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This is going to be yet another thread about nails, so if you are one of those blessed with strong unbreakable nais you can stop reading right now.
In the last few years my nails became weaker and break very easily. One of them is split. Bad nails. I've tried everything possible, Onymerre, sally hansen, you name it.
For a while glue and silk paper did the trick for me but I wasn't too fond of the thicker nails it resulted with and having to glue my nails every few days.
So I tried hoof hardner. Not the Onymerre crap that supposed to be that but is really just another cosmetic product, I googled for what they really give horses and got this stuff.
Based on the instructions, I applied this on the nails one a day for the first week, every other day the next week and since I apply this two times a week. I got a nail brush for it cause the brush it came with was good for horses not nails (duh).
Since I started with this about 5 months ago I never broke a nail. My nails are incredibly strong. This stuff is translucent, you apply it and let it evaporate from your nails. It does its action while evaporating. My nails are now totally natural, no lacquer or glue on them. Its amazing, I never thought I could have nails like this again.
I did some digging, this stuff works by creating cross links between the layers of keratin which is the protein which nails and horse hoofs are made of. The active ingridient is formaldehyde. Most nails hardners include some formaldehyde, but the FDA does not permit more then 3% formaldehyde for products aimed at humans. This stuff has 9%. Formaldehyde has the side effect that it can cause the nails to become dry, split and brittle. The other ingredients in this stuff are aimed at preventing this effect by slowing down the cross linking action of formaldehyde.
I got one bottle of this stuff but it comes in horse size quantity which should last me a lifetime...
formaldehyde is commonly used to embalm corpses. Im sure there's good reason for the 3% limit.
I read it can cause alergies, which is why the FDA limits its use. Though it does not prohibit it and permits up to a cerain level it deemed safe and most nail hardner products do contain formaldehyde. I have no idea how they got to 3%, knowing how the FDA works probably someone showed alergies are caused by a big amount of it, and then someone else showed it does not cause any harm at 3%, so that's where they set the limit.
Guy, it sounds good, with the problem of formaldehyde a caveat of course. Perhaps a little more research is in order just to make sure it isn't going to preserve you or anything?
Ok, both Sally hansen hard as nails and tuff as nails contain formaldehyde. Don't know what amount but its the 5th listed ingridient. These products are were touted several times in this forum as being effective (didn't do it for me, they would rub of on the first rasguado).
Well, clean, natural nails washed with a soap without perfumes do not cause cancer
The important thing is to not cover the whole nail!! Only a max 2/3 of the thumbnail and the tip of the the other nail. When you cover the whole nail with whatever/superglue/Sallyhansen/horsething the nail will become very soft underneath, giving the part that grows some air makes it grow stronger. Not as strong as when you are "natural" but a lot stronger than if you cover the whole nail.
They say that it can cause cancer, but then what does not?
This web page has good information about formaldehyde and the risk of cancer. Formaldehyde is present in all nail resins and other hardners like Sally Hansen.
Guess Anders' solution is the best, harden your nails with water and perfum-less soap...
I found that doing the washing up with washing-up liquid really made my nails strong.. (I'm sure all the women will agree with me here LOL!) But honestly, I used to use glue and all the other crap out there, thinking my nails were really weak and thin. The truth was that it was all the stuff I was using that was making them weak and thin! The way to avoid breaking nails while playing is to warm up first and don't try anything forceful unless it feels comfortable. It's all part of the "control" equation IMO. Breaking your nails opening a car door or gardening etc is a completely different thing however... Also practise being "left handed"... doing sudden things or risky things with your left hand.
The important thing is to not cover the whole nail!! Only a max 2/3 of the thumbnail and the tip of the the other nail. When you cover the whole nail with whatever/superglue/Sallyhansen/horsething the nail will become very soft underneath, giving the part that grows some air makes it grow stronger. Not as strong as when you are "natural" but a lot stronger than if you cover the whole nail.
About six months ago I came across this same advice and have been trying it ever since. I have noted some marked improvement in the strength and condition of my nails. Currently, I'm leaving about 5mm's at the base of my nails uncovered. Seems to be enough. I am using a Sally Hansen nail hardener. Being "older" I think I shall rank the danger from any formaldehyde in her product right up there with my fear of planetary collision.
Start using something and you will be in trouble son. Sounds like some anti drug comercial.
It´s true though. I work with my hands, and I have to protect my thumbnail and I also have to protect the guitars I build from my thumb nail. The rest of my nails I often leave without anything
I have very hard nails ...but with age would I have to use smth to make my nails stronger? So far ...I had no real problems.
Be happy you're blessed with hard nails now and don't worry about what will become of them in the future. Age changes us all, I used to have strong nails in my twenties and today they break if just look at them. But everyone is different, I know several people who are much older then me that play with natural nails, they have strong nails.
Anyway, all this talk about formaldehyde and cancer got me to think I should try a while with no crap on my nails see how it goes, maybe only natural stuff like that onymerre thing that has had some effect. Now that my nails are strong and the size I want them we'll see how long I can keep them without resorting to more desparate action....
My advice for folks playing flamenco, hard nails or thin, use brush on nail glue. Apply weekly, to the ENTIRE nail, not just the tip. DO NOT remove it or scrape it off, let it flake off naturally. Apply more to the bare areas when it flakes off. I keep my pinky "natural", and for 10 years, the nails under the glue are no more brittle or thin than the "natural" nails. A flamenco player in his 60's has used krazy glue for his whole life, and never had a problem.
When the glue flakes off, your nails are fine. You can stlill play with natural nails if you want. Keeping the glue on always, protects them from more than just your guitar strings. Don't glue fake things to your nail, and don't scrape off the glue, and your nails will be fine. When practicing rasgueados or rehearsing for dance show, apply several coats. The glue will wear off from cuticle to tip from strumming. That is what happens to your bare nails w/out protection. Keep them protected.
This in combo with filing your nails properly will keep you playing forever.
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