This place can be hidden with rhinestones or other decorative elements.
It must be borne in mind that you should not repair a nail with silk if the skin is damaged or there is bleeding from the wound.
Pros of silk coverings
Firstly, the health benefits of a silk coating on your nails. If the plates are fragile or weak, strengthening the nails with silk can give them strength and some length without causing any harm.
Unlike gel overlays, which cause damage both when applied and removed, silk overlays actually feel more vibrant and look better than other types.
Removing silk patches is also quite easy and does not damage the plate. Instead of tearing off the overlay, the impregnation of the silk piece can be dissolved in water and then removed.
Secondly, the visual effects of silk coatings are beautiful and varied, just like other manicure options. You can leave a thin layer of silk exposed using a clear coat for a natural look. You can cover the silk with your favorite shade. Design versions are shown in the photo of silk for nails.
Benefits of silk
This material has a lot of advantages. They can be used to repair nails because they:
- lasting;
- perfectly adapts to the shape of the nail plate;
- has a minimum thickness at which traces of repair are not visible.
An additional advantage of silk is that it is visually invisible because it blends with the natural shade of the nail plates. Silk can be purchased separately, or it is also sold in a special set.
What can replace silk
If there is no way to purchase this material, you can try strengthening the nail with flax or fiberglass. The latter is a durable artificial fabric with moisture-resistant qualities. Available in small skeins with an adhesive base.
It is convenient to temporarily restore the plate with liquid silk. This special product contains microfiber fibers, which form a durable polymer coating that protects the nail from further destruction. The kit intended for repairing the plate contains powder, which is applied directly to the glue. It gives strength while maintaining elasticity.
Sometimes it happens that the material suddenly runs out, then the question arises of how to replace silk for nail repair. An ordinary medical fabric plaster can come to the rescue, but not a rubberized one; the nail must breathe. Tea bag paper is also suitable for these purposes. The principle of repair with all these materials is similar to silk.
Reviews of manicure silk
Before you learn how to use silk to repair nails, it is advisable to read what those who have already used this material say. You can purchase this product online or in cosmetic departments of stores. Repairing nails with silk under gel polish can be done on both natural and artificial plates. In the case of artificial nails, the cracked one should be sealed with silk, and on the rest, just update the design. Silk for nail repair, reviews of which are mostly positive, is a temporary aid for brittle plates. This great thing will help maintain length and save your nails from painful cutting. It is, of course, recommended to visit a cosmetologist who knows all the nuances and features of the manipulation. If necessary, he will tell you all the details of the procedure and tell you how to preserve your nail.
It is necessary to remember that you must take care of your hands, this largely applies to your nails. If even taking vitamins does not help keep them healthy, you should resort to special creams and baths that are aimed at strengthening the nail plate.
Source
Where to buy and how much it costs
You can purchase silk fabric for repairs at any specialized manicure store or on the Internet. The cost depends on the form of release - in strips or rolls, as well as on the length. On average, one set costs 100 rubles. At the same time, other tools can be sold either separately or together with silk fabric.
Repairing nails with silk is a quick and easy way to independently eliminate the “breakage” of your favorite claws. The procedure can be carried out at home without having any serious skills in the art of manicure.
