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.
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
i use a nail hardener called opi envy. it's been working well but not well enough anymore. i bought some of the flexinail (see ad to the left) stuff and will report back.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
Someone on this forum posted a couple of months ago with a tip I tried. He (or she) said to kind of round down the far sides of the nails, so it's like a smooth line from the top down to the sides. So you have a smooth line there, rather than an angle. (Not sure if that makes sense.)
I'd often break a nail right at that point while doing various mundane everyday activities (skydiving, snowboarding, dishwashing, chicken-plucking etc) and doing this has helped me. I am a complete newbie and useless at flamenco guitar, so I haven't bothered with anything more tricky than this.
That said, every couple of months I go ten-pin bowling and my thumb nail breaks almost immediately every time. I think ten-pin bowling is certainly a bad hobby for real flamenco guitarists. Fortunately I'm just an unambitious hobbyist!
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
I am fortunate enough that I have quite strong nails. So i keep them shortish and touch them up with file every 2/3 days.
Apart from that I do not do anything.
I also take care not to perform tasks that might result in nail breaking. Usually it works, but I broke my nails a couple of times. Since I am not a performer, I just let it grow back.
As fas as bowling goes - I tried to do it left handed, but it sucked si I don't play this game (never liked it really anyways :))
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
ORIGINAL: at_leo_87
i use a nail hardener called opi envy. it's been working well but not well enough anymore. i bought some of the flexinail (see ad to the left) stuff and will report back.
That's interesting Anthony, cos I started using nail envy after you recommended it. It certainly is the best product of the many I've tried. But like you it's not quite as effective now. In fact I broke both a and i nails on Wednesday first time for ages I've had such a disaster.
Let us know how the flexinail goes. I know it sometimes takes a while to find out if it's really working.
Posts: 1950
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Odie)
i used to use glue but then i realized i didn't need it, perhaps i'm lucky but my nails never break, i keep them short and file them every other day, that helps keeping them strong enough...
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
I file them every other day and I finish off with automotive sand paper so that they are smooth (it's cheaper and lasts longer than the fine nail files).
I find my nails break if they are too long and hit them against something during day to day activities, luckily, I prefer them short except for the thumb. If I see they are not perfectly smooth I file them immediately.
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Ailsa)
quote:
That's interesting Anthony, cos I started using nail envy after you recommended it. It certainly is the best product of the many I've tried. But like you it's not quite as effective now. In fact I broke both a and i nails on Wednesday first time for ages I've had such a disaster.
yes, exactly! it just doesn't work the same after awhile anymore. weird! i have a theory that after awhile, it makes the nail TOO hard and therefore more dry and brittle. there's another opi product that's intended just for maintenance. that might work but i want to try something different first.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Doitsujin)
quote:
You have to pee on your nails every second day. After 6 weeks you will see. your nails will be nearly unbreakable!
I heard the same story, Doit! (There's supposed to be something about urea strengthening nails.)
But it can't be your own.. for some reason it doesn't work..
So you really need to get someone else (non family members) to pee on your nails...which could be quite difficult to explain away convincingly without misinterpretation of your motives...
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
Well, I spent £18 on The Emergency Nail Kit - Riconails. I followed all the instructions, but ended up sounding utter crap. Binned them. I was looking for something I could take on and off, which is how these nails are advertised, but really there is no substitute for the real thing. So I remain the world's only no-nails flamenco guitarist - well I would be if I could play flamenco guitar...
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
quote:
But it can't be your own.. for some reason it doesn't work..
So you really need to get someone else (non family members) to pee on your nails...which could be quite difficult to explain away convincingly without misinterpretation of your motives...
aaahahaha... Ron.. Yes.. now I remember! You are right. Im completely d accord! ;.)
Well,.. ok. I used a nice method for protecting my nails, for over a decade. I already explained it in past..but I want to contribute something beside doing the clown.. So here again: (Well..I dont use this method anymore..but for demonstration I did it one last time. I give my best all for the foro!!
I used tissue (see below) to protect my nails. It has several layers. I cut out ca. 1cm x 6mm pieces and glued them one after the other on the very tip of my nails. Only the front 4-5 mm were covered. Not the whole nail, because this protection breaks after a week. I used for the index, middle and ring finger 2 layers max and for the thumb.
Here I had some spare time to waste! I made a guitarists nail guide cartoon! *Awesome!* lol
1.U need tissue. 2. cut out small pieces. Cut from the middle, there where nothng is stamped in the tissue. 3. u see... just a single layer. Take the layers apart and glue individually. 4. Glue which girls and fags use to glue fake nails on their nails. You can take it away without damageing the nail. 5. u see. Put the piece on the very tip of the nail. For the thumb, only on the side that hits the string. 6. Put a drop of glue on top. 7. Put another layer on top. same positioning as before. 8. Put glue on top... 9. Also glue it from the other side. 10. guess what. 11. see...looks stupid but that are some pieces of tissue gluing on my nail. 12. glue on top to finish it. you dont want to have dry tissue on top. That would beak. The top layer must be glue. 13. Close the tube withut using the thumb. 14. close it .... 15. When its half dry, cut along the nail. 16. you see...thats the tissue I cut off. 17. file the dry protectionfrom all sides. Also the top must be even. 18.File as fast as you can. 18b. When u r done. Put another drop of glue on the protection to close all micro-holes. I just forgot the picture. 19. u see. Its done. Looks like your nail. 20. Done. u see..its almost as thin as your real nail. Its still flexible and you can take it off after a week without damageing your nail. (The teeth are natural white of course.
