Nails

Teleblooz · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject: Nails

I'm looking for recommendations for something to help with my nails, specifically the one that holds my pick. Every time I play, the string erodes a corner of the nail away. Thus after a couple of days of playing, often so much is worn away that the string bites into the nail bed. This hurts. I'm not liking it.

Anyway, tonight I stopped at the local Walgreens & picked up a product called Hard as Nails, that looked like it was something like what I'm looking for. Anybody tried this? Any other suggestions?
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Midiman57 · Toad Level Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 2243

It's not hard as metal nails... I suggest, possibly, better pick technique.
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Teleblooz · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:

SAguitar · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

Try using a ten penny nail. That works for me.
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MrSpyderman · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Ahnold would call you a girly girl for wearing nail polish.

Just teasing, my nail would always split in the middle of my 2 finger. Not by playing guitar, it would just split for no reason. I decided to try Nutra Nails Maximum Nail Hardener. I wasn't that impressed, it seemed to barely make an improvement. I've started to keep my nails shorter and that seemed to work. I also think the food we eat has something to do with it, the doctors in the house will have to chime in about that.

Teleblooz · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately the length of the nail doesn't make much of a difference. Or, at the very least, short is NOT better. Anyway, I guess I'll be walking around with one shiny fingernail. It looks like I've been eating popcorn with way too much butter. Too bad they don't make this stuff in a more natural-looking finish. I asked (a woman of course) if there was a way to take the gloss down a peg, but was told that it would weaken the hardening effect. Rolling Eyes

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Fndrman · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Maybe you could put a bandaid around it.

SAguitar · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

Well, you don't wanna weaken the hardening effect!

But you could use a little steel wool...
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...all the gray areas are becoming black holes...

Teleblooz · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

SAguitar · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

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...all the gray areas are becoming black holes...

Teleblooz · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

Well, I gig-tested the Hard as Nails, and it does seem to slow the erosion down noticeably. Not having nearly as much luck changing my picking technique though. I usually hold my pick between thumb and middle finger, and rest my index finger on the back edge. This lets that finger steady the pick and lets me control how far it extends.

I've tried holding it between thumb & index finger, but a) I can't seem to be able to articulate my picking as well (yeah, it would probably get better with practice), and b) I can't seem to be able to maintain my grip on the pick as well. I'm beginning to suspect that b) is because of injuries my index finger sustained many years ago when I was working in my family's butcher shop. There are still visible scars from times my knives slipped.

So maybe it's a least-resistance cop-out, but I think I'll stick with what technique I have.

It's been suggested that I go to the local nail salon & get a single acrylic nail put on. I'm thinking about it.
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SRVLOVER · Kitten Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 134

I sometimes get a gap in the middle of the nail of my right hand middle finger because of pinch harmonics...it's really annoying. Confused

teleman77 · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

I can not preach the wonders of 'Super Glue' enough.

Use a this layer of the stuff on the end of the nail, let dry and repeat as needed...............usually 4-5 times. Do this and you should have any more problems.
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SAguitar · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:22 am Post subject:

Yup. Super Glue, it's good stuff. If ya go to a nail salon for an acrylic nail, it will work fine, but you'll have to have a new one done at least every two weeks, and you'll need to file down your nail in between as it grows.
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...all the gray areas are becoming black holes...