how to keep from breaking nails

[larryb]

What do you fingerstylists use to keep your nails from breaking? Is there some sort of flat nailpolish or something that is not noticeable to strengthen my nails?

[lofapco]

I used to have crappy nails but with my wifes help, I have started taking care of the nails with an emory board and cuticle snips. Over time, they have become nice and strong. I have heard that eating jello helps give nails additional strength but don't know the science behind that. I also wear gloves when landscaping the lawn or doing other jobs that always ended up breaking my right hand nails. FWIW, I keep the ones on my left hand very short so they don't contact the fretboard. My right hand nails are barely visible behind my finger pad but are long enough to give a better attack when needed.

[wcap]

See this thread from the Telecaster forum:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/acoustic-heaven/49418-what-do-professional-classical-players-do-about-broken-nails.html

As discussed in the above thread, daily maintenance (or at least monitoring) can make a big difference.

[wcap]

Also see this thread, which was started yesterday:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164658

[dvdbrwn]

A product called 'NAIL RESCUE - Nail Hardener' is readily available from Pharmacies. It's clear easily brushed on. Looks like clear nail polish. Get your lady get it for you. The one I use is made by Rimmel.
Good luck.

[wcap]

I have also used the NutriNail Kevlar formula (I think they call it Bullet Proof Nails or something).

It seems to work really well to strengthen nails, but, like clear nail polish, it is glossy when dry, and people tend to think that looks odd on a man's hands. What I have done, with only partial success is put on two coats (just on my right thumb and three right hand picking fingers) and then, when thoroughly dry and hard (takes a while) I dull the surface with steel wool. It still looks a little odd, and with wear it tends to get sort of shiny again, but teh steel wool gets rid of that striking gloss and almost makes them look like normal nails. If you do two coats, I'd recommend letting the first one dry thoroughly before the second, and maybe don't have a given coat be too thick. It takes a while to dry to the point of being dry.

There is another NutriNails product listed in one of the links in the tdpri.com thread I linked to above that supposedly does not make your nails glossy. I can't find that one in my local stores, but I'm thinking of ordering some online to try.