One approach to stronger fingernails

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

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.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1] 2 > >>

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

One approach to stronger fingernails

For as long as I can remember I have had very strong fingernails and playing flamenco guitar was not a problem. In forty-five years I broke three fingernails. Each incident is vivid in my memory incidentally!

About a year ago I had to start taking some medication prescribed by my doctor and noticed that my nails were a mess! They would wear at the point where the nail contacted the string after about twenty minutes of playing. I would have to file the nail before the problem became worse. The nails would split and break for the most minor reason. What to do?

At the beginning of the year I asked Juan Serrano what he does to protect his nails. He told me he used two or three coats of Sally Hansen “Hard as Nails”. So I went off to the drug store with my wife to find the suggested product.

Yikes! There were six different Sally Hansen “Hard as Nails” products – each a bit different. Now what do I do? Well, I bought one that says, “with Nylon” and began using it.

The first application covered the entire nail of each finger of the right hand. Then I thought that I did not like the concept of covering the whole nail. From then on I applied the product to only the top of the nail that was exposed and not directly attached to the tip of the finger. I also apply a thin coat to the edge of the exposed nail. Two to three coats are applied once a week. I file my nails once a week and then apply the coating.

Well, it is almost May and I have not had a nail problem. So I thought I would pass this on to others who may have a problem with nail strength for whatever reason.

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2005 19:17:10

Escribano

Posts: 6403
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

quote:

Well, I bought one that says, “with Nylon” and began using it.

Yes, I use it when my nails weaken (ill-health, I suspect). Great stuff and lasts a good week or two. If you get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a seriously broken nail, then superglue and toilet tissue work well as a stop-gap.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin
My Photos

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 30 2005 19:34:40

Ramón

Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Basically what I do, but as I surf, I just do the whole nail at night, then in the morning, I buff them, so it doesn't look so.....well, let's just say when I ask a girl out and my nails are nicer than hers.......

But that whole selection thing IS the problem....it's like 400 products that are 'tough as nails', which is a crock, as they are all the same and really don't strengthen all that much. The biotin made a VERY quick difference, but seemed to achieve the dif' quickly, then that was it...no real gains since then. That's why I was curious about that other product, (but someone wasn't too thrilled about the company selling it! Wonder what that was all about...lol)

I just have/had weak nails. My mom's are VERY thick, but for me, I just did the double silkwrap on the last 1/3rd, then covered with a polish and buffed. That was about the best I found, but now, nothing beats your own nails with just a light coat to protect once in awhile... And DON'T USE THE ACETONE NAIL REMOVER STUFF!!! Get the non-acetone!

Just really nice to have this forum - for anything about playing - to turn to...

Thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 1 2005 1:36:57

Alan Green

Posts: 19
Joined: Apr. 1 2005

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

I use the Sally Hansen, too. I get it from my local supermarket.

Best,

A :-)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 1 2005 12:25:54

Ricardo

Posts: 14231
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Brush on nail glue, spread over the entire nail. Works great, really is "hard", and comes off naturally after a week or two.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 1 2005 15:18:11

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

The British flamenco guitarist Philip John Lee uses Sally Hansen Hard As Nails with nylon as well.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 1 2005 20:58:30

Guest

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to frhout)

ALL nail polishes leave the nail surface too soft, they never set hard enough, and a few strong rasguedos bring off several layers at once. Super glue is the only stuff that sets hard enough. I have terrible nails, and on every one is Super glue, and silk, I have found its the only thing that works. Arcrilics seem to chip off, or after a week or two peel off, and also create a dull tone on the guitar.
Dave

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 2 2005 12:11:31

Mark2

Posts: 1805
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

I studied with a guitarist from Madrid who used nothing on his nails. I asked how he could play for dance like that and he goes "like this" and nails a couple of loud rasquedos. I realized he didn't break his nails because he was simply more accurate than me. So I stopped using acrylic and any other stuff and concentrated on being more precise and less flailing. Now I only break a nail when I get too excited and out of control-which does happen to me sometimes. Then I just keep playing, or if I think a gig requires a nail I'll do the acrylic thing myself. For guys who play several hours every day though, they may need to do something.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 2 2005 16:50:35

gshaviv

Posts: 272
Joined: Mar. 22 2005
From: Israel

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Mark2)

I have very brittle nails, one of them over the years grew this groove that is a weeknes point that keeps breaking, and the others just chip away very fast. I tried all the Nail hardners out there, including Sally Hansen and Orly's Nail Armor. Like Mark said they would rub off with a few good rasguedos, usually taking some of the nail with them. They would also tend to dry the nail.

