#16
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Can you file it like a normal nail?
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. —John Lennon |
#17
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It’s a fairly thin coating if you apply it lightly. I usually just buff it a bit. If I need to shorten my nails, I’ll take it off with nail polish remover, trim, file and buff the nails then reapply the Nail Shield. I do that about once a month.
Last edited by godfreydaniel; 03-05-2018 at 10:12 PM. |
#18
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I've been using mavala scientifique nail hardener. it just goes on the tip of the nails. works much better than nothing and is easy to apply but probably nowhere near as effective as acrylic nails.
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#19
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I'd use acetone free nail polish remover. Like just about everything else in life, some people say acetone is safe, and others say no. I'd go with the no.
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. —John Lennon |
#20
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Look up Guitar Player nails and Rico nails. A little pricy but they get the job done. I've used Guitar Player nails in the past and they are pretty close to natural feeling.
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Amalio Burguet 1A Spruce Takamine C132S |
#21
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I didn’t know there are safer alternatives. Thanks.
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#22
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My problem is that my nails tend to be weak and brittle. When they've gotten too long they'd shatter or split. (talk about pain when the split goes into the nail bed. I can understand why torturers use slivers under the fingernails!)
I started taking vitamin D (hereditary deficiency) and keratin supplements (as part of a hair loss prevention regimen) and now my nails are strong. There's also a product called Hard as Hooves that gets brushed on. Tried it but never had any luck with it, but that was before I was taking the supplements. When I first started playing acoustic, I would tap my left fingertips against a hard surface. I'd heard it would stimulate the nails to grow. But another thing to consider is hydration. I also suffer from dry skin, and use generic Eucerin. Pay special attention to rubbing it into your cuticles. |
#23
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Rico Nails
Have the same nail problem, especially with my thumb nail. It has not grown enough to notice since this past July (2017). Anyway, I am using RICO Nails and they work fairly well. They sell various sizes to fit all your fingers + thumb. They are attached to your real nail by 'Glue Dots', which I found at Wal Mart. I use the 1/2 " ones in the Red/Green box. They can easily be removed with no side effects. Also there are video's on line that I found to be helpful.
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#24
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Nail Salon Fixed Things Permanently
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20 minutes later all 4 nails were fixed and (in my case) lengthened. Repair lasts as long as it takes grow out. Hardly ever have to sand them either, much less file them, except to control length. The acrylic is far more durable than fingernail tissue. I'd urge anyone who's dealing with chronic nail issues to give a nail salon a try before giving up on nails altogether. Be sure to get a recommendation, to ensure a clean, quality job. |
#25
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I play with extremely short nails. They barely reach the tips of my fingers, and they're filed to match the contour of the fingertip. Back when I started classical guitar (many, many years ago), there was not so much discussion about nail shape. In fact, as I recall, the nail shape that was taught (or at least inferred) followed my current practice, albeit the "proper" length was somewhat longer than I use now. When I left guitar to concentrate on harp (Medieval and wire-strung technique: using nails still, but on both hands), I shortened my nails, particularly when I got a regular gig and a broken nail would be a major disaster. In fact, it was nail breakage that caused me to give up the long nails and play with my very short nails. I should mention that, regarding wire-strung harp technique, the current orthodoxy specifies *long* nails, filed slantwise: much the same as I'm seeing in some of the nail discussions about classical guitar. Honestly, I mostly don't care for the sound produced by these harpers, and I shudder to think what their nail-upkeep routine must be. But I played wire-strung harp with short nails for years and never had much of a problem either with length or with tone. I don't really feel that, even with my very short nails, I'm having much of a tonal problem with classical guitar. (I accept the fact that others may disagree.) One of the advantages of short nails is that breakage becomes less of a problem. In fact, the only time I really cause damage to my nails is when I'm working the heavy bag: my bag gloves compress the outside (pinky finger) corner of my index fingernail and cause a whitened stress fracture. (I just file off the damaged part.) Another advantage is that I don't have as many problems executing daily tasks...such as the typing I'm doing now. In fact, I can tell when my nails need shortening when I start to feel them impact on the bezel surrounding my "Chiclet-style" keyboard keys. So maybe I'm wrong, but this nail length appears to work for me. I mention all of this for the sake of those who, like me, have problems with "tracing paper" and/or hooked nails. Re acrylic nails: I fear them. Since you've now got something like fiberglass superglued to your nail, if you catch your nail hard on something, I'm afraid you don't get a broken nail: you get the nail torn off the nail bed. I shudder. (If it works for you and you're careful, more power to you.) An additional concern: I have a friend who is a cosmetologist, and acrylic nails not only have to be re-based as the natural nail grows out, but if you're not careful, fungus can start growing between the acrylic and your nail. Nasty stuff. Her recommendation was to pay a lot of attention to the condition of the acrylics, and, to avoid infections, to go so far as to have your own personal set of nail tools that you yourself make sure are clean and sterile. When you go in for acrylic work, you bring your own tools. Just my paranoid two cents. AA
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"So many things I would have done, But clowns got in my way." |
#26
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This has been a problem for me since I started about 1 year ago. I am now taking 3 pills/ day of gelatin to help grow nails (this is helping) and I use fake nails on my thumb and index finger since these are my current problem. Bought these from Rico nails on the web. They are held on by glue dots (buy from lots of places, but get mine from Wal Mart). .They hold really well and can be removed easily and reused many many times.
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#27
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Alternatives to Long Nails
I'm pretty happy with no nails . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_NBJbYJZo I think, prior to 1900, it was pretty common. I have terrible nails so this approach works for me. Eric |
#28
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Lots of discussion on topic of nails on Delcamp forum:
https://www.classicalguitardelcamp.c...forum.php?f=87 Here are a couple other threads from another part of this forum with a similar but slightly different topic, but includes many responses (including mine) about various products and techniques used for nail care: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=452910 http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...90#post5182590 https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=483110 |
#29
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I have something called "polygel" applied to my p, i, m and a fingers. It is kind of a cross between gel (which is a bit soft) and acrylic (which is hard). Acrylic nails aren't bad, but they do click on the strings a little... but mainly they don't stay on my nails. And they damage my nails, which are on the thin side any way. My hands are in water a lot which doesn't help, but I can't change that.
The polygel hasn't been out more than a year or two, so not many salons use it. I love it. It stays put and I only have it done once a month. I use a light pink which looks like a natural nail. It does wear a bit, and might not do well with steel strings (I play mostly nylon). But I'm sold. |
#30
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Quote:
YMMV Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |