What's more frustrating than paying x amount (read: a lot of money) on a swanky new manicure for one to break not even 24 hours later... Major first-world problems, I know, but way to ruin a day, huh? Spoiler: the answer is nothing, nothing is more frustrating than the above! But fear not, for do we have a genius nail hack that'll fix that split in no time. Oh, and all it takes is a tea bag...
Yep, you read that right, the household item that is, a tea bag. Now, if you don't own a jar of tea bags then there's something clearly wrong – it not only makes for a hearty gesture (as the GC once said: "It's like saying, can I give you a grand?"), but it also doubles as a beauty survival kit.
Now, if you have no idea how said hack could work, then allow me to fill you in. Celebrity nail artist, Betina R. Goldstein, whose clientele includes Lily James, Margot Robbie and Julia Garner, took to Instagram just yesterday to share a step-by-step video demonstration. Watch the short tutorial below:
Alas, if following along with a rapid fire video isn't really your vibe (the professionals and I always seem to underestimate my abilities), Betina also wrote out a guide in the caption of her vid:
- Gently buff the split so it’s flush with your nail and no sharp edges are sticking out.
- Cut a small piece of tea bag big enough to cover the area around the split.
- Apply nail glue to nail, putting a bit extra on the split.
- Apply the piece of tea bag (tweezers are recommended).
- Saturate the piece with more nail glue, using a tool to set in place making sure the split is completely covered. I like to wrap it around the split.
- Let the nail glue completely dry. It should be hard to the touch. Do not start buffing if it is still wet.
- Gently buff over the glue, smoothing out the roughness and the edges, so it blends with your nail bed. Do not over buff over the split.
- Dust and apply base coat, nail hardener or coat of polish (or all of the above). I like to use a coat of gel no wipe top coat to ensure it stays in place.
And there we have it! To finish, Betina recommends repeating "until your nail grows out the split to desired length and you can safely cut the affected area".
Catch me in the work kitchen this afternoon using the Earl Grey tea bags in, I'm sure, the way our company very much intended their use. Just don't tell my boss, OK?
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
