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Which explains a method of straightening hooked finger nails using a soldering iron. Is this advisable ? Couldn't this approach cause long term damage to the nails ?
I think that's too much and I doubt it works for long, but if someone is obsessed with fixing hooked nails it might be worth a try Keeping nails short or filing the hooked part is easier
Simply put glue (Krazy glue or other brush on CA glue) then after it dries, file flat (IN one direction), basically slicing through the beak of your nail making a perfect straight ramp for the strings to glide across.
Let me just say, most peoples nails are "hooked" to various degrees, if left unkept. The curving of the nail downward is desireable once you catch on to the 3d picture of nail shape filed for tone. The more difficult shape to deal with is very flat uncurved nails...but as it turns out the CA glue when it dries "bends" the nail or hooks it to a more desired shape. And the glue after all, serves as protection from rasgueados that otherwise would wear and thin out natural nails.
Is this the same as using nail strengtheners ? I mean those that look like transparent nail polish. Will that also help improve the curvature of the nail ? Also, is there any long term solution to the hooked nails problem (e.g. some cure, some change of playing/nail clipping technique, etc.) ?
Na not nail strengthener - it won't give you the strength or the sound you want. It'll also peel off as soon as you play. Ricardo means real superglue.
I have had massively hooked nail issues. Superglue sorts it out - brush on a number of layers . Although it is a bit of an effort to keep them in good condition when it starts to peel off it's a small price to pay.
I think the best way, in my humble opinion and being just a eternal beginner (I am not a good player, but I played for long time), is to avoid it. For example, do not have so long nails and be used to play with them. If you see some pics of Paco's nails, you will see that he had quite short nails (except thumbnail) in comparison to the guitarist of the video (it is a millimeters issue).
I love 'palos jondos’ and I think that currently the sweet and round sounds from the fingertips are dismissed sometimes by young players whith bulerias as reference. One of the final obsessions of Tarrega was to play without nails, just with the fingertips and with a loud sound at the same time. And some flamenco master (sorry I do not remember who, I have short-term mind) usually likes (and it is the correct way) to play with the combination of fingertip-nail.
For my experience, if you get it and use other extra factors as sea water interaction (if you can) for example avoids hooked. A good 'tocaor' advised me about analyze my bad habits where you are not playing and the nail care with olive oil and I think it also helps. And of course avoid friend that ask you to play with wire strings .
I have not the most robust nails in the World and it was a problem for me. But with these practices I had not problems for years and forgot the hateful glue. Anway, hooked nails could happen at any time.
Said that, the most problematic is a hooked thumb nail, but it is the strongest too to crab it. But, as I said, It is just an opinion and I do not play eight hours per day.
Bottom of the barrel, last thing you want to do is what I did when I reached the "wall" some 40 years ago. There might be some information that will be useful.
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