Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Full Version)

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britguy -> Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 21:36:38)

Being one of the unfortunate group who need to rely on some form of natural nail reinforcement, I've played around with a few different ideas.

The two that seem the most promising are the self-cut plastic nails from Guitar Players Nails, and the self-sticking silk with superglue.

The GPN nails seem to last about three weeks if properly put on, but only cover half the natural nail, which looks a bit odd? The 'sticky silk plus glue' seems to also work very well, and looks more 'natural', but I haven't had as much experience with that as with the GPN nails.

I was wondering if other Foro members had tried these two alternatives and how they felt about one versus the other?



bernd -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 22:14:38)

I go to a nail design studio and use gel. There are lots of sorts and types available. Very good experience I´ve made with Catherine Gel. The series is called "For Professional only".

Recently my nail designer became injured and had to go into hospital. So I needet to visit a different studio. They applied Fibre Glass Gel which is not as strong as the Catherine gel. It breaks on the nail edges by playing i and m golpes above the E6 string. The Catherine gel produces less click noise, too. If you want to use Catherine gel, then you´ll have to make sure that it´s the new version from summer 2012! The former version you can fully forget about. The actual version lasts at minimum for 2.5 months. After 3 months it has grown out so far that it needs to be renewed (on my small nails).

Before using gel I used silk and cotton with superglue and tried plastic nails. I use gel for about 12 years now and never want to change it.



aeolus -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 22:41:31)

As a non professional player, glue on plastic nails which work very well seem to be over the top. And they need replacing rather too often and there is the fear of delaminating the real nail. So as without reinforcement my nails will assuredly split. I coat the tips with nail glue and spray quick dry mist on them. It's not a sure thing as I have just noticed a chip on my a nail. I'll have to grind it down abit. My only success story so far is my thumb nail which would take ages to grow out if broken and with nail glue have managed to preserve it. .The thing is not to obsess about it and take it in stride. Here is the Chinese maestro Kuang Junhong at about 11 or 12 looking forward to a lifetime of dealing with his nails.



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Aretium -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 22:48:36)

I think you can play with very little nail , I think if you can get the same tone with shorter nails try that. My thumb I really only use the first third of the nail so even though my nail looks strange it works. The only finger that has a longer ish nail is the A for arps and tremolo.



pink -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 22:48:48)

Gel nails for me too....not sure what sort of gel but its listed as a USA nail bar ....in UK.
I have real trouble with my own nails as I need to use strong medications regularly due to a chronic illness. Gel nails are a real lifesaver and I've been over the moon with how they've worked for me. Get around 8 weeks between visits and spend about £10 each time I go.

Best

pink



britguy -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 23:00:07)

quote:

. I coat the tips with nail glue


Yes, I tried the superglue technique, but it caused my natural nails to develop hooks, making it really hard to play. I find the 'cut your own' - glue-on plastics I got from GPnails was the opposite, when glued on they had a slight upward curve, which made playing much smoother. . .



edgar884 -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 23:36:47)

Take a vitamin supplement and take a brake, File them every day and stop using fake ones, it ruins your nails and makes them weak and thin. Ans you get a better sound with real ones . I used fake ones , glue and when to the salon. it took 6 months for my nails to get strong again. they get strong from eating well and blunting them by filing a lot, and keep em short. Just my 2 cents, don't know if it would work for everyone.



guitarbuddha -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 23:41:30)

I just read through this thread and was disappointed that the word clumsiness didn't come up.

I've never broken a nail for any other reason.

D.



bernd -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 30 2014 23:49:33)

quote:

ORIGINAL: edgar884
they get strong from eating well and blunting them by filing a lot, and keep em short. Just my 2 cents, don't know if it would work for everyone.

Surely not. I tried as well. My nails are too weak and thin and get used up faster than they can grow. It´s the same effect like filing them down, but it´s made by playing on the bass strings rasgueo and picado. Eating well for a longer period made no effect. My choice is gel and nothing else.



aeolus -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 11:33:52)

quote:

I just read through this thread and was disappointed that the word clumsiness didn't come up.

I've never broken a nail for any other reason.


I would have thought that that was self evident. But accidents do happen despite how adroit we are. I find building up the nail with glue strengthens the nail and makes the inevitable slip less of a danger. But as a lowly amature just having a bit of nail at all is enough. Here is how a master approches in meticulous fashion the shaping of his nails.




El Burdo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 11:51:01)

quote:

Very good experience I´ve made with Catherine Gel. The series is called "For Professional only".


