If you have a crack completely down your nail...?

Jun 8, 2014

Jenna L.

After having a set of gel nails, when the gel cracked all the way down, so did my natural nail on my ring finger.
It's right down on my nail bed, almost to my cuticle. It's pretty painful.
So far I've just done the tea bag crack method but what else should I do?
I was thinking of getting a set of shellac done cause it's stronger right?
Ya o

Jun 8, 2014

Bailee H.

^^^^

Jun 8, 2014

Jenna L.

Can a crack in the nail mend itself tho?
Or wouldn't I just have to like let it grow out?

Jun 8, 2014

Brianna M.

It would need to grow out and I wouldn't put any type of nails on it and let it heal before that and also you can add antibacterial ointment with a band aid but try to let it breath also

Jun 8, 2014

Heather S.

I believe you've damaged it all the way to the eponychium. As long as the crack doesn't go past that down into the matrix it should eventually grow out. If you damage your matrix (where the nail cells form) then that will be a problem... Don't put anything on that nail until it's healed!! Do you have a picture of your nail?

Jun 9, 2014

Jenna L.

I wish I would've taken a picture first! But I decided to do the tea bag/nail glue method and I painted over it. So far it's keeping my nail strong and I think it'll hold up pretty well.
I think a week for now I'll take it all off and see how the nail looks.
I'm worried that the crack won't mend ever.

Jun 9, 2014

Heather S.

How far is your crack? Like is it down to the nail bed or is it cracked over the free edge? I thought it was cracked down to the eponychium.. If it was all the way down there then it should've burned when you applied the nail glue with the tea bag method. It will eventually grow out but it is going to look pretty banged up.