# How do you treat a split nail?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 2, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601 "2008-08-02T14:38:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/1 "2008-08-02T14:38:43Z")

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Mr. K has horrible fingernails. They’re ridgey and icky-looking. Anyhoo, he banged it on something and split it about 1/2 way down vertically.

I looked around a little on line and because there’s apparently no damage to the nailbed there wasn’t much info regarding treatment.

So…neosporin and a band-aid until it grows out? will it actually grow out as a whole nail or will it keep growing with a split in it? Should he get on an antibiotic?

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/2 "2008-08-02T14:57:12Z")

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My nails are ridgedy as well, years of a nervous tic of picking my cuticles on my thumbs…Anyhow - neosporin and a bandaid as long as he can stand it. I usually last a day or two then say Aw F\*ck-it and let it simply grow out. I also clip the nail very short so as not to catch it on anything and tear it any further. It won’t continue to grow with a split…and no need or antibiotic IMHO.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/3 "2008-08-02T15:07:17Z")

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I was a machinist for 15 years, and I’ve had more than a few injuries to my hands and nails. Nail injuries are a nuisance, because every time you reach into your pocket for something the damn thing wants to snag and peel back. I’ve had good luck using something like liquid Bandaid. It can be used to glue the nail into place. I have one nail that was split all the way to the root that still has a seam in it, but most healed without showing any signs of injury.

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**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/4 "2008-08-02T16:36:11Z")

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My thumnail began growing split from the root as a side effect of Accutane. It continued to grow until the split reached the fingertip. My dermatologist said it would never grow as one nail again, but thankfully after a couple of years, it did.

You must clip it very short and use, as Bill Door says, a kind of Superglue. I did go to a salon once and have an acrylic tip put on it, but that may not be an option for a man, although a salon may be able to put a kind of cap on it that would resemble a man’s fingernail. I bought a set of buffing implements that first rough up the surface, then buff it down so it is less likely to catch on things. And, as Phlosphr says, I spent a lot of time with a Band-Aid on it. You learn to do a whole lot of things with your thumb tucked into your fist. (Don’t even ask about putting on pantyhose.) The fracture in the nail bed is still faintly visible, and I’ll never go bowling again lest it re-crack.

I do suggest buffing it regularly. It will keep from snagging. Try a trip to a good salon for an initial manicure and ask for a recommendation of products – I used a Sally Hansen set.

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/5 "2008-08-02T21:08:34Z")

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I have heard that taking a tea bag, cutting out a snippet of the material and gluing onto the nail can make a good bandage.

Is he adverse to a manicure? In addition to a nice hand massage, a good technician can get his nails looking nice yet manly.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/6 "2008-08-03T00:19:25Z")

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[QUOTE=Bill Door]  
I’ve had good luck using something like liquid Bandaid.  
[/QUOTE]  
Superglue (cyanoacrylate) works for me.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/7 "2008-08-03T00:43:01Z")

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[QUOTE=Squink]  
Superglue (cyanoacrylate) works for me.  
[/QUOTE]

I’ve always found cyanoacrylate to be too expensive in actual use. Whatever I do, I get one, maybe two uses out of a tube, and then it all hardens and is rendered useless.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/8 "2008-08-03T00:50:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Bill Door]  
Whatever I do, I get one, maybe two uses out of a tube, and then it all hardens and is rendered useless.  
[/QUOTE]  
You know, I never used to have that problem with the stuff, but the last couple of times I bought it, the tube polymerized within a week or two of first use.

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/9 "2008-08-03T01:29:28Z")

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[QUOTE=Bill Door]  
I’ve always found cyanoacrylate to be too expensive in actual use. Whatever I do, I get one, maybe two uses out of a tube, and then it all hardens and is rendered useless.  
[/QUOTE]

FWIW…

I bought this 12 pack at amazon and I was quite happywith the results.

> **[Amazon.com: Super Glue Liquid, 2 Gram Tubes, 12-Pack, Clear, Instant Bonding,...](https://www.amazon.com/Super-Glue-15187-12-Pack/dp/B000LGPD64)**
>
> Product Description Original formula Super forms the strongest bonds in tight joints between clean breaks or smooth surfaces. Best used with non-porous application parts such as metal and rubber. The glue bonds instantly, sets in...

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**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/10 "2008-08-03T02:24:07Z")

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[QUOTE=ivylass]  
I have heard that taking a tea bag, cutting out a snippet of the material and gluing onto the nail can make a good bandage.

[/QUOTE]

Tea bags or rolling papers, whichever you have handy 😉 and superglue. Then buff LIGHTLY with a nail buffer or very fine grit emery paper (200 or finer), and a coat of clear polish. Make him wash his hands first. While buffing, make sure there are no sharp edges to snag and rip the nail further.

If he’s twitchy about the gloss of nail polish, buff (again LIGHTLY) with 400+ but \<1000 grit emery paper after the polish dries.

My dad and my husband both have nails that split. I got cranky a few years ago and bullied them into using the Sally Hanson polish for weak nails (see-through pink liquid in a clear, available at Target, Kmart, Walmart and Kroger. Read the label.), buffing to matte, and to quit cutting their nails with a freakin’ pocket knife. Neither has had a split nail since.

Of course, it is entirely possible that they are both being more careful, wearing gloves and even occasionally using lotion merely to shut me up, rather than the nail polish being of any help. 😉

On preview: Two drops of Superglue out of a whole tube is cheaper than pain and blood, in my book. YMMV.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-a-split-nail/458601/11 "2008-08-03T07:12:53Z")

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Wow. This is a real science, isn’t it! **Philosphr** , he is a cuticle picker, too. But I think the nails are fucked up from when he had a steel beam smash his hands when he worked at a steel mill. Ow! Ow! Ow!

I have all the manicure stuff (I do my natural nails myself). I will definitely try the superglue thing as well. I wasn’t aware you could put that on your bodily parts but if none of your thumbs have fallen off, I guess it’s safe!

How do you apply it? Do you just fill the crack with it and wait for it to grow out? Can I buff the glue line itself to a smooth finish?

I don’t think he’ll go to a salon. He’s just not “that guy.” I can just hear him saying, “are you fucking kidding me??” But I’m pretty handy with the tools and I know I can get him to turn it over to me.

I weep for all your split nails! Sounds painful and must be a giant pain in the ass to deal with!!