Dear Internet: What to do about a broken nail?

I play competitive Ultimate Frisbee so I am well versed in broken nails.

Trim it down as best you can and use a file to try and smooth out any possible snag spots.

Get some clear nail polish (super glue can work too but nail polish is better) and paint over the crack to seal it up and file that smooth too (without filing away the nail polish or glue). Reapply the nail polish and refile until you end up with a nice smooth feeling nail again. You may need to refile a few times throughout the day for a few days just to prevent snags from popping back up. Reapply nail polish and file as necessary. After a few weeks, the break will grow out.

As a temporary fix as you may not have a file and polish on hand, wrap it in a bandage to prevent it from snagging on things.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, when painting the nail with the clear nail polish, make sure to paint over the edge of the nail where the break is, and even try and get a little underneath. If you can get a nice layer of polish sealing over the whole break, no snags should pop up.

You could try cutting pieces of moleskin to fit over the nail (look in the footcare aisle) if you don't want to use a band-aid. I think your best bet is just going to be to cover it and wait for it to grow out. Don't bother with any kind of nail polish, I can tell you from experience that it doesn't work.

Hmm, two torn nails, do you fight crime in your sleep?

Follow up - do you need/want a sidekick/partner?

Run up to chicks showing them your broken nail. It's a conversation starter.

Think about how cool you'll look with multiple bandaged fingernails! 
 
"Yeah, things are really dangerous out in the field. Ended up saving my buddy's foot but crushed both of my nails in the process. It's no big deal though, they'll grow back in a couple weeks. 
 
Couldn't've said the same for his foot."

@JokerSmilez said:

I play competitive Ultimate Frisbee so I am well versed in broken nails.

Trim it down as best you can and use a file to try and smooth out any possible snag spots.

Get some clear nail polish (super glue can work too but nail polish is better) and paint over the crack to seal it up and file that smooth too (without filing away the nail polish or glue). Reapply the nail polish and refile until you end up with a nice smooth feeling nail again. You may need to refile a few times throughout the day for a few days just to prevent snags from popping back up. Reapply nail polish and file as necessary. After a few weeks, the break will grow out.

As a temporary fix as you may not have a file and polish on hand, wrap it in a bandage to prevent it from snagging on things.

This sounds like the best plan. Meanwhile I have applied bandages, which is effecting my typing severely! Haha

Bandaid. At least, that's what I would do. Yeah, typing kind of sucks, but unless you want to do something crazy like the fake coke nail idea, I think that'd be the simplest route.

Edit: Also, since you just woke up with that, maybe you're sleep "walking"...if you know what I'm sayin...

I will continue to post to this thread with updates as they happen!

Have you tried Google? I read in a study that over 70% of people prefer using Google in these situations over Giant Bomb.

This is why I've just had all my nails surgically removed.

I've never had it happen on my hand but I've had it happen on my big toe and for that I had to keep some medical tape on it while it healed. It was a pain but eventually it grew out enough that i could just use nail clippers on it.

Hope this helps.

I broke a nail while skateboarding yesterday... it sucks

Those bandages look like garbage, Dave. You need some of these sweet fabric bandaids that conform to your skin and are textured, so typing isn't the worst thing in the world. 
 

Have Drew film you ripping them both out, turn it into a Premium video. BOOM.

@snide said:

@Barrock said:

Dave, are you a werewolf?

Yes. I mean no.

@snide said:

Fuckin' A, that's gnarly and... it looks a bit infected?

I'd clean it real well, band-aid it, then try my best to not use it. Or you can be a real man and go have the doctor yank it, that'll solve the problem.

@snide said:

I will continue to post to this thread with updates as they happen!

YES! This thread is worth my subscription.

Dave, breaking two nails at once is kinda strange. Could you show us a picture of your conjunctiva? (the innerside of your under eyelids)

@believer258 said:

@snide said:

Fuckin' A, that's gnarly and... it looks a bit infected?

I'd clean it real well, band-aid it, then try my best to not use it. Or you can be a real man and go have the doctor yank it, that'll solve the problem.

That's probably just pus, dying epithelium and dried blood...doesn't mean it's infected.

What about that liquid band-aid stuff? That should be okay to go on an open wound. But the real question is will it hold?

@snide: i cut my thumb nail with a box cutter right through the nail, what i did was i took a soft nail file and filed the nail down ( including the top surface) to where the nail becomes soft and just let that grow out.

That looks nasty. I'd try to cover it over with a plaster but maybe the other guys in here have more experience with this kind of thing.

@Sin4profit said:

@snide: i cut my thumb nail with a box cutter right through the nail, what i did was i took a soft nail file and filed the nail down ( including the top surface) to where the nail becomes soft and just let that grow out.

