The challenges of cleft reconstruction have been present for centuries. However, understanding of the cleft nasal tip and the evolution of techniques decidedly began in the 20th century and refinement continues into the present day. Although a multitude of technical descriptions and case series have been published, a compendium of seminal techniques, which have shaped modern thought, has not been compiled in the literature. In this review, we discuss the anatomical disturbances in the cleft nasal tip anomaly, the timing and strategy of tip correction, and the major classic techniques for management of the cleft nasal tip. In addition, we have categorized the classic techniques into concepts that they embody.