Infinite thanks, a perfect solution... after 30+ years playing, I can finally play with an attack, without fear of breaking or wearing of my nails. Additive and partial nail corrections also possible. Perfect!
Excellent! Very nice to hear. I'd be lost without it. Tricky business to work with partial, as it's sometimes difficult to remove the part that won't come lose. But just keeping that section on is usually a reasonable compromise. TY, so much, for the feedback!
THANK YOU I REALLY NEED THIS.. I have created ways over the years to fix nails this is from playing classical guitar for 42 years. This looks very fast and good.
I use the acrylic power with the professional liquid and a brush. I use a Ultra violet top coat of gel. I appreciate this video because it works. I have been using Super Glue for nail repair since it was invented.
Hi Tom, The first try I think I put it on a bit Thick. The sound was scratchy and "thick". I cut back to only one application of the nail powder and it sounds better. I need to improve the way I shape my nails after application. I am very happy with this and highly recommend this procedure for anyone that does not have nails made of quartz:-) al
Welcome! Nice to be able to help! I was back stage at an open mic one time, and noticed a break about 10 min before my feature! I made the repair backstage, in a hallway! And did the whole thing in less than five minutes, including finding the stuff in my guitar case! It can be a life saver!
Saw this video months ago and finally got around to trying it. Works great! and cheap and easy to do. First time did it with crazy glue without a brush and it was very hard to get a smooth thin layer of glue. Easy when I got another bottle with a brush. Great idea. Thanks Tom. - Bob Conroy
I just got done doing my nails with this method and i just have to say AWESOME!!!!. I used a different glue and acrylic powder but it came out just fine. I will definitely be doing this more often thanks pubmgr
Thanks, Tom, I've been using acrylics for about 30 years. When Covid hit I was out of luck - no salons open. That is when I turned to Builder Gel (IBD) for nails. It is a new concept for me and they seem to flick off because I probably didn't prep correctly. If the builder gel doesn't do the trick, I will definitely give your idea a go. Thanks again.
Good luck! It's somewhat of an art. I made a recent adjustment where I coat only the 3/8 inch tip of each nail. It seems to last longer than when I do most of the nail, oddly enough.
Hi! Great video, I never knew that acrylic reinforcement would work to guitar players! I'm a nailtech and I must say that you are doing it really good, if I can give you some advice, you should use something to clean the nail surface and prevent from infectios, if you want to take off the acrylic you can dip a cotton ball in acetone place it on your nail and leave it for 10-15 minutes (if you cover it with that metal paper we use un the kitchen (i'm sorry I don't know the word for that thing hahaha) and it will go off really well. And the last thing you can use a buffer to finish the surface and the free edge, it will leave you with a much smoother tip :) I hope you find this usefull! :)
Francisca Méndez oh! If you do the reinforcement over the hole surface on the nail it'll last longer, also if you use better products (I believe that Sally Beauty sells a kit by Orly called Rescue that costs about 10 dollars that are professional and great quality which includes nail glue acrylic powder and a buffer)
+Francisca Méndez Although I used to cover my entire nail, I found that my nail tends to grow out thinner & more slowly if I cover the entire nail. I used Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails in the past & I would tape to cover the bottom half of my nail, apply the poilish & then pull off the tape to leave the lower half bare. I'm currently using fiberglass nail wraps & they work fairly well, but again, only on the top half of the nail.
Note that the brand/style of super glue affects the "staying power" of the glue/powder layer. Brush-on glue is easier to control; you can apply it in a thin layer; I like that. BUT, it seems to chip or "pop off" more easily. Also, the bottled glue is thinner. It runs under the nail sometimes as you apply it, a disadvantage. But it's an advantage when the layer begins to come loose, a small drop at the edge, and it runs under the layer nicely, re-gluing it.
Thank you, as a guitar player I really value this. A very interesting tutorial. I've been using tissue paper and crazy glue, but I think this could last longer and be more resistant to water and daily wear and tear. I'll give your method a try. Keep up the good work!
Nice! Let me know how it works. I'm still using it with good effect. It doesn't seem to hold up as well as it used to, maybe 7-10 days? But it's easy enough to reapply. I wonder if the glue varies over time; some minor change in formulation? I might just be putting thinner coats on. I use Crazy Glue now, that comes with a brush. The glue does get a lot thicker over time (several months). So with a new bottle, two layers will be thinner than an old bottle.
I have been using silk with super glue to repair my nails. I like your system better. I have used silk to repair my nails. The silk does the same thing. I might try using both the silk and powder together to get a better nail.
Tom, thank you for the excellent video. I followed your procedure and it's worked perfectly for me. I was a little concerned about how the nails would look afterwards as I didn't want a 'fake' look, if it could be avoided. I was pleasantly surprised at how natural my nails looked afterwards. I think the CLEAR acrylic powder is critical to that issue. Thanks, again!
