The clever nail hack that will save your overgrown gel mani

If like me, you’re a regular monthly customer at your local nail salon, the latest COVID-19 restrictions shutting down all beauticians across Australia may have you a little concerned for the future of your nail beds. A first-world problem, I know.

For those of us who stick to Shellac or polish, keeping up with the maintenance of a manicure is a much simpler task. But for us gel girls who didn’t manage to squeeze in a final appointment, these next few months might be a little tricky. Thankfully, we’ve discovered a self-isolation-friendly nail hack that might just make dealing with our grown-out mani a bit easier.

Olivia Smalley, a hairstylist from South Florida also seems to be having the same issue and took to her Instagram feed to share her simple solution – all you need is glitter. Beginning by simply tidying up the shape of her nails with a nail file, Smalley then covered up the unpolished area above her cuticles with a layer of chunky gold glitter.

If glitter isn’t exactly your vibe, you can get creative and fill the space with any other colour or pattern. Try out the trending reverse French manicure, placing the ‘white tip’ at the bottom of your nails rather than the top, or go in with a dotting tool for a dotted half-moon look. The possibilities are endless!

Looking for more nail inspo? Try out these 10 adorable DIY nail ideas to try while you're self-isolating!

Main image credit: @tombachik