Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
Golpe Nail Crisis!!!
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
JBASHORUN
Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
|
Golpe Nail Crisis!!!
|
|
|
Okay, so the title is a little melodramatic. But I have a real problem with the nail on my golpe finger... Here are 2 pictures of the nail: Basically, this nail has always been dodgy... it was ripped off completely when I was at nursery school, due to a nasty incident involving a moving trolley wheel. And ever since, it has grown back rather unhealthily. There is a large "ridge" running vertically down the centre of the nail. But this is not the major problem... The problem is that the nail has seperated into 2 layers: a top layer and a bottom layer. And the top layer breaks and peels very easily. In the photos you can just make out a white-ish triangular patch on the nail towards the tip. this is where there is an "air bubble" below the surface of the nail. If I flex the nail, or tug on the top layer, the white-ish patch moves, as the air circulates beneath. This appears to get worse when I do things like washing up, as the water gets between the two layers. Recently, I've been experimenting with various forms of nail strengtheners and polishes. First I tried "Pro-Strong" fluoride and calcium hardener, but it appeared to make the problem worse. Today I got some Sally Hansen "Diamond Strength" hardener, but it seems to be having a similar effect. It bonds to the top layer, but there is still seperation between the layers. I must stress that this is an ongoing problem, and hasn't just arisen. But its only this ONE NAIL that I have problems with, not any of the others. And it just happens to be my golpe finger! Can anyone recommend something to rectify this? I was thinking maybe some sort nail repair treatment. I'd rather not resort to using Superglue if I can help it. And I can't really afford to get my nails done professionally. So... any help would be greatly appreciated! James PS: Sally Hansen "Diamond Strength"... has anyone else tried this? The box says it uses REAL DIAMOND PARTICLES, and even NITROCELLULOSE (isn't that used for lacquering guitars?! )
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 5 2006 19:17:07
|
|
Ricardo
Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
|
RE: Golpe Nail Crisis!!! (in reply to JBASHORUN)
|
|
|
Yeah you can reinforce with other fingers. I golpe with ma and pinky too. Skin and nail together is important for the sound. But I am concerned about the strength of the nail for arpeggios and stuff. I think your nail is very short and round. You could let it grow out and file flat so you have the edges all reinforcing when you do golpe. When my nail touches the tap plate, I can feel the whole edge touching, the skin of the fingertip too, not just a point of the curved nail. I don't feel any stress on the nail itself, like it will bend or break if I push really hard. So even with a bubble like yours, I would not worry about golpe with that nail shape. But I know if I had your problem, rasgueo would wear down the nail in one gig. Have you ever peeled the top layer off and let it grow out again? I am sure you have, but it just happend again right, after awhile of the nail being "normal". If it were me, I would peel off the white parts that I could, put lots of glue on the second layer to protect it, and do as little playing as I could get away with. After the glues wears or flakes off (a week), put more and keep doing it until most of the old nail had shed off and new nail material grew in. The glue should be strong enough to protect the nail you have, and if the bubble forms again, I would just have do the same, peel it off and put glue. You can try also to put glue between the layers and press them together. So all you need is some time and patience to experiment. It could be you have a fungus or something that is splitting the nail because of that center line. I really think the glue will help you, but if you have an aversion to using super glue for whatever reason, I don't know what else to say. Good luck man. Ricardo
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 6 2006 6:47:57
|
|
Ramón
Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
|
RE: Golpe Nail Crisis!!! (in reply to JBASHORUN)
|
|
|
'Bashy, With a only bit of medical background, what I HAVE learned is that is cases like this, we're all very different. Someone may come on here and swear by a product, others will try, with little or no success. I suffered from HORRENDOUSLY weak nails, all my life, and flamenco was probably a poor choice - but an unavoidable one! I tried EVERYTHING. Sally Hansen stuff? Got about 8-12 bottles of different crap laying around. Want it??! Then I had a nail-lady offer that system where they grind the nail down? Was unreal! I could play! Lasted one week in the water (surfing, dishes, shower). What I was left with was a nail that was as rigid as wax paper. My neighbor showed me silk wrap, but rather than the WHOLE nail, which I didn't like due to the superglue, was these little crescent moons, glued along the tips. I still use for an emergency-break, or can be used to protect one troupled finger, too. In addition, I talked to a nutritionist, who suggested BIOTIN. You can take large amounts, and you will rather quickly see improvement. 2 weeks, BIG change! I also used Nail Tek II, a growth/strength enhancer (maybe...but I think it DOES work), but it also simply protects the nails - which is quite important. And for awhile, I was brushing the tip and underneath! It's been a year. I never even think about my nails past filing and an occasional polish (I hit it with a buffer so it's not so shiny, and keeps the 'odd looks' down!). For those who DON'T use a polish/protector of some kind? Notice all that dust that builds up under the strings where where play? That's the tops of the nails, filing away on the base strings. Take an old base string by the ends, and go file away on a piece of wood.....What does that tell you when you see a nice groove and a pile of sawdust? Cheers all! PS! For all those who suffer from weak nails and live near a store called Big Lots (ex' Pic n' Save), they sell a Hair, Skin and Nail vitamin for $1.99. It's mostly biotin, and that's the stuff, as bottles of biotin were like $8-10 at the health places...Maybe those .99 cent stores? My Tip of the Week!
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
Attachment (1)
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 6 2006 15:48:19
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.09375 secs.
|