How to Fix Your Smudged Nail Polish Without Starting Over

Make It an Accent Nail

Don’t let one little chip or nick get you down. Make that one nail an accent nail by either covering it with a complementing nail polish color or creating a little fun design. We recommend trying small polka dots or a single stripe.

Dab It in Nail Polish Remover

Fix any smudges using a very light hand and nail polish remover. Use a paper towel, cotton swab or the opposite finger, dip it in nail polish remover and then gently smooth out any smudges by gently tapping it out. This will allow the nail polish to spread out and smooth over the area. 

Only Paint Over the Chip 

If you don’t trust yourself to apply an entirely new coat over your mistakes, try only filling in the missing gaps with the same nail polish. An opaque polish that only requires one coat to seamlessly blend in, like the Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish, is ideal for this hack. Doing this will make sure your manicure remains smooth and clean as opposed to bumpy or thick because you’ve applied one too many layers. 

Make It a French Manicure

If accent nails aren’t your thing and you prefer your manicure to look uniform, make it into a French manicure. The best part is that you can make the line as thick as you want to cover any chips that are either on the tips or a little towards the center.