Super glue seemed to set too hard and would break too often for me.

I tried acrylics but they were too thick to play comfortably.

I now use a combination of Onymyrrhe and biotin. Onymyrrhe is an extract from some plant, you rub it on the nail daily and it fortifies the nail. Works really well. Biotin is a type of B vitamin that has been shown to promote thicker nails.

_____________________________

Guy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 2 2005 23:55:46

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to frhout)

Just got a couple of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails with nylon. There is a sticker on top of the orginal ingredients and Sally Hansen has changed the formula - formaldehyde is not there anymore, so cancer should be less of a problem.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2006 16:53:44

luke.park

Posts: 114
Joined: Dec. 29 2005

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

ive had many bad experiences

i used to use the layer of glue ricardo, but it was loctite stuff and eventually i found it was burning through the nail. this was when it became painful to put it on and after that when there wasnt an ugly mess of glue on them, i realised it had burnt the nail thinner than paper and so i was stuffed.

since then ive used no products and just file maybe snip my nails to shape when i need and they have got pretty damn strong naturally.

btw i heard if you cut your nail with clippers it stimulates them to grow back stronger whereas filing them wont have this effect.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2006 23:02:41

ricecrackerphoto

Posts: 265
Joined: Feb. 5 2006

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to luke.park)

after using several nail care polishes (the best one being OPIs matte nail hardener which isn't shiny but it costs $$$!) i've found a non polish solution.

i've been taking calcium-magnesium tablets for the past four months and they have made my nails super hard to the point where brittleness is an issue. my nails have always been thin and soft and these pills have turned that around. i take 500mg a day which is the reccomended dose and my nails are now strong enough that in the first week i scratched my face by accident.

a friend was taking these per doctors orders and noticed that her nails were getting ridiculous and told me about it.

my nails grow in much slower now but the difference is huge. my attack is crisper and brighter and my golpes are louder and more satisfying.

doug

ps-i neglected my toe nails for a few weeks and put a hole in one of my dress socks. now that's a testimonial!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2006 23:55:55

Posts: 320
Joined: Nov. 20 2005
From: manitoba, canada

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

I think Maby when you first start leaning flamenco guitar tecnique
ya might try a little harder....use less finness and dynamics....play more just to get the idea
So you might need really hard nails cuz you pound alot ...acrylics needed

But as you progress you might get the feel you want by playing less
Then your nails might not wear out so fast... drop the acrylics and try some type of hardener
I use Witchcraft
Its working for me

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 0:50:54

chaz

Posts: 1
Joined: Apr. 10 2006

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

One product that many guitarists use is called "Onymyrrhe", it is 100% natural and is applied daily to the nail and promotes strong healthy nail growth.

Rico Stover recommends it in his book "The Guitarists Guide to Fingernails"
Originally it was used to strengthen elephant hooves, it is an extract from the myrrhe plant and contains no chemicals.

It is in stock at www.the-sensual-world.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 9:34:00

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Spam ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 10:39:07

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to frhout)

quote:

Sally Hansen has changed the formula - formaldehyde is not there anymore, so cancer should be less of a problem.

Now all that we have to worry about is the air we breath, the beverages and food we eat, and heredity. But not to worry – four out of five people will die of heart related ailments!

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 15:03:51

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

A week ago I read a new interview with Paco Cepero.

He said, he used just one time the japanese fast glue. And it burned his nails away! He said he tryed half a jear to get good nails again. He had to play without nails for a longer time coz of that glue. Than he said, he uses the stuff again which women put on theyr nails. This works fine.

So, watch up. Not all chemicals are not agressive!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 15:20:29

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Tom,
you crack me up! (make me laugh, in an earlier parlance :))

I used to eat fast food every single day, drink Diet Coke by the gallon, and take multiple Advils and Sudafeds just to function!

Now I go with water and have just started a garden in my back yard. Can't wait for the tomatoes to come in!

