How to Treat Cracked Nails

Next time you experience a cracked nail, stay calm. There are several methods you can use to treat a cracked nail. Though it can be painful, don't let it compromise the appearance of your nails. Don't let a cracked nail disrupt your day again.

Wash your hands or feet. Before repairing your nail, make sure your hands are clean and free of oils.

• Wash your hands or feet with warm water and soap. Use a clean towel to dry them off.
• Ensure that your hands or feet are thoroughly dry to avoid accidentally scratching the cracked nail and making the problem worse.

Cut a piece of nail repair material. If you have a special nail repair kit, use the fibrous sheet in the kit and cut a piece large enough to cover the nail and wrap under the fingertip.

• If you don't have a nail repair kit, you can cut a piece from a tea bag. This is the most common and quite effective substitute material.
• If you don't have nail repair paper or a tea bag at home, you can try using a handkerchief or coffee filter paper.
• At the very least, the material must be large enough to cover the entire cracked nail. Ideally, the material should be wide enough to cover the entire nail and extend beyond the edges.

Apply the nail repair material. Place a small amount of superglue or nail glue on the nail. Then, use a pointed tool to gently spread the glue around until the entire nail is covered. Use tweezers to place the repair material on top of the glue on the nail.

• If using a nail repair kit, use the repair solution instead of glue and simply apply it with the included brush.
• Use tweezers to smooth out any wrinkles or raised sections of the repair material. The patch should be as smooth as possible.
• If necessary, use small nail scissors or regular scissors to trim any excess material from the patch.

Wrap the patch at the tip of the nail. Use tweezers to grasp the repair material at the tip of the nail and fold it underneath so that the patch sticks to the underside of the nail.

• If the repair material doesn't have adhesive, you may need to apply a small amount of glue or repair solution to help the patch stick to the underside of the nail.
• This step ensures additional stability and protection for the cracked nail.

Apply an additional layer of glue over the patch. Place another drop of glue over the patch on the nail and use a pointed tool to spread it evenly around. Create the smoothest possible layer.

• You can use a nail repair solution as a substitute for superglue or nail glue.

Trim and buff the nail. If you have a buffing stone, carefully buff the nail after the glue has dried. Use the smooth side of the stone first, followed by the polishing side.

• For best results, buff in one direction rather than back and forth.

Apply a top coat to the entire nail. Brush a layer of top coat or strengthening nail polish onto the cracked nail to smooth the surface and provide an additional layer of protection.

• It's recommended to let the glue dry overnight before applying the top coat to avoid bubbles or uneven patches.
• If you prefer, you can apply a nail polish layer after the top coat has dried.

Cut a small piece of clear tape to fit. Carefully use scissors to cut a piece of tape slightly larger than the size of the cracked nail.

• For easier cutting without removing the tape from the scissors, it's best to use small nail scissors or sewing scissors. If you’re using larger scissors, use the tip of the blades to trim the tape.
• Choose single-sided tape with light adhesive. It’s recommended to use Magic tape, gift wrap tape, multi-purpose tape, or other transparent office tapes. Avoid using strong tapes like electrical tape.

Apply the tape to cover the crack completely. Place the center of the tape over the crack and press firmly to adhere. Then, use the uncracked part of your nail to smooth the tape along both sides of the crack, ensuring it covers the entire area from start to finish.

• Make sure the ends of the crack are aligned properly before placing the tape.
• Press firmly and evenly to secure the tape in place.
• Smooth the tape in the direction of the crack, not against it. Going in the opposite direction could cause the nail to peel further.

Trim the excess tape. If the tape on the nail is a bit large, you can use nail scissors or sewing scissors to trim the excess.

• Make sure the edges of the tape are smooth and follow the shape of the nail.
• If you don’t have small scissors, you can use regular scissors to cut the tape.

Repair the nail as soon as possible. This is an emergency nail care method, but not a permanent solution. You need to reattach the nail using a stronger adhesive and a more precise application process.

• At the same time, be particularly careful not to scratch the tape or the nail underneath.

Be cautious when removing the tape. When peeling off the tape, make sure to pull it along the direction of the crack, not against it.

Wash your hands or feet. Before repairing the nail, make sure your hands are clean and free of oils.

• Wash your hands or feet with warm water and soap. Dry them with a clean towel.
• Wash and dry carefully to avoid accidentally scratching the cracked nail and worsening the issue.

