My wife recently sustained a crack on the edge of her left thumbnail, right about at the point where, if it were to be clipped off now, it could create a very painful hangnail.
I think the best way to handle this is to find a way to prevent the nail from cracking any further, at least until it has pushed the cracked area beyond the tip of her thumb (or at least well clear of the nail bed). I floated the idea of a drop of Krazy-Glue, but she’s skeptical about that. Does anyone have any tried and true techniques/strategies that will enable us to succeed at this for a change?
The Krazy glue will burn a bit as it cures, but don’t let it scare you, it won’t cause injury. Best answer is krazy-glue, then a bit of silk, then more krazy glue. Then just file it down after it dries.
This is what the salon calls a “silk wrap” and charges $30 for it.
This happened to me, as a side effect of Accutane. The answer is a tea bag. Empty the bag, cut out a tiny piece of the “fabric,” lay it flat on the damaged area, and cover with nail strengthener (I use OPI Nail Envy). Trim to fit, file and maintain till it grows out.
Super Glue is the way to go. A couple of years ago my daughter brought hand-foot-mouth disease home from daycare. I got it, bad, and several of my nails came off. Rather, they partially came off and partially grew out and… I went through a lot of Super Glue. One application would keep a fingernail together for 4-5 days. It’s good stuff.
Another vote for Super Glue and tea bag/bit of silk/bit of linen.
Super Glue/Crazy Glue has even comes in a brush-on version that makes the repair easier to do. You’ll be able to see it a bit on the nail, but not much.
It also probably won’t burn. I use it on paper cuts and it doesn’t burn my skin.
I used to have a nail that would split right about where you described. It would create a little point that would snag on my clothing if I didn’t do anything about it. I took to cutting the pointed part as short as I could and create a blunt edge. Sometimes I’d use an X-acto knife, sometimes I’d use nail clippers. Eventually, would grow out and wear to a point again, so I’d rinse and repeat. In the meantime it never gave me snagging problems or bothered me in any way.