Help With Fingernails

[GibbyPrague]

Bringing this thread alive again.

I keep my nails about 1.5mm showing over the flesh. I like the extra flex. I file them always and use a nail hardener, but i still find the nail of my middle finger tends to break.

I have a feeling its from drying out.

Is there a product that i could buy to give the nail a bit of moisture back ?

[Misifus]

Back when I was learning to play with my fingers, I read an interview with Andres Segovia in which he castigated some of his fellow classical players for not using a stone on their nails after cutting and shaping them. Since then I have kept some fine Arkansas stones just for my nails. When I'm done, they're smooth as glass.

[Guitar1083]

Vitamin D Talk to your Doctor

[mercy]

Olive oil at night might help restore moisture to your nails. I like my nails long, 3/16", and have found that the bullet shape breaks more easily than when they are ramped. The bullet shape sound is a little brighter though. I could repeat the stuff about buffing and sanding not cutting but I have stumbled on something unique. I have a nail brush that I just brush the nails with like you do your teeth. Since I started doing that Ive seldom broken a nail. Probably coincidence?

[FranK_S]

Originally Posted by GibbyPrague

Bringing this thread alive again.

I keep my nails about 1.5mm showing over the flesh. I like the extra flex. I file them always and use a nail hardener, but i still find the nail of my middle finger tends to break.

I have a feeling its from drying out.

Is there a product that i could buy to give the nail a bit of moisture back ?

Gibby, I would consider buying the Wolfram nail file and stop using clippers, assuming you're trimming occasionally?
Olive oil as mentioned might help too, but the nail file is pure magic.

[mattwood]

This will work and moisture your nails but I haven't found it to make them harder, just more flexible.

http://manentail.com/products/hoofmaker/

[mercy]

I dont think Im putting all those chemicals in my body through my nails. Just use coconut or olive oil at night.

[jw3571]

If you're not supposed to cut the nails, how often do you have to file? Everyday? Why aren't you supposed to cut, does it make them more fragile?

[BillyHank]

I always had a problem with brittle nails that would shatter when cut or clipped.
I started putting a drop of pure 100% liquid lanolin on each nail once a day and rubbed it in. My nails are much better now and no loner break very easy or split.

[FranK_S]

Originally Posted by jw3571

If you're not supposed to cut the nails, how often do you have to file? Everyday? Why aren't you supposed to cut, does it make them more fragile?

I just smooth them out every couple of days with the file. I'm a machinist so it's hard to keep them from breaking but the file keeps them smooth so they don't catch on something.