How to Fill Nails

Co-authored by Mia Rubie and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: April 19, 2024

If your nails are growing out but you don't want to go to the salon for a while, fill your nails at home! Purchase a nail fill kit from the beauty supply store or pick up the tools you need to fill your own acrylic or gel nails. Remove the top layer of acrylic paint or gel before you buff or file the nails. Once the surface of your nails is clean, fill the gap with acrylic mixture or gel primer. Let the nail dry before you apply your nail polish.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Nails

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1
Fill your nails every 2 to 3 weeks. Because the natural nails underneath your acrylic nails will continue to grow, a gap between your cuticle and acrylic nail will begin to show within 2 or 3 weeks.
- You'll need to fill your nails more frequently if they grow out faster.
2
Use nail polish remover to remove the old paint. Dip a cotton ball in non-acetone nail polish remover. Press the soaked cotton ball directly on your nails. Rub the cotton ball over each nail until the old nail polish is removed.
- Avoid using acetone-based nail polish removers, which could damage the acrylics.
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3
Wash and dry your nails. Wash your nails with soap and water to remove any traces of the nail polish remover. Use a dry cotton ball or soft towel to completely dry the nails.
- Cleaning the nails can help prevent infection.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Filling Acrylic Nails

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Rub a buffer over the bumpy end of the acrylic where it meets your natural nail. Continue to buff the nail until the top layer of your nail is smooth. Ensure that you only smooth the acrylic and not your natural nail.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist

Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}

Sharmadean Reid, Entrepreneur and Nail Artist

The key to a good nail fill is to start with a clean, dry nail. Use a nail file to gently buff the surface of the nail, then wipe it with a lint-free cloth. Apply a thin coat of base coat, then two coats of nail polish. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next one. To finish, apply a top coat to seal in the polish and protect your nails.
2
Apply 1 to 3 coats of nail primer. Dip a brush into your nail primer and spread 1 drop over the natural part of your nail. Let the primer dry completely before adding 1 to 2 more coats, if desired. The primer will protect your nail and make the polish go on more smoothly.
- Avoid getting nail primer on your finger or cuticles because it can burn or irritate the skin.
Place acrylic liquid in 1 small dish and acrylic powder in another. Dip an acrylic nail brush into the liquid and dab it into the acrylic powder. Repeat this 4 to 5 times, so a bead of acrylic mixture forms on the end of the brush. You can use this mixture to fill your nails.
4
Spread the acrylic mixture on the natural part of your nails. Dip an acrylic nail brush into the mixture, so 1 drop is on the end of the brush. Dab the drop of acrylic mixture in the middle of your natural nail and use the brush to tap it evenly across your natural nail. Use the sides of the brush to fill in the corners and near the cuticle. Pull the excess acrylic mixture down the nail so it smoothly covers the existing acrylic nail.^{[2]
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Research source}
- If you apply too much acrylic mixture, it will be difficult to spread evenly. Use the cotton swab with nail polish remover to wipe away the acrylic fill mixture and try again.
It can take for 5 to 20 minutes for your nails to dry completely. Avoid smudging your nails while they're drying.
Use a nail file or nail buffer to smooth and shape the ends of your nails. If you like, you can also buff the surface of your nails so they're smooth.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist

Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}
Spread a base coat on the acrylic nails and let it dry completely before you apply the nail polish. This could take 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of polish you use. For a brighter color or stronger nail, you can paint another 1 to 2 coats. Once the colored coats have dried, brush on a top coat to protect your nails.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Filling Gel Nails

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To prevent layers of gel from building up, use a 180-grit file to smooth out the top layer of gel. Try to remove just the top layer of gel. Repeat this for each nail.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist

Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}
2
Buff the gel nail where it meets the natural nail. Take a superfine file or fine-grit buffer and brush it over the bumpy line where the gel nail meets your natural nail. Keep buffing until there's no bump and the nail is smooth.
- You shouldn't see any shine on the nails once you've finished buffing.
Wipe the rubbing alcohol over each nail to get rid of any dust. Cleaning the nail will prepare it for the new coat of gel paint.
Dip your brush in the gel primer and dab a drop-sized amount in the center of the natural nail near the cuticle. Tap the primer evenly around the rest of the natural nail and then pull the brush down across the gel nail.
Place your nails under a UV light for 1 minute to cure the primer. Since a UV light is the only way to truly cure the gel polish, you'll need to simply let the nails dry if you don't have the light. Let the nails dry for 25 to 30 minutes before applying another coat.
6
Apply 1 to 3 coats of gel nail polish. Dab a little gel nail polish in the center of your nail towards the cuticle. Use the brush to coat the entire nail so a thin layer of polish covers the nail.
- If you notice a sticky or tacky surface, dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and brush it over the nails to remove the sticky texture.
If you like, you can finish with a top coat to protect the gel nails.

Community Q&A

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Question

When should I get my nails filled?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you already have your nails filled, you should get them refilled every 2-3 weeks. Your natural nails underneath will form a gap between your cuticle and the acrylic nail after about 2 or 3 weeks of growth. Depending on how fast your natural nails grow, you'll want to get them filled so the nail beneath isn't visible.

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Question

What does it mean to get a fill on your nails?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you have acrylic nails, eventually they'll grow out with your natural fingernails. Getting a fill on your nails refers to having the gap between the acrylic nail and your own cuticle filled in so it isn't visible. The acrylic edge connected to your nail is filed down and the empty space is filled in with an acrylic mixture.

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Question

What do they do to fill in acrylic nails?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

To fill in acrylic nails, the edge where the acrylic nail connects to the natural nail beneath it is filed down so it's smooth. Then, an acrylic mixture is applied to the gap to close it in. When the solution dries, there isn't a visible gap between the acrylic nail and your natural nail.

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