But that just sets up for a shorter nail since the tissue changes to accomodate your forceful excision.

@TrafalgarLaw said:

@believer258 said:

@snide said:

Fuckin' A, that's gnarly and... it looks a bit infected?

I'd clean it real well, band-aid it, then try my best to not use it. Or you can be a real man and go have the doctor yank it, that'll solve the problem.

That's probably just pus, dying epithelium and dried blood...doesn't mean it's infected.

Fuck this thread. I'M LEAVING.

@TrafalgarLaw: i don't know what those words mean, i just know that's what i did when i had this problem.

I'm talking more about the hard top surface of the nail. It's possible to file it down to a soft protective layer before it reaches the tissue. so you create a soft surface along the cut and along the edge as if to round out your finger.

I think your wife is secretly breaking your nails while you sleep.

@Sin4profit said:

@TrafalgarLaw: i don't know what those words mean, i just know that's what i did when i had this problem.

I'm talking more about the hard top surface of the nail. It's possible to file it down to a soft protective layer before it reaches the tissue. so you create a soft surface along the cut and along the edge as if to round out your finger.

Oh you mean like getting rid of the stuff that's sticking out and leaving a thin layer, no experience with but seems harmless. I once cracked my entire thumbnail by jamming on it with a pencil as a kid. I remember just leaving it like that and it just is totally fine. However I once had this toenail (the pinky toe) that was growing weird so I decided to pull it out entirely...biggest mistake ever now that I have two seperately growing nails on my smallest toe, it's never going to join again.

Use super glue to help mend the break and then cover it with something (cotton and bandage works great) until it heals.

PAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I were you, I would probably kill myself. But then who would do the PC Quick Looks?!

Oh, Dave.

Call your medical professional. Nails can go bad real fast.

Well this is weird. I'd go with superglue, but the guy who plays ultimate frisbee seems confident about his solution.

ya need some of those Banjo picks

@snide

You just gotta bandage it up bro, hope for the best. Trust me, it's a rabbit hole of a problem...real alice and wonderland shit. Just bandage and keep it real

I have taken off the bandages. They were getting in the way of my work. I will go for super glue tonight and report the results tomorrow.

Clearly the answer is to replace the offending fingers with robot fingers.

@TrafalgarLaw said:

@believer258 said:

@snide said:

Fuckin' A, that's gnarly and... it looks a bit infected?

I'd clean it real well, band-aid it, then try my best to not use it. Or you can be a real man and go have the doctor yank it, that'll solve the problem.

That's probably just pus, dying epithelium and dried blood...doesn't mean it's infected.

Ah, well, I'm not a medical expert.

Also, guess what? That mouse is totally the same one I'm using.

EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Just cut off the entire finger, maybe the entire hand....its too far gone now.

@snide said:

I have taken off the bandages. They were getting in the way of my work. I will go for super glue tonight and report the results tomorrow.

Don't do that...you've been warned.

@WickedFather said:

@snide: You apply paper to the nail and soak it it in superglue. Paper that's absorbative like newspaper is great. It's something guitarists do all the time because you can even file it when it's done. Ignore all that fekkin crap with plasters. Superglue, paper, google = you're saved!

This. Anything that can be used as reinforcement across the break will do.

Just make sure you have sanitised it thoroughly before you apply anything. Otherwise you'll get an infection and the nail will have to be surgically removed anyway. It's not fun when a doctor has to yank your entire nail off with pliers.

I split my nail with a box cutter while I was cutting down some vinyl. I snapped the nail off then kept it bandaged cause it felt hyper sensitive if it touched anything and was quite uncomfortable. I hope super glue works cause your crack is in a sucky place that would be painful to remove. I feel for ya. All of the best.

@snide: i had a similar injury and my mom gave me an old school fix that i scoffed at but it worked. she used an empty tea bag back in the day, i just used some gauze. i cut it to the shape of my nail and then clear coat nail polished it to the nail. important to let the material soak up the nail polish. then just let it dry and you are good. then just cut as needed. you might even try some liquid skin, it's got some antiseptic built in if you are worried about an infection. it holds up pretty well, but you will need to reapply occasionally. best of luck duder, i'm going to have nightmares about your broken nail.

Lop it off yakuza-style.

@snide:

I usually throw a hissy fit.

Oh god, this thread just activated my gag reflex.

Cut/chew the nail off at the break, and do a better job of maintaining it next time. I say this as someone with a horrendously bad habit of constantly biting his fingernails who has this sort of situation present itself at regular intervals.

The doctor in me says amputation. My common sense tells me band aid.

Crazy glue works.

I've always used newspaper but the tea bag + Superglue combo seem to be a popular choice.  Video.  Nail glue is super glue.  I'd also do 2 layers because I'm like that.