21. I cant belive I just prepared a guitarists nail protection guide... OMG! hahaha ^^
22. find somebody who is not a family member who pees on your nail.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Doitsujin)
Thanks for the guide there Doit!
This is the classic (Spanish) nail protection, simply because it WORKS!
Sure, it takes a while to do and folk just want instant results out of a bottle..but I'm afraid.. that's life..
Another method I saw in Spain was to use "cloth" style (non-waterproof) sticking plaster (Band aid, Elastoplast etc)...the type that comes on rolls with no lint inner part. Stick onto the nail and cut and shape and then cover with thin layers of glue, allowing each application a few minutes to dry. When the plaster can absorb no more glue and starts to look shiny, let dry completely then file the edges.
Takes about an hour to do and lasts about a week.
Disadvantages are that if you cover a big part of the nail, it becomes thinner and thinner with time and you have to use it all the time. (just like drug addiction).
It can hardly be the glue lifting part of the nail as it comes off, since no glue is applied directly to the nail...only the adhesive on the plaster.
My own theory is that it has something to do with daylight (UV) being blocked.
Just a hunch as I can see no other mechanism at work here..
I don't use anything anymore since I only play as a hobby, but if I did, then after trying loads of stuff, I would definitely give this FlexiNail stuff a go as it avoids this UV problem (in my own mind anyway).
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
hey doit, i use the same protection once in awhile too. but what kind of super glue do you use? the stuff i use comes off relatively fast with some hard rasgueados. but im using superglue made for nails. maybe it's weaker than the normal kind?
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
I use these... the brush is must, it makes it so much easier to make nice thin layers. And I think thin is wanted because many thin layers make stronger surface than one thick. The powder is something called pmma powder. Polymethylmetacrylat powder. Its used by dentists to make prosthesis teeth. Its amazing, I dont have to wait at all for the glue to dry, I just dip my finger to the powder and immediately I have a hard and durable nail. I make three thin layers and polish it and it only takes about 5 minutes. This has really helped my nail care
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
As far as breaking nails, ive only ever had damage problems from activities other than guitar.
Playing doesnt break my nails, it just wears them down. Actually, the index nail is the one that really wears down. The rest are fine. A certain amount of wear is ok, cause nails are always growing back, so i dont have to file as much. But my index wears down a bit quickly when practicing alot of picado on the bass strings. Ive used acrylic, silk, and different glues, but the last couple of years, i have become really into bare, natural nails. The sound is great. You have to moisturize them alot. Thats the key. They cant be "hard". They have to be "strong", but plyable. Not brittle. And you have to just learn how to use your right hand around the house, and in the yard. That's a skill in itself actually.
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
I agree that the best thing is not to put anything, but.... I played long time without anything on the nails. I found a good shape and kept them quite short and they didnt brake. Also I was rubbing olive oil to them to keep them fresh but... then I started to accompany dance classes and was not able to play as loud strumming I wanted without braking I or M nail. Now I can bang as much as I want and have secure feeling and not to worry if I should brake a nail. The next thing is ofcourse to get somekind of amplification for dance classes, then the volume would be enough with a little less power.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to aleksi)
I use that nasty smelling acryllic stuff...... I have to go outside to do it. Lasts a month. never lets me down. Allows me to bash guitars and piss off the bare natural nail guys.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Rob MacKillop)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Rob MacKillop
Well, I spent £18 on The Emergency Nail Kit - Riconails. I followed all the instructions, but ended up sounding utter crap. Binned them. I was looking for something I could take on and off, which is how these nails are advertised, but really there is no substitute for the real thing. So I remain the world's only no-nails flamenco guitarist - well I would be if I could play flamenco guitar...
Well you may not be the only one.
No nails here either. I play steel string with fingers too and can't have any protruding nails since the steel strings rip em right off. I am playing "fake flamenco" on a nylon string in a trio right now and rely on the callouses on my finger tips, not my nails. I am working to learn the real thing but will probably have to make a go of it with no nails.
RE: So let's talk about our nails, g... (in reply to Neotriz)
my nails have become really strong and i havnt broken one yet, but i have to file them every couple of days. im still having trouble learning how to do it right though, when i follow all the instruction i have seen, i find i get bits of nail that grabs the string
do other people find that the curved nature of the nail makes it hard to get it right? i have small thin gingers so the nail is not very wide
Printable Version
Fortunately I'm just an unambitious hobbyist!
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