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Note from the webmaster: A JCGS member, Dave Kear, sent in an endorsement of a "glue -on nail" product called "Guitar Player Nails" They are for guitarists who have problems with their natural nails. Below is the endorsement along with the website where you can get further information on the product. In response to this endorsement, JCGS President, Grant Ruiz sent in information on how to maintain the health of your nails. I have posted both Dave's endorsement and Grant's response below. Just thought I'd let you know. If anyone you know is having trouble with their nails, these work great. http://www.guitarplayernails.com/ I've been using them for a couple of months now and I get a great range of tone, they don't wear, and they're really tough. I don't think I'm going to use my real nails anymore. Dave Kear As a follow-up, I'd like to share the following information with people who would like to promote growth of their own natural nails. I got (and have used) this information from my manicurist, Kelly Lamb, who owns and operates Abbinito's beauty salon in Ashland along with her husband Drew. (Their website is http://www.abbinito.com.) FYI, Kelly is a chemist by training. - Use a nut oil on your fingernails, as much as once a day. Examples include almond or peanut oils. If you rub the oil into the nail, it does two things: 1) Keeps the nail flexible and therefore more resistant to cracking and splitting. 2) Makes it easier to massage the nail itself, which increases blood circulation in the nail bed below, promoting growth. The first effect is accomplished because nut oils more closely resemble our own sebum (oil excreted by the skin) and has a small enough molecular weight to permeate the nail more easily than other oils. This increases absorption and reduces the residual left on the nail. This works on enhancements as well, such as acrylics. - Use a very soft bristled brush to keep the cuticles clean, brushing lightly along the edges of the nail. Many people use an "orange stick" or clippers or other such devices to trim off dead skin, but you can actually do damage if you don't know what you're doing. Kelly also refuted a couple of notions on growing nails: - Eating gelatin or lots of protein doesn't necessarily help because you can't direct where the protein will go in your body. - Tapping your nails on a hard surface may or may not increase circulation, but it does promote breakage if small fractures develop, so it's probably not the best way to go. She also made the point that growing and maintaining strong natural nails probably has more to do with genetics than anything else. From my own experience, keeping the nails filed very smooth helps as well, but I'm sure most of you already know this! Best, |
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