[falseta]

Is it just me or is it just plain weird to get nails done?

Around here the only place to get fingernails hardened using acrylic is nail salons full of women. Needless to say I am always the only guy.

Am I alone on this or has anyone else experienced the weird staring and giggles when getting nails done before performances?

[lwoirhaye]

I've only had my thumbnail "done" once in ten years. I'm not a
pro performer though, so when I break my nails I usually just
accept the bad sound for awhile or don't play guitar much with
my fingers until the nail grows back.

I used to play some brazilian 7-string (I no longer have the guitar,
hence I no longer play). The bass string would just tear-up my
thumbnail so I used a plastic thumb pick.

My nails are quite tough and a little brittle.


Recently I've been playing a lot of flamenco guitar and wearing
my thumbnail pretty badly. It's looking as if I may have to explore
solutions involving superglue, which I've never done before.

Any recommendations for a player with tough nails who needs
a little more durability?

[DreadGod]

I have been using Adhesive silk and superglue with an underlayer of "Witchcraft" nail hardener and I have been finding that very effective to either strengthen my nails or replace broken ones. Savarez sells a "kit" which is just a bit of the silk, some krazy glue and instructions. If you search something like "adhesive silk nail kit" you should be able to find a website with the instructions. You can order the silk from nail beauty websites a lot cheaper than guitar ones.

[hobersmith]

I've never had any problems with my nails. They never broke...

I imagine you could go pick-up some of the girls at the nail salon pretty easily just by telling them you play the guitar and stuff

[falseta]

Plenty of girls... once you get over the giggles/staring and tell them you are a guitar player its not so bad... i have been asked some weird questions though... people at the salon usually think you are some freaky dude who just digs having nails on one hand...

[Tom Terry]

My nails have always been brittle... with practicing an hour or more daily it's been almost impossible to have them all working, especially the 3rd finger which does the golpes. Acrylic nails put on at a nail salon are the best thing I've found. In our area the people who do this work are all Vietnamese, they giggle among themselves but hey, if you're going to be a flamenco you've got to get used to people thinking you're a little weird ;-)

[falseta]

The Giggles! Oh man... how they giggle....

Yes as Flamencos we are different:

Long nails instead of picks
Clean playing over speed
12 beats instead of 4
and on and on...

[conor]

I have broken nails quite a few times while playing, mostly when doing particularly aggressive 3 finger rasguedos. If you are embarrassed about getting your nails done in a salon, the materials to do them at home are certainly purchasable, and any close female friend you have would probably happily assist you in the endeavor!

Personally if I performed professionally I would get them done in a salon. I am still single and this sounds like a great way to meet an impressionable young lady !

[Payul]

You must know how much lady's I helped with their nails...

[oo1oo]

Hey Falseta,
Man-up and be proud. You are a guitar player. I've used acrylic nails for over 10 years and usually am the only man in the salon. Once the ladies know you are a guitar player that can be an advantage for you.