Hi. Is this gel cured using UV light? I bought a UV set up but very quickly realised that the gel I bought was pretty short term, couldn't stand up to much use so ditched it. Still have the machine though. I use a nail protector OPI Nail Envy and Nail Experts by Avon, which is a nutrient application. This works really well for me, though I don't play all day and don't do an awful lot of rasgueo.

If the gel you refer to can be bought online I'd like to have a go, but the experts are pretty close with sourcing the good stuff! (I don't blame them, you gots to make a living).

I've used silk and cyanoacrylate, false nails with acrylate but it destroyed the nail beneath and was immensely fiddly. It also seems as more of an assault on the nails when everything else about playing the guitar was more organic and natural. This opinion probably won't stand up for much scrutiny but I'll leave it with you anyway!



guitarbuddha -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 12:49:26)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aeolus

quote:

I just read through this thread and was disappointed that the word clumsiness didn't come up.

I've never broken a nail for any other reason.


I would have thought that that was self evident.



And yet .......



orsonw -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 13:27:56)

quote:

I just read through this thread and was disappointed that the word clumsiness didn't come up.

I've never broken a nail for any other reason.


Perhaps good temperament and/or strong nails have protected you if you've never broken anything after playing a lot for baile?

Please have sympathy for those, like myself, without perfect technique whose nails sometimes break or get worn down when getting carried away in those rare moments of accompaniment clumsiness!

Superglue and silk ruined my nails but UV gel works very well for me. I use 'biosculpture' and find that it's important to use a mix of two different gels for it to work; 'clear gel' base (softer), 'S gel' (harder) on top. Varying the numbers/types of layers means either just protection from rasgeo wearing down the nail or more substantial stiffening and strengthening. If you need very hard nails, silk can be used too.

Please could the OP mention which Catherine gel/gels and method he uses?



guitarbuddha -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 14:07:12)

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw



Please have sympathy for those, like myself, without perfect technique whose nails sometimes break or get worn down when getting carried away in those rare moments of accompaniment clumsiness!




I am not trying to be insulting or unsympathetic Orson.
Clumsiness is the reason for most nail problems. I think that it is important that that be mentioned.

Not all readers will be accompanying dance classes. If they are breaking nails in their bedroom then maybe the first resort should be accuracy and not pharmacy.

D.



mark indigo -> [Deleted] (Jan. 31 2014 14:26:01)

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Jan. 31 2014 14:26:55



britguy -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 20:44:10)

quote:

please have sympathy for those, like myself, without perfect technique whose nails sometimes break


Yes, true indeed. I play every day, and quite hard ( and somewhat crude) but have hardly ever broken a nail when playing.

My natural nails were never that strong; and I break a lot when doing farm work. But the 'self-cut plastic bits' seem to work well for me, once I got the knack of putting them on. 3-4 weeks is averagel replacement time. Takes me about 10-15 minutes to do a nail.

I think the silk/glue method is probably faster, but have little experience with their longevity?



Ricardo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Jan. 31 2014 23:15:06)

cyanoacralate glue w brush....and only that.



machopicasso -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 10:09:05)

quote:

cyanoacralate glue w brush....and only that.


I thought Krazy Glue was your preferred choice. Did you switch?



Ricardo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 13:32:12)

quote:

ORIGINAL: machopicasso

quote:

cyanoacralate glue w brush....and only that.


I thought Krazy Glue was your preferred choice. Did you switch?



"Krazy glue" is one of many brand names for the exact same substance.



britguy -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 14:23:27)

quote:

cyanoacralate glue w brush....and only that.


Sure. I'd be very happy to be able to do just that. Would save me a lot of trouble and aggravation.

Unfortunately, doesn't work well for my nails.

They develop bad hooks when painted with krazy glue.

If I could find a glue that didn't create that problem I'd use it.



Sr. Martins -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 15:17:15)

Just get this:




I dont even do the treatment (twice a week), I just apply once or twice a month. My nails aren't thin but its so humid here right now that they get a bit bendy. I apply this think to the tips and the nails get and immediate boost of strenght that seem to last until you file off that part of the nail.

To those who already have strong nails, consider this as a 10db boost to your playing [:D]

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timoteo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 18:02:50)

Mavala is formaldehyde. While it does harden nails, it also makes them brittle. Formaldehyde, which is toxic and a carcinogen, is absorbed into your body directly through the skin and nails as well as through fumes.

Personally, I would stay far away from formaldehyde-based products.



Sr. Martins -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 18:43:26)

quote:

Mavala is formaldehyde. While it does harden nails, it also makes them brittle. Formaldehyde, which is toxic and a carcinogen, is absorbed into your body directly through the skin and nails as well as through fumes.

Personally, I would stay far away from formaldehyde-based products.



