Wearing Away Nail On Pointer Finger Playing Guitar

[DrumBob]

For years now, I have slowly worn away the right edge of the nail on my pointer finger playing guitar. The more I play, the worse it gets. Last night, halfway through the gig, it started to hurt. If it gets any worse, the nail will wear away completely and I'l have exposed skin. Not good.

So today, I have been coating the nail with clear nail polish in an attempt to slow the erosion process. I have even talked to a nail tech as to possibly putting a fake nail on top.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what did you do about it?

[octatonic]

I wear my index finger nail down from guitar playing.
I don't use fake nails but I do use clean (matt) nail varnish to strengthen the nail.
It helps.

[rhythmcaster]

O.PI. Natural nail strengthener works pretty well. I've had this problem for years and I either use that or play with just bare fingers.

[Big Burly]

Lots of fingerstyle players have false nails to thicken and strengthen their nails for playing. Some use clear matte nail polish to thicken the nail.

I would start with the nail polish and if it isn't enough, then do the fake nails.

Hell, some famous players have glued cut-up ping-pong balls to their nails.

[Colt W. Knight]

Jerry Reed wore fake nails when his wore down, and Brent Mason wears fake nails.

[banjohabit]

my pointin' finger fingernail is the point of contact for the downstrokes of my rhthym strum when i am chunkin' or strumming with my bare-finger playing. the very point where the quick meets the nail (i attack the strings almost evenly across the nail) has developed a raised "roll" of live fingernail straight across the width of the nail. i trim the remainder of the nail very short and square (it's odd looking), and there is my pick.

my wife recently got "gel nails". ain't too sure what that is but they were glued on. she quickly got tired of them and had them removed, i guess 6 weeks ago, and has been breaking her nails deep into the quick ever since.

she says she doesn't know if it was the glue or the glue remover that "ruined" (her word) her nails but she is very unhappy with the result. so be careful, you can make a mistake on this deal.

[AlexArkansas]

I may be wrong, but I think the issue with gel is that it disallows oxygen to reach the nail, weakening it over time. I know some folks swear by the salon, but I think Mr Burly above has it right: clear polish, and if that doesn't work, try fake nails.

[mr natural]

If I'm hearing you correctly, is it the pointer nail on your picking hand? I kinda have that problem because I use a flatpick but I choke way up on it so that a tiny portion extends beyond my nail. My attack on downstrokes involves both the pick and the fingernail somehow. The result is that my picking hand, pointer finger nail has a permanent worn flat spot on the end. It got so bad that I had to consciously practice using the flatpick and gripping it higher so that it extends out farther and protects my nail. I still do it way too much, though. I guess old habits die hard.
-Mr. N.

[Joe-Bob]

Your fingernail is hitting the strings before your pick does. It's a technique problem and not a fingernail problem.

Clean up your picking/strumming and/or your grip on the pick. You might even try larger picks.

[adjason]

I agree with Joe-Bob but I too have a bit of this problem. I turn my pics sideways and my nail wears down too. I don't think I play enough for any real problems to develop and after 20 years my picking is not going to change.

[Jupiter]

Can you still point?

[DoodlySquat]

These bad boys.

Jk I hope you find a solution.

[DrumBob]

Mr. Natch...Yes, it's my index/pointer finger of my strumming hand, and yes, it's most likely a technique issue that I will try and address. Meanwhile, I have to do something to this nail. I have been applying clear polish all day trying to build up coats, but I did some yard work and it got funky. I think the immediate solution is to get a fake nail put on for now. And no, it won't be something girly.

[Jupiter]

Cut a fake nail out of a pingpong ball.

[hekawi]

[1955]

Go to a nail salon, and ask them to do a thin "natural" acrylic coat on your index finger only. This will be about 3 bucks. You tip about one buck. Watch how she does it.

It is a white powder. She puts a quick primer coat on, then dips a brush in a chemical, then into the powder, then brushes it on your finger. It will burn a bit of she puts your hand up to a lightbulb to dry/harden. No biggie.

With this solution however you will need to get this nail "filled" every week or so. That is because it grows out and the strings get caught in the space at the bottom of the nail.

I do this myself, my first 3 fingers. I've done this for about 6 years with a dremel tool. I play finger style only. In instances where a false tip needs to be constructed, it is very easy. These are sold for a dollar for a bunch of them. The salon worker will have one that she can apply and then brush acrylic over, after you let her know how to cut it and shape it.

If you don't want to do all this, just apply superglue to tender areas and use cotton swabs to keep things cleaned up.

[Joe-Bob]

Originally Posted by DrumBob

Meanwhile, I have to do something to this nail.

Classical players come across this from time to time; you need an emergency "patch".

They will grow their left thumbnail extra and keep the large clippings. Then, they can use them to superglue over a cracked nail in a pinch. Coat both nails and let dry before gluing together before gluing on. Add extra at the edges and let dry. Then shape normally.

Use thin, original style glue, not the gel stuff. Works and sounds like original nails (it is actually), and will often last long enough for the original to grow out a bit, but it does look funky.

[boris bubbanov]

My nail gets worn in a pattern; it looks like a lemur fingernail.

[blowtorch]

Sally Hansen "Hard as Nails" does the trick for me

[PaddyBrumson]

Have the same problem due to picking technique. It may not be correct, but I like the tone I get with the double strike of nail and pick. Tried the nail salon's fake nails and a lot of Sally Hansen products and have settled on Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener. I takes three coats with complete drying in between to last me a week. I take it off with nail polish remover at the end of the week and let the air get to the nail for a day before applying again. Haven't had any issues with it for years.