How to Make Nail Glue

Reviewed by Barbie Ritzman

Last Updated: December 11, 2024

VIDEO

You don't need to buy expensive, commercial nail glue because making your own is quick and easy! All you need are a few basic supplies that you can find around your home. Mix together PVA glue and clear nail polish using a cotton swab stick. Then apply the nail glue to either attach an artificial nail or to hold together a broken nail. Let the glue dry thoroughly for 10 minutes and then you can enjoy your DIY beauty hack!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Combining the Ingredients

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1
Cut the end off a cotton swab stick. Get a cotton swab stick and a pair of sharp scissors. Position the scissors just above 1 end of the cotton swab stick, around where the cotton area begins. Cut the end off and discard it, but make sure to keep the rest of the cotton swab stick.
- This becomes a stirrer that you use to mix together the nail glue ingredients.
2
Place 1 cup of PVA glue into a bowl. Get an old bowl and a kitchen measuring cup. Measure out the PVA glue into the measuring cup and pour it directly into the bowl. Make sure to scrape the sides of the measuring cup so that you use up all of the glue.
- You can choose either white or clear glue, as the color doesn't affect how the glue works.
- Selecting the right PVA glue: Opt for a high-quality, non-toxic PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue, commonly known as white school glue. This ensures safety and effectiveness when applied to nails.
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3
Add ¹⁄₄ fl oz (7.4 ml) of clear nail polish to the bowl. Get a kitchen measuring spoon. Remove the cap on the bottle and pour the clear nail polish into the measuring spoon. Then add the clear nail polish into the bowl with the PVA glue.
- ¹⁄₄ fl oz (7.4 ml) of clear nail polish is approximately half of a standard size bottle.
4
Mix together the ingredients for 2-3 minutes using the cotton swab. Position the cotton swab stick so that the wooden end is in the bowl with the ingredients. Mix the PVA glue and the clear nail polish thoroughly until they are well combined. You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl with the cotton swab stick to ensure that all of the ingredients are mixed in properly.
- Hold the cotton swab stick by the end with the cotton.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Nail Glue

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1
Apply the nail glue to your whole nail if you are adding an artificial nail. Dip the wooden end where you cut off the cotton into your homemade nail glue to get a small dollop of glue on the stick. Start at your nail cuticle and gently wipe the nail glue over your nail towards the free edge. Use even strokes to apply the glue thoroughly over your whole nail.
- Avoid using the other end of the cotton swab stick as you may get small pieces of cotton stuck to your nail.
2
Press the artificial nail into the glue for 10 seconds. Position the artificial nail over your real nail and make sure it aligns properly with your nail. Press down on the nail firmly for 10 seconds to help it stick to the glue. Try not to move your hand while you're holding the artificial nail in place, as this could cause it to slip.
- This ensures that the artificial nail sets in the right spot.
3
Paint the nail glue directly over a split to repair a split nail. If you want to hold together a split or broken nail, then you don't need to apply the nail glue to your whole nail. Simply dip the wooden end of the cotton swab stick into the nail glue mixture and then apply a thin coating over the broken part of your nail.
- The nail glue won't heal the broken nail, but it will help to hold it together and to prevent it from breaking further.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Drying, Storing, and Removing the Glue

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1
Let the nail glue dry for 10 minutes. Regardless of if you used your homemade nail glue to apply an artificial nail or to fix a broken nail, the glue won't take long to dry properly at all! Rest your hand that has the glue on it on a flat surface. Try not to move your hand while the glue is drying to prevent the artificial nail from moving out of place or to damage the repair.
- If you used the glue to stick on an artificial nail, press on it gently when you think the glue is dry to check that the nail has set properly.
2
Store leftover nail glue in a clean nail polish bottle to use at a later stage. If you are left with excess homemade nail glue, it doesn't have to go to waste! Take a brand new, empty nail polish bottle and pour the homemade nail glue inside. Then screw the nail polish brush on tightly to secure the bottle and to ensure that the nail glue doesn't dry out.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, you can clean out an old nail polish bottle by soaking it in nail polish remover and then rinsing the bottle out with water thoroughly. Let the nail polish bottle dry completely before you pour the nail glue inside. Make sure to clean the brush too!
3
Soak your nails in nail polish remover for 45 minutes to remove the glue. It's easy to remove your artificial nails or even just the glue alone! Pour nail polish remover into a bowl and hold your fingers in the bowl. Once the artificial nails have come off and the glue has dissolved, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Make sure that the nail polish remover contains acetone, as this is necessary to dissolve the glue.

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Question

Will this damage my nails?

Community Answer

Definitely be careful with homemade nail glue. It may not be as sturdy as store-bought glue, and if you have easily cracked or brittle nails, I would recommend applying a nail strengthener before applying glue and acrylic nails.

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What do I do if I don't have clear nail polish?

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If you will be covering the nail glue with an acrylic nail, then it works just as well to use a colored nail polish of the same consistency that dries as hard as a clear polish would.

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How many days will the nail glue last?

Community Answer

The nail glue will last about two weeks.

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Tips

Use tape around the nail while applying the glue. This will keep it off of your skin.

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If you are concerned that the nail glue is drying in the bowl while you're working, stir it every few minutes with the cotton swab stick.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

I always like to "test" the glue. To do this, I usually place the nail or nail tip underwater for a couple of seconds after the glue has dried to see how strong the hold is.
If you want your press-on nails to last longer, wear gloves when washing dishes or touching liquid.

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