DirtyDeck
167 posts
Apr 18, 2011
3:34 PM
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Can anybody cast some light on this shady topic?! I've heard brine and also vinegar can help but have absolutely no idea as to the actual technique involved! Help me please :)
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KingoBad
687 posts
Apr 18, 2011
4:20 PM
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Just keep playing. They'll toughen up eventually. You can always use a nail strengthener for those days when you have bleeding little nubs. You can always get them professionally done at a salon, and you can get your toes to match!
Ps. I'm no expert on this subject, but I did use the hard polish when I was destroying my nails early on. If you have seen the way I play, I half beat the guitar into submission, so they took quite a beating before they toughened up...
Last Edited by on Apr 18, 2011 4:23 PM
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Seven.Oh.Three.
38 posts
Apr 18, 2011
4:26 PM
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Never heard of it. When I use to Play guitar there was talk about toughening your fingerTIPS. But that was done by playing more. So maybe it's the same thing here.
703
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DirtyDeck
168 posts
Apr 18, 2011
4:39 PM
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Yeah I'm talking about the actual nail, been getting some slits and breakages when playing agressively and can't get quite the same sounds when playing with fingertips along.
Now that I think about it they do seem to be tougher now than they once were, then again I'm being very careful not to go too crazy.
Have seen my fingertips toughen a hell of a lot recently also in absence of the nails lol, feels good starting a whole new set of calluses ;)
Thanks for the replies guys!
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Zhin
628 posts
Apr 19, 2011
4:29 AM
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A tip I got from an old American bluesman is to apply superglue directly onto the finger nail and even the tips of your fingers.
I've tried this myself whenever I pull out my old high school bass guitar from the store room for some inspiration searching.
And if you decide to remove any of the superglue just use any kind of oil and rub your fingers with it. It'll all come off quicker than you think!
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http://www.youtube.com/harmonicazhin
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Stevelegh
195 posts
Apr 19, 2011
4:40 AM
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Superglue works. I've even used it to stick on callouses I've torn off.
It was used in spray form in Vietnam on wounded soldiers. (little bit of trivia for you).
Regarding fingernails: If you're really struggling, do what Paul McCartney does and attach some falsies and cut them to size so they're usable (and so you don't look like a big girl. ha!)
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oldwailer
1589 posts
Apr 19, 2011
10:45 AM
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Superglue is great--I wouldn't pack up my gear without it--it's best for when you get one of those really sore spots on a finger and you still gotta play. Be sure to get the old kind--the newer gels and control formulas don't harden up enough to work well.
My fingernails do not "Toughen up." I play using both sides of the nail and my nails wear away faster than they grow. Superglue helps a little--but not to add length. Salon nails are expensive and don't work for long--and they destroy the natural nail. Hardeners of all sorts (Paint-on) don't help in any big way.
There is a new product out that works great--you apply it yourself and it can last for a month of hard playing. You can make your nails as long as you like. The kit to do it is about 30-40 dollars and that is enough stuff to do a lot of nails. It's kind of a PITA--most men probably aren't used to spending an hour to do their nails--but really worth it in my book. You can just file it off if you don't like it and not damage the underlying nail. It's also easy to do little touch-ups and repairs.
They have a website with videos and lots of information to check out at http://www.personalsalon.com/ . I know--I sound like a commercial--I'm not getting paid for this--it's just something that really works for me.
When I was younger, I had nails of steel all the time--just take a lot of biotin and file them a lot--as I've aged--well--this is kind of a Viagra for fingernails. . .
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====================================
Always be yourself--unless you suck. . .
-Joss Whedon
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bluemoose
528 posts
Apr 19, 2011
12:29 PM
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"When I was younger, I had nails of steel all the time--just take a lot of biotin and file them a lot--as I've aged--well--this is kind of a Viagra for fingernails. "
Ummm...I hope you aren't doing that with the real Viagra for the, you know, other thing.
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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HarpNinja
1352 posts
Apr 19, 2011
12:43 PM
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I don't get this topic or how playing harmonica is hard on your nails. Please enlighten me.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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toddlgreene
2909 posts
Apr 19, 2011
12:48 PM
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Mike, methinks this thread should have been prefixed by (OT), as it's obviously a guitarist's thang and has nothing to do with harmonica. That's fine, though, as many of our members are pickers AND blower/suckers.
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Todd
Eudora and Deep Soul
Last Edited by on Apr 19, 2011 12:51 PM
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toddlgreene
2910 posts
Apr 19, 2011
12:50 PM
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There... That's more like it.
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Todd
Eudora and Deep Soul
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Miles Dewar
859 posts
Apr 19, 2011
2:26 PM
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They "Pick" guitar with their nails.
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nacoran
4028 posts
Apr 20, 2011
12:07 PM
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There is a local classical guitar player who gets some variety of press on nails at a manicure shop for this very reason. I don't know if they are the regular ones or something special but it seems to work for him. They are clear so they look like regular nails (although he keeps them a teeny bit longer than most people would so he has better nails for picking.)
I've heard of using pickle brine to toughen up the skin. Nolan Ryan supposedly used it early in his days with the Mets because his curve ball was causing blisters on his fingers. I've heard other stories. Supposedly Yankee catcher Jorge Posada soaks his hands in urine, although the experts said that was actually probably counterproductive (some of the chemicals are actually used in lotions which make your hands SOFTER), and gross, especially if you are going to be handling a harmonica. There are also those finger picks that you can wear on your fingers, although I'm not sure how they'd hold up to really aggressive play styles.
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Nate
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s. pliskin
3 posts
Apr 20, 2011
3:27 PM
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This won't do anything for your nails but it will help toughen up finger tips for guitar playing ... There is a product called "Tuf-Foot" intended for hunting dogs. It is a liquid that is applied to the pads on their feet to allow them to more easily endure running through cut down corn fields, etc. while hunting / retrieving. It's safe to use on human skin. It helps speed up callous growth and my coat has been really shiny since I started using it too ;-)
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Sneak
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nacoran
4031 posts
Apr 20, 2011
6:32 PM
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Lol, it won't help me though, my coat fell off 10 years ago.
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Nate
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