How do I save a cut nail?

My client had a gardening accident and managed to cut her nail pretty much in half. What do I do?

Accidents like that happen all the time! It can be very painful and frustrating for the “victim”. It also takes time to heal, not only because the natural nail needs time to grow, but also because the split tends to catch on everything and split open again and again.

But no worries! This is definitely a situation where we, as nail professionals, can help our clients. The perfect solution is to carefully cut of the detached parts of the nail, use a buffer to gently smooth out the surface (an e-file can be too rough and painful in this case), diligently clean and sanitize the nail, and then cover it with a thin coating of either UV gel or L&P that will protect the nail as it grows back to health.