Acrylic Nails

[cobalt1254]

A few years ago i went to a nail shop and had acrylic nails put on my picking hand. Only on my thumb and three fingers. It took a bit to file them the way I wanted them but they really worked out great, made my playing sound a lot better also. Over a period of about six months, Broke off or cracked each one of the nails. When I went in to get them repaired I thought they would put a new tip but all they needed to do was just put acrylic fill over the existing nail. I really liked them better when the fake tips were gone and they were "my" nails but with acrylic fill on them. Last year I stopped maintaining them and eventually all the acrylic fill is gone and my nails are left. They never really grow out long because I seem to break them and they seem to be weak. I know they sell acrylic kits that come with the powder to mix and nail tips. Im not interested in using any more nail tips but I wondering if anyone here has experience with just putting the acrylic fill over their existing nails and then that would allow the nails to grow out because they never break with the fill on them. Has anyone tried by doing it yourself and not going to a nail shop? Thanks.

[cosmicmechanic]

Hi there,
My nails are pretty hard generally. I noticed that happened way back when I quit smoking and stuck raw veggies and apples in the hole that the cigarettes used to be in.

That said, it's happened twice over the past 6 months that my thumbnail has split on the impact side pretty low down.
That is, lower than you could even clip it off. So letting that go unattended is like tearing half your thumbnail off. :woohoo:

The solution I've found is to apply successive drops of the nail glue that is used for fake nails, letting them dry between coats.
My wife suggested I even imbed a super-thin layer of tissue paper into the first coat, and it does add some strength.

Then at least the thumbnail can grow back to a clippable length. Every few days, I add another drop of glue and orient my thumb so it dries ok.

And when I am at a checkout counter and either give payment or receive my change, I place my hand in a way that my weird-looking thumbnail is not so obvious.

So, that is my life-story ... if I had shortened my thumbnail just a bit before it gave in, none of this would be necessary.

My humble suggestion is to eat your veggies (and apples) and find the fingernail length, or "breaking" point, that is workable

Pierre

[tovo]

I can't grow nails to save my life. As soon as I start to get them going they snap off, so I have actually been thinking about going for false ones. At least 2 artists I know of who are great players do this.

My only problem is going into a salon and asking for false nails! What will they think!

Anyway, perhaps my wife can help me....once she stops laughing.

[Chasplaya]

tovo wrote:

I can't grow nails to save my life. As soon as I start to get them going they snap off, so I have actually been thinking about going for false ones. At least 2 artists I know of who are great players do this.

My only problem is going into a salon and asking for false nails! What will they think!

Anyway, perhaps my wife can help me....once she stops laughing.

They do some lovely art work and really vibrant colours nowadays I hear

[RicksPick]

Im lucky that my wife is a nail tech
I cannot grow my own to thin you see
I keep her busy Once a fortnight( if I keep them shortish) as im always breaking them
being a bloke I dont do gentle, sometimes the tip sometimes the sides
They have been acrilic now for almost a year, UV gell didnt hold out to long
when people hear I have false nails they snigger untill they hear its for guitar then they go " O right"
and its like its the most natural thing,

As for doing it yourself difficult depending on left or right handed
me being right handed,I would struggle using my left to controll a painting brush ( used to apply the stuff)
So if your a lefty guess you would have the same problem, cos you would want nails on the left hand and have to use your right
you see where im going,,,
My wife would say its very technical to get the mixture right, but after watching alot of times I could do it, if I was ambidextrous
and could spell, lol,

So I guess short answer is no, carnt do it yourself

to those that are concidering it and can afford it, For me the sound is better/louder/crisper

RicksPick

[pbraun]

I haven't done this yet because I generally use a pick, but I hope that changes. I went to James Taylors web site and in his lessons section he has a pretty neat way of maintaining his nails. Might want to check it out.
By the way I will see him in concert tonight!
Pete

[neverfoundthetime]

I guess my nails must be of the medium strength type, they grow well but can split at times. My thumb nail is magnificent though, nice length, shape and very strong. I was strongly tempted to proudly post a photo of it in Michele's tread a while back. The only thing is, I never seem to touch the strings with my thumb nail at all. I do use my 1st finger as a plectrum a lot but otherwise only contact the strings with nails of the other fingers when making a down stroke, never an up. I don't use a plectrum. I spend about 50% of my time playing the 12 string and 50% on the nylon string. So I don't need acrylic nails.

I'd really like to know how other folks are plucking and stroking their strings.... am doing things differently or is everyone else doing what I am doing? I have no choice, its just what happens. I don't seem to do much "by the book" anyway.

PS: Each time you clip a length of your nails, the North American and European plates move about the same distance and speed apart.... good job TG keeps us togther!

Yes Pete, I saw that clip of JT doing his nails... bored me to death ..... but I'd love to be at that concert tonight... have a great time and say hi from me!

[willem]

I don't need acryl nail eather,,i don't have long nails,,just a ietsi pietsi above the flesh,,i think most important thing is the claw position right and when you pick the strings don't hop to much(a teacher told me that i hop to much,,like a ballet),,now i try(i try) to stay very close to the strings(climb in it),,,well you don't really have to have long nails...


oh,never,never cut them all a way,,just care them and use a moisture to hard them..

[michelew]

I can't help with the acrylic nail question. I use my natural nails, which have actually become stronger as I've been fingerpicking. Although I think their improved strength and robustness is also dependent on my improved health over that time. Handy woman jobs around the house are a hazard to them and I've broken my thumb nail a couple of times doing heavy work and bowling.

So good health and avoiding nail breaking work helps.

For a little while I used a nail conditioner coating. It contained nail strengthening vitamins and minerals, etc. It seemed to help when I remembered to use it.

Tony, obviously not man enough to wear nails. Hey I didn't have to hand in my card when i grew my girly nails, so I'm guessing you won't need to hand in yours either.

M.

[jim56]

I too can't speak to the acrylic nail application. When I spoke with Edgar Cruz at his concert he says he uses acrylic.

Also heard John Renbourn say he uses ping pong balls cut to fit and glued on his nails.