_____________________________

Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it.
https://www.facebook.com/migueldemariaZ

Arizona Wedding Music Guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2006 16:30:12

bahen

Posts: 374
Joined: Mar. 4 2006

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Here's something you might not have encountered before - what on earth do you do with nails that curve? I cannot get my nails very long at all because they curve at a certain point! How annoying is that? Anyone with any suggestions?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2006 4:42:01

henrym3483

Posts: 1576
Joined: Nov. 13 2005
From: Limerick,Ireland

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to bahen)

i used to use ecrinel, though as of late my teacher told me to use pure olive oil and rub in at the cuticles and it is working, apparently he said they use it to toughen horses hooves in spain.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2006 12:14:59

Ricardo

Posts: 14231
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to bahen)

quote:

Here's something you might not have encountered before - what on earth do you do with nails that curve? I cannot get my nails very long at all because they curve at a certain point! How annoying is that? Anyone with any suggestions?

A common problem that is easily fixed by filing and shaping the nail properly. Check out Scott Tenant's Pumping Nylon Video to see different nail shapes and suggested ways to file them. In the mean time, start letting the edges grow out, file flat, use brush on nail glue.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2006 3:44:07

bahen

Posts: 374
Joined: Mar. 4 2006

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Hey Ricardo, many thanks for the advice. I already use brush-on super-glue for my pulgar. I will start using it for the other nails as well, does it really help with the curving? So the idea is, if I file flat and let the parallel edges of the nail grow, the curvature will diminish? The curving is annoying with picado runs. I usually keep the nails very short so to avoid the problem altogether, but that does, of course, effect tone.

I googled the video you refered to, and it's $40 USD. Thanks for the pointer. I don't anticipate purchasing it, however.

-bahen

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2006 6:02:21

Ricardo

Posts: 14231
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to bahen)

quote:

So the idea is, if I file flat and let the parallel edges of the nail grow, the curvature will diminish?

Well, you get more nail material to work with, a more round tone, and the hook or "beak" in the center, you can keep shorter. You can use a ramp depending on the wrist angle you like to play with. The point is when you file "flat", you slice through the "beak", and create a straight plane for the string to travel. Finger nail on the file at an angle 45 deg. or more, (less than 90 though), and you file side to side and keep the same angle and position, no rounding. Your nail will still grow however it grows, but the string won't see anything other than that straight line you made, no hooks, bumps, hills, etc. Without seeing your nails in "3D" and the way you play, I can't tell you precisely the best way to file, I just know there does exist a way. I can only type so much, but a 3D video speaks a thousand words. He shows different nail shape and shows different "ramp" ideas. I hope you change your mind on the vid because it has lots of good info, even if your focus is flamenco, not classical.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2006 6:41:27

bahen

Posts: 374
Joined: Mar. 4 2006

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

Ricardo, thanks for the advice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2006 18:17:13

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to frhout)

Philip John Lee.

Now, there's a great player.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 19 2006 17:08:05

cneberg

Posts: 257
Joined: Apr. 20 2006
From: Sončno polje pri Večnosti

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

I also think that the playing technique is the most important. The better your right hand position is less problems you have with your nails, at least from my experiences. The only problematic nail for me now is a tumb nail. I have a plastic nail on, but I don't like it, it's too stiff. Maybe I should try this "acrylic powder" and super glue thing......

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 20 2006 21:10:22

AntonioM

Posts: 32
Joined: Apr. 15 2008
From: Linares

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

A college professor who teaches a classical guitar master class told me that Pepe Romero told him he used Ceramic Glaze by Fabrege. The stuff allegedly wears like iron. I myself used to drink Knox geletin. The wife made a jello like dessert out of it by using fruit juice instead of water and letting it gel in the refrigerator. I have also used a fantastic product called HARD AS HOOF for two days, a nail stregthening cream prior to putting on 3 coats of Nutra Nail Maximum Strength nail hardner.

If I am playing for a dancer or a long gig, I also still use a product called Swinger Tips. They stopped making them 35 years ago in England. The manufacturer's rep in New Jersey send me all he had in his garage which he was going to toss away. They are clear strips of ultra thin plastic shapped like each nail on your hand. They come off like the backing of a bandaid. I file away the exess at the tip and they hold up for a week or so. I am down to my last 3 packs of 12 sets. When I run out of them, I will go back to the 3 coats of Nutra Nail Maximum Strength nail hardner. I never tried the Ceramic Glaze by Fabrege. I am told it is available only in Australia.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2008 16:18:19

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

I posted a thread elsewhere about this, but I've tried a few things because I have naturally very nails which shred and tear rather than crack or break.