Soak the cracked nail in warm water. If the tip of the nail is completely broken and you want to reattach it, soak the broken end in warm water until the nail becomes flexible again.

• If the nail is still sticky or flexible, you can skip this step.

Apply nail glue to the broken nail. Gently squeeze the tube of glue until a small bead of glue comes out. Use a toothpick to pick up the glue and apply it to one side of the broken nail, creating a thin layer of adhesive.

• If you don’t have nail glue, you can use superglue. Generally, glue containing cyanoacrylate will form the strongest bond.
• Do not touch the glue with your fingers for any reason.

Press the nail into place. Use the tip of a toothpick to push the broken part of the nail back to its original position. Press down on the nail using the edge of the toothpick, even applying gentle pressure if necessary.

• Be careful not to get glue directly on your fingers.
• Press for at least one minute to ensure the nail adheres securely.

Wipe off excess glue. Before the glue fully dries, dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into nail polish remover and wipe along the edges of the nail. This step will help clean up any excess glue on the skin.

• You may need to rub a little to remove the glue.
• Be sure to rub the remover over any areas of the skin where glue has stuck.

File the repaired nail smoothly. Once the glue has dried, gently file the nail to smooth it out. Use the rough side of a nail file or a sanding block to smooth down any uneven edges or rough patches from the crack.

• File in one direction, not back and forth. To minimize further damage, file in the direction of the crack, never against it.
• File slowly to avoid causing additional harm to the crack.

Apply a protective top coat when the nail is dry. Once the nail appears smooth again, you can protect it by applying a top coat or a nail-strengthening polish over the entire nail. Allow the nail to dry completely.

Remove the detached nail. If a nail or part of it has completely torn off from the nail bed, it may be necessary to remove the damaged portion for treatment. Carefully trim the remaining part of the nail with nail scissors, then use tweezers to remove the detached piece.

• By removing the nail, you can easily access the underlying damaged nail bed, allowing for more effective treatment and a lower risk of infection.
• Alternatively, you may leave the detached nail as it is and clean the area around it. Though more challenging, this is possible. The detached nail will naturally fall off as the new nail grows.

Control the bleeding. Depending on how severe the nail detachment is, the nail bed may bleed heavily or lightly. Before proceeding with any treatment, you need to control the bleeding by pressing on the wound.

• If possible, use medical gauze or sterile cotton pads. Place the gauze or cotton directly on the wound and apply firm pressure for several minutes. You may need to apply additional pressure if needed.

Trim the remaining nail. Use nail clippers or sharp scissors to cut away any jagged or sharp edges of the remaining nail. This step is necessary whether you remove the detached nail or leave it in place, to prevent further tearing or snagging.

• If trimming is too painful or uncomfortable, see a doctor for assistance with nail trimming.

Soak your foot or hand in cold water. Immediately after trimming the nail, soak the damaged nail bed in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes.

• The water should be cold enough to soothe and numb the injured nail area.
• Soaking your finger or toe in cold water helps to regulate blood circulation in the affected nail bed.

Soak your foot or hand in saltwater. After soaking in cold water, switch to soaking the injured foot or hand in warm saltwater.

• Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of warm water.
• Soak the injured finger or toe in the saltwater for about 20 minutes. The saltwater will help prevent infection.
• Repeat this process 2-3 times a day for the first 3 days.
• Use a clean, soft cotton towel to gently pat dry.

Apply antibiotic ointment. To accelerate healing and reduce the risk of infection, gently apply a layer of antibiotic ointment over the entire damaged nail using a clean cotton swab or your finger.

• Ensure that your hands are clean while handling the injury.

Bandage the nail bed until a new nail grows. Wrap adhesive gauze around the injured nail to protect it from further damage and reduce the risk of infection.

• Cover the entire nail bed with the gauze until a new nail grows in.
• Change the gauze every time you soak or clean the wound. Make sure the wound is dry each time you replace the bandage. Replace it whenever the gauze becomes wet.

Monitor the injury. Watch for signs of infection whenever you change the bandage. This is especially important during the first 72 hours, but continue to monitor until the new nail grows enough to cover the exposed nail bed.

• Signs of infection include: fever, redness, increased warmth at the injury site, swelling, pain, or pus.
• If you suspect an infection, visit a doctor for an examination.