If you bathe in formaldehyde that might not be good for you. There are regulamentations on substances and the percentage of formaldehyde here is very low. It also helps if you dont dip your nail on the stuff.

As I said, once a month only on the tips is enough for me. I only had to use glue once to experience brittle nails so I decided that I wasn't going that route.



guitarbuddha -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 18:50:26)

I've known personally one person who blames his chronically inflamed inflamed fingertips on superglue.

He hasn't applied any in over twenty years (and I assume, rightly or wrongly, that he never bathed in glue) and his fingertips look really quite dreadful and he reports painful sensitivity to this day.

I have very little personal experience of using superglue but when I have used it I found the tone terrible.

D.



El Kiko -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 20:09:39)

how about changing the thread title to

Real nails vs Plastic nails vs silk and glue?

How about them ,, seem to have been forgotten and I think they are the best you can get ., as many 'nail tougheners also make the nail brittle in the long run ...



aeolus -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 21:32:47)

I don't think anyone would coat or treat their nails in anyway if they didn't have to. Mine will split though they didn't when I was younger. They would hook but that can be dealt with by filing. Before superglue if you broke a nail tough stuff you would just have to wait until it grew out. No problem for an amature but it must have been hell for the pros.



mark indigo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 21:45:24)

quote:

I have very little personal experience of using superglue but when I have used it I found the tone terrible.


every pro flamenco player I have ever met has used superglue/cyanoacrylate glue in some form or other, with or without acrylic powder.... I guess that's the "flamenco" tone...



El Burdo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 1 2014 23:11:41)

Yes. I had a lesson with a very good player, a new arrival in London straight from the University in Cordoba, and he painted his nails several times during the lesson with superglue. When I mentioned it, he shrugged as if to say 'what are you going to do?'.
(He also came over expecting a flourishing flamenco scene in London and was VERY disappointed.)



Ricardo -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 2 2014 18:00:25)

quote:

ORIGINAL: britguy

quote:

cyanoacralate glue w brush....and only that.


Sure. I'd be very happy to be able to do just that. Would save me a lot of trouble and aggravation.

Unfortunately, doesn't work well for my nails.

They develop bad hooks when painted with krazy glue.

If I could find a glue that didn't create that problem I'd use it.



this topic comes up so often on the foro and in the real world. Here is the deal. Yes the glue dries and hardens the nail in addition to protecting it. When it dries the nail curves a bit too. This turns out to be desirable if you then learn the proper way to file the nails. THis is a VERY tricky topic (filing) as it requires 3D and difficult to convey with verbal descriptions only. THe basic idea is after the glue dries and the nails are curved, you file side to side in ONE direction only...not around corners and such. THe straight edge you create by filing flat slices through beaks and hooks and such so you have sort of ramp and increased surface area so the string glides smoothly across the nails and creates a rounder fuller crisp tone. Natural nails bend a bit over the string and many players prefer that as they get used to it, and the nail shape becomes less significant if the nails are bending or giving over the string. Still issues can arise so learning to file correctly is always gonna help in the long run.

Depending how much you play or perform one could get away with natural nails. Diet will do very little to help a player that is doing A LOT of hard rasgueado. There is not much point to argue this fact. Especially thanks to the metal wound bass strings, it is equivalent to taking a small metal file to the back of your nails. If you are doing some hard rasgueado everyday, you are not going to get away with natural nails all the time.

some very busy players that play hard all the time complain they wear the glue off right away. I have to say there can be a bit of over playing involved in this scenario, but I don't want to take that away from a player if it is their personal style. But some care can be put into glue treatment. Dont EVER try to remove it (that is what makes nails brittle not the cyano itself), if holes develop simply fill it in when ever possible. Keep the stuff handy at all times so you can always have some layer of protection. Before and after a 3hour show or even in the intermission will eliminate needs for acrylics and fakes IMO, no matter how aggressive you play. In addition to keep it handy, keep it in a plastic bag, keep it fresh like food and drink. It goes bad and then flakes off easy when it goes bad. Don't be afraid to discard it for this reason long before you finish using the tiny bottle. Lastly Krazy glue and brush on nail glue products are NOT the same as "superglue"....there are some different ingrediants. Cyanoacrylate is non toxic, you can eat it or cover open wounds with it (orginally developed for surgery and used instead of stitches even today)...but certain other chemicals in superglue etc, probably not so healthy.


Ricardo



aeolus -> RE: Plastic nails vs silk and glue? (Feb. 2 2014 18:25:20)



And it is cyanoacrylate. Available from Fingernails for guitarists

https://guitarplayernails.com/index.php?cPath=65

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