I work in construction, I'm a safety officer and the first aid attendant (constructions version of a company nurse, I can treat a lot of people in a week). Occasionally (i.e. far too often) I have to pitch in and do other people's jobs and I tend to wear gloves when I do because I may need to treat someone in the field in an emergency so I need my hands as clean as possible, enough at least to put on surgical gloves.
Work gloves also protect the nails, but sweaty/wet gloves cause any kind of polish-like hardening product to flake off. This lead me to observe how these hardeners, only worked while actually coating my nails, but they actually resulted in weaker nails when I removed the varnish.

The solution I found was Iodides Tincture (de-colourised iodine, a.k.a. white iodine). Regular tincture of iodine would work too, but it would turn your nails orange.

Basically, you apply the iodine daily for the first week or two and then cut down to once or twice a week afterwards.
I had good results by applying it initially under the nail and across the top of the nail with particular attention to the area near the cuticles.

I also found that it made my cuticles hard, so I took to using a cuticle cream to ensure the nails stayed nourished (massaging the cuticles promotes blood flow and growth).

As an experiment, I used it on my right hand only, so that my left could act as a control. My nails on my right had became stiffer very quickly and within a week I cut my left nails and trimmed a bit off the tips of the right hand nails and found that the right hand nails required more force and made more noise when clipped.

I'm actually doing some research trying to find out what it does exactly, all I know is that I haven't broken or shredded a nail once since I started.

For those people who have had good results supplementing with biotin, the reason is that biotin contains sulfur. Sulfur apparently stimulates growth as well as plays a part in adding strength to keratin in nails. So... try supplementing methionine, which is an essential amino acid that provides sulfur.

Here's an article I found in my researches or "iodine sulfur keratin" which oddly has a good number of the disparate facts I'd found that caused me to create that search term:

quote:

Biotin has received more attention in terms of hoof growth than any other nutrient. Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that is generally produced by bacterial growth in the horse's hindgut in sufficient amounts to meet nutritional needs. But some horses appear to benefit from supplemental biotin. Studies have shown increased hoof growth and improved hoof quality (less cracking) in horses supplemented with 15 to 60 mg of biotin per day.

Methionine is an essential amino acid (meaning it must be provided in the diet), some of which is converted into cystine in the horse's tissues. Both methionine and cystine contain sulfur, which is an essential element in the formation of keratin.

Supplementing methionine, iodine and essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) has improved hoof quality in horses and cattle. Organic forms of zinc (zinc molecules attached to amino acids), which are more readily absorbed than inorganic forms, have also been shown to increase the rate of hoof growth and hoof wall density when added to the horse's diet.

If you have a horse with a history of poor hoof condition, use a supplement that contains biotin (at least 20 mg per daily dose) in addition to iodine, organic zinc and methionine. Since each of these nutrients has resulted in improving hoof quality, there may be some synergies in providing them all in one supplement. There are several such hoof supplements on the market.

Still, it may take nine months or more to see a marked improvement.

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0702foodfeet.shtml

_____________________________

Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2008 17:36:27

Munin

Posts: 595
Joined: Sep. 30 2008
From: Hong Kong

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)

To the few other Germans on the Foro: Can anyone recommend me a good equivalent of the Sally Hansen stuff that would be available in German stores? I'm getting really frustrated about my ****ty nails.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 29 2008 8:20:08

bursche

Posts: 1182
Joined: Jul. 19 2007
From: Frankfurt, Germany

RE: One approach to stronger fingernails (in reply to Munin)

I used a simple nail varnish by "Jade" for a time (was called "foreverstrong professional"). It protected the nails for quite a long time and only slowly disappeared through playing so that I could use it for 2 weeks or so, but meanwhile I've decided to do that nevermore, because my nails got much stronger by just letting them grow and then regularly filing them. My Thumbnail got hard as hell! I cut vegetables with it =)

_____________________________

Visit me on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRaGz6Lf-Uz0HxUv-dGQFLQ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 29 2008 8:30:02