The April 2012 issue of Marie Claire shared with readers the best solutions to fixing and preventing broken or chipped nails.

DAMAGE CONTROL: At the first sign of a break, Creative Nail Design pro Roxanne Valinoti advises clipping or filing to the broken point if possible. "If it is a low tear, 'patch it' with a few coats of polish, followed by a topcoat," she says. "If you don't have polish at your disposal, anchor the nail for the time being with a clear piece of Scotch Tape."

BUFF IT: If polish chips post-mani, Valinoti suggests gently buffing out the nick, then filing it with a thin coat of the same color.

STRENGTH-TRAIN: Because brittle nails tend to split more easily, applying a nourishing product, like CND's SolarOil, daily will add flexibility and prevent breakage. And to avoid future mishaps, beauty insiders swear by the company's Shellac gel manicure, which resists chipping for two weeks.