Thread: Split Toenail Advice

Ever the picture of grace and elegance, I managed to bang my left big into my right heel while walking--just regular walking around the family room--and I somehow broke my toenail so that it's ripping from one outside edge to the center which would be no biggie except it's really far down.

Should I just leave it alone or trim the nail where it's torn? It's so far down that I can't conceivably cut my toenail that short--but I'm worried it might catch on something and pull--ow ow ow!!! Right now it's covered with a band aid, but I wondered if anyone had any advice.

I would say clip it as short as you can and wear a bandaid for as long as you need to. OW.

This was one of those things where I noticed I whacked my toe and it hurt, but I didn't even pay it another second of attention until I was putting on my shoes and saw that my toe was a mess of blood.

My husband said, "You did that walking? How long have you been walking--like 36 years?"

Nobody likes a smart ass.

so go get an acrylic overlay till it grows out. Thats what I would do.

I would trim it as close as possible, gently file any rough areas and apply a bit of Crazy Glue to secure the remaining broken area. Add more glue each day until the new growth eliminates the broken bits.

superglue it. I just tore my fingernail across about halfway down and superglued over top of where it's cracked.
Its been 4 days so far and its still holding, as well as not catching on anything.

Originally Posted by anala

so go get an acrylic overlay till it grows out. Thats what I would do.

It seems like it would be asking for some sort of bacterial infection...I've decided that I won't do acrylics on any of my phalanges ever again.

Superglue is an intriguing idea.

When I did the 3 day walk something similar happened to me. Only mine was also lifting up. I kept the nail cut short but not deep. Kept a band-aid on it to protect it and keep it from ripping any farther. Then as it grew out more I would keep cutting it back a little. It gradually grew out and is just fine. If you cut it too far down then you might end up with an ingrown nail and that would be a bigger mess.

two words- Super Glue!

Originally Posted by poohbear

When I did the 3 day walk something similar happened to me. Only mine was also lifting up. I kept the nail cut short but not deep. Kept a band-aid on it to protect it and keep it from ripping any farther. Then as it grew out more I would keep cutting it back a little. It gradually grew out and is just fine. If you cut it too far down then you might end up with an ingrown nail and that would be a bigger mess.

I think that is what I'm going to do!

the world's most amazing broken nail repair is a tea bag!

take a tea bag, dump out the tea, and then cut out a nail shaped piece. paint your nail quickly with a clear polish and then plop on the piece of tea bag. Paint another coat of clear over the top--re-coat as needed

Ooh, that's a great idea najla!

...

That tea bag idea is killer!! Like silk nails I used to get. Mish, maybe you could try the tea bag and super glue overlay. I've done the superglue trick it works. Make sure you have something handy (like and orange stick) to hold the nail in place while it dries otherwise it will keep popping back up