It happens to almost everyone, usually in the second week: a car door, a suitcase catch, a nail levered against something it was never meant to open. One nail goes, the other nine are fine, and the whole set suddenly looks wrong.
Most people either live with it or book a full new set. Neither is necessary. Repair is from €5 and takes 20 minutes.
What can be repaired
- A clean break at or above the free edge. The most straightforward case — the nail is rebuilt and reshaped to match the others.
- A crack running across the plate. Stabilised so it does not spread. Catching this early matters, because a crack that keeps flexing will eventually split all the way down.
- Lifting at the cuticle on one nail. The affected coating is removed, the plate cleaned and re-prepared, and the nail recoated. Important to deal with quickly — once water gets under the lift, the problem is no longer cosmetic.
- A chip in the coating. Repaired and blended into the existing colour.
What cannot, honestly
A break well below the free edge, into the nail bed, is not a repair job. If the skin underneath is exposed or bleeding, that needs to heal before anything goes on top of it, and coating over it risks trapping bacteria against a wound. I will tell you this rather than take €5 for something that will make it worse.
Similarly, if five nails are lifting rather than one, repair is not the answer — that is a preparation problem with the original set, and the correct fix is removal and a fresh application. See gel removal.
Message me a photo first. A single picture tells me immediately whether this is a twenty-minute repair, a full new set, or something that needs to heal first. It saves you a trip either way.
Colour matching
If the set was done here, the colour is on file and the repair is invisible. If it was done elsewhere, I will match as closely as the stock allows — usually very close on standard shades, less exact on unusual custom mixes. On a French or a design, the line or pattern is repainted on the repaired nail to match the rest.
Worth being realistic: on a highly individual custom shade, "very close" may not be "identical". I would rather say that upfront than have you notice it in daylight afterwards.
Prices
| Service | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One nail repairper nail, colour matched | 20 min | from €5 |
| French / Designif the nail carries a French line or design | 20 min | €5–10 |
The from €5 starting price covers a straightforward rebuild and recoat on one nail. A nail carrying a French line or a design needs that element repainted, which adds the standard €5–10 finish charge.
Preventing the next one
- Your nails are not tools. Levering, scraping and opening things accounts for the large majority of breaks I see.
- Shorter is stronger. If you break nails repeatedly, the length is fighting your daily life. Dropping a few millimetres changes the leverage significantly.
- Cuticle oil daily. A hydrated plate flexes instead of snapping. This genuinely reduces breakage rather than just being good for the skin.
- Do not leave a lift. One lifted nail at from €5 today is cheaper than a set removed early next week because water got underneath.
- Gloves for cleaning. Hot water and detergent weaken the seal, and a weakened seal is where lifting starts.
Frequently asked questions
How much is nail repair in Alicante?
From €5 for one nail, about 20 minutes. A French line or design on that nail adds the standard €5–10 finish charge.
Can you repair a nail done elsewhere?
Yes, with colour matched as closely as stock allows. Send a photo first and I will tell you what to expect.
Will the repair be visible?
Invisible if the set was done here. On an unusual custom shade from elsewhere it may be very close rather than identical — I will say so before starting.
What if the break is below the free edge?
That is not a repair job. Exposed or bleeding skin needs to heal first, because coating over it can trap bacteria against a wound.
Several nails are lifting, not one. Is that a repair?
No — that points to a preparation problem with the original set. The correct fix is removal and fresh application.
How soon can I be seen?
A 20-minute slot is easier to fit than a full appointment. Message with a photo for the soonest realistic time.
Book a nail repair in Alicante
Send a photo of the nail and I will tell you whether it is a 20-minute fix. Monday to Friday, 10:00–20:00.