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Most F Guitarists have poor nails especially if they do a lot of accompanieng, super glue and silk seems to be the most popular for false nails, although some swear by acrylics Dave
My nails are dreadful. Basically can't play with them. Not so much that they are weak and thin (which they are) but the shape iis not good. Tendency to curve upwards away from the finger tip (especially "a" finger), as well as curving upwards at the edges. So pretty much gave up playing for 10 years or so. Athough have recently rekindled my interest and have just ordered Savarez silk wrap over the internet so waiting to see how this works.
Playing around with my nails, like using glue and stuff, was the worst period I ever went through. Sure it seemed to stop them breaking, but they were only breaking because I was playing unfamiliar things too hard. But my nails became paper thin and I had to rely on that stuff like an addict. When I stopped playing for a number of years, my nails grew in very much thicker and stronger and I don't use anything now except caution when approaching something I'm not sure of. Takes about a year or two years for your nails to get back again, so watch it!
Acyrlics didn't work for me, the tone was not good, also they were too britle, no better than super glue and silk, I found if your prepared the nail right, they (glue and silk) would last just as long, also, because they cover the whole nail, if not they grow out too quick which is expensive, and the underlying nail gets dried out out, and wafer thin, I found it can take 6 months for your real nail to recover Cheers Dave
I've found real nails I used to break at least one if you maybe have 2 gigs in a row. I have mine coated with Acrylic, it cost about £5 or £6 for 3 nails and lasts about 5 weeks. They are maybe 10 times stronger than real nails. I've tried Calgel coating too but this wasn't very effective.
As this was addressed to Pro guitarists and not amatuers (there must be a few of us here) I suppose I shouldn't reply to it but I will anyway. I use nothing on my nails other than a good hand cream and emery board. I've tried glue and hardener. The glue felt awful and the hardener lasted a couple of hours at best! A quick buff of the nails every 2 days seems to work for me. I do practice and rehearse and do 2 gigs a week.
It's a question of emotional health for me. Since a recent death in the family, all my nails have broken Before that, they were fine with a coat of "Hard as Nails" occasionally and mostly nothing at all.
sometimes reinforced with paper or silk, and glue.
Thats what i swear by, my nails may look discoloured and S**t, and at school i get heavily teased but in the end of the day..................Soy Flamenco.................
regards Miguel.
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<<No hay música más rica ni más viva en todo europa>> ---Manuel de Falla---
It is my belief that each individuals nails are just that individually different. Some people have thick some have thin. I do know that ayrlic has its drawbacks, just as putting anything artificial on ones nails for any prolonged period of time would.
I nail product Barielle has be recommended to me it is a bit pricey, I will give feed back about it in about a month.
I am new to this forum, blowing off the dust of my guitar and hoping to achieve what I started so long ago. Living life, surviving life can be such a bother, when all you want to do is play.
This is a true story. Passed down to me from My father.
About 20 years ago in Sydney(australia) there was a man (a gypsy), I dont remember his name but he was known as ....."THE CLAW"..........
Now, This man was known as "THE CLAW" because his thumb nail was so heavily painted with silk, fibreglass, superglue and anything else imaginable that it had become some huge talon type thing. It was more than 4CM'S high and 6CM'S long.
If you happen to be that man and you read this, please forgive me.
regards Miguel
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<<No hay música más rica ni más viva en todo europa>> ---Manuel de Falla---
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Before that, they were fine with a coat of "Hard as Nails" occasionally and mostly nothing at all. 
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