Numerous guitarists struggle daily with nail problems, and rightly so because, with classical and acoustic guitar, the best sound is achieved by picking the strings with one’s natural nails. At least that’s an opinion I share with many other friends and fans. If guitarists who use nylon strings can have nail problems, imagine those who play acoustic!
In fact, not only are the strings made of steel, but they are also knurled and with higher tension, and the trouble is that if you play frequently, even if the nail doesn’t break, it will surely wear out. Perhaps this is also why not many acoustic guitarists are using natural nails.
Habits of acoustic guitarists
Let’s say that the habits of “steel strings players” are among the most diverse and bizarre: those who apply fake nails or clippings from plastic material (i.e. ping pong balls), those who use metal fingerpicks, those who use the naked fingertip.
Sculpture nails
Others apply “sculpture nails” using a mix of resin and various solvents. In the latter case, they also use dangerous chemicals such as cyanoacrylate glues harmful to skin and health.
Before a concert, it is reasonable that you use various methods to repair or strengthen your nails, but when some alternative practices become the rule, it is good to know that gluing something on top or, worse, under nails, we do nothing but weaken it.
Strengthen your nails without damaging them
If you decide to improve your sound choosing to pick the strings with your natural nails, let us see how to reinforce them.
In the presence of particularly fragile nails, it is advisable to analyze the problem from a medical point of view and, when needed, to start a diet to fill up any calcium deficiencies.
You can also use products based on keratin, naturally contained by nails, or a mixture obtained with one spoon of lemon juice with two spoons of olive oil.
Currently, the product that, in my opinion, guarantees the best results from a curative and hardening point of view is the Pentamedical ‘Pentaker’, to be applied it twice a week before going to bed. It is studied prescripted against onychophagia, so in contact with the mouth, it releases a bitter taste easily transferred to foods. That is the reason for daytime application is to avoid.
Ideal cut of the nail
The correct cut of the nail is represented by figure n. 10
(Source: Mauro Storti: ‘L’arte della mano destra’ published by Carisch)
Prevention
Nails care time must be considered in the long term, so if we need to protect our nails not only to play but also before a manual work, for example, it is always better to apply a layer of hardening enamel to prevent damage.
In addition, it is necessary to follow daily care: using progressively finer abrasive papers for filing and polishing are practices that allow you to keep ‘‘well-groomed’ hands and not just before playing.
- Before diving into the water, especially if salted, apply two or three layers of hardening enamel protection over the four fingers of the right hand.
- Before work, use protective gloves and always keep a pair at home, in the car and at work.
- A good habit is to bring keys and other metal objects in the left pocket instead of the right one.
- In many manual operations, use your left hand as much as possible. A typical example, especially for us Italians: grater in the right hand and parmesan on the left!
- Check your nails twice a day. The so-called ‘sweater test’ consists of slightly rubbing nails on the wool: in the presence of even the slightest cut, a wool thread will fit on nails, highlighting the part to repair fastly.
- Finally, you must check the the nail cut length: a short, wide-dome nail (see picture n. 9) will be more resistant than a longer one with an acute end. Moreover, in the first case the sound will be stronger and the attack cleaner. Greetings and good music! Franco
