What causes a nail tip to split down the middle after application?

A nail tip can split down the middle after application primarily due to the tip being too wide. When the tip is wider than the natural nail, it creates an uneven surface, causing stress and pressure at the sides as it tries to fit the nail bed. This stress can lead to a split, especially if the client uses their hands frequently or if the environment puts additional strain on the nails.

While the thickness of the gel and the quality of the adhesive can affect the overall durability of the application, they do not directly correlate to the issue of splitting down the middle. A thick layer of gel may create potential lifting or peeling, but it does not specifically cause a split in the center, while a faulty adhesive is more likely to result in overall retention failure rather than a localized split. Similarly, the length of the client's nail is less relevant to the tip's width, as a short nail can still accommodate a properly sized tip without splitting.