Hi, Glad it worked! I'm still using the method routinely. I began tracking how long the treatment would last. I really varies from nail to nail, and depends also on activities like yard work that might be rough on a nail. I'm guessing that the average time is about 7 days. Not very long, but the glue and powder is so quick, it doesn't seem bad. Again, thanks for your feedback!
Hi! Thank you for watching! I'm still at it with this technique. It can be a minor PITA, but it does produce great results for my own playing. My main problem is when part of the repair loosens up: it can be VERY hard to get the whole thing off without damaging the nail. I finally realized, after many years, that it's often best to pry/break off the lose part while KEEPING the still firmly-adhered part alone. It's easy to do half a section, although it can result in a bump in the middle. That bump is easy enough to flatten with a bit of careful filing.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Though I am not as accomplished at guitar as you are, I have the same sentiment about playing along, breaking a nail, and then not being able to play for while. I like the glue part of this, and maybe the powder. Is there a membrane that you can glue on the top of your nail? I am not sure how the powder helps to bind. Thank you!
@@luckydog-287 The powder and glue from an almost instant layer that's quite rigid. Three layers and it starts to seem like real nail. These routinely "pop off" and look a lot like a nail, which can freak out my wife. haha. There are silk wrap products (membrane as you put it) that people use routinely. It's like a fiber tape that sticks on the nail, and over which one applies a layer of glue. I have used that method, but it's kind of a disaster if part of it starts to release, because the whole thing has to be pried off, and a layer of nail typically would come off with it. As I recall, James Taylor uses the technique and has a video. Found it: ruclips.net/video/7BqISqpMRo8/видео.html (I've actually used the glue and powder to build up the bottom of an uneven guitar saddle. It's VERY stiff and you can work it with a file. It's seemed as stiff as the plastic saddle itself.)
Finally getting around to trying this...have a 3 day gig this week and my nails just don’t last as long as they used to. My application was pretty sloppy but they feel very strong...wish me luck!
There is a certain art to the application. And it doesn't work for everybody. But I am very enthusiastic about it for my own playing. How did it go for you?
@ottou22 They still use super glue in hospitals, particularly for facial cuts where they want precision to reduce scarring by avoiding stitches. I had my lip glued, they don't go into the wound but bridge over the top. The glue heats up as it cures and as the cut filled and the skin around grew the glue simply fell off.
I find the powder easier to deal with in the long run. When the glue fails (and it doesn't last very long, maybe 8-10 days), it easier to "tease off" the broken piece, and repair just that. Or remove the entire bit, if it comes off. With the silk, the whole thing MUST come off. The silk is probably stronger, I haven't used it in a very long time so I can't speak from much experience. BTW, I was in conversation with Jason Vieaux, a fabulous Classical Guitar player. He uses ONLY the glue. Builds up many layers. Says that multiple layers works best for him.
I did acrylic nails for years. I would do a combination thumb and two fingers and using the index finger as a straight pick. It was a great concept but in reality it didn't really work. The problem became the harshness of the sound using a single finger because there's no flexibility. Problem is more on the upstroke that it is the downstroke. I not only used to use guitar picks I used to use relatively thin guitar picks. There are so many more variations to a strum you can get when a pic is flexible. You lose all of that flexibility with these kinds of nails. I took the acrylics off 2 years ago in my normal nails have just recently returned to normal. My normal nails are thin but they easily wear out and Break so now I am trying to learn to play chess with bare fingers. And it's not at all easy.. Now I think after wearing the acrylics for 5 years or so my normal nails are now even thinner than they were
I never tried acrylic nails. On harshness of sound; for me, it's caused by roughness in the nail edge. That's why I use the fine sandpaper (400 or 600) to keep the edge smooth. On picks, thinner picks don't get "stuck" in the strings, which is helpful. But thinner picks have a thinner sound. So I use Dunlop green (.88 mm); for me a good compromise between tone and flexibility. Re: thin nails--I think my nails have gotten thinner with age. BTW, I touch up new picks with the sandpaper; they tend to have a slight edge, at least the Dunlops do. It's a 20 second fix. Good luck!
Missed the point, I think. Unless you're a teenage guitar player. Emphasis on guitar player. You know who you are!! :) BTW. James Taylor's video on nail care includes apply a small bit of fiberglass tape ("nail wrap"). I'm trying it, with good results so far. It seems to hold up better, not as apt to split or crack. Note that he doesn't use the acrylic powder; I think he'd like it. The combination of BOTH seems quite good. Down side on the fiberglass tape, it's a PITA to cut and apply.
The smoothing with an emery board and then the 400 sandpaper is key. And the top of the nail needs to be smooth at the edge. It surprised me but the string moving past the nail, and the end of the stroke, gives rise to a fat or scratchy sound. For me, that area, if you have your right hand palm facing you, is the LEFT side of the nail. It doesn't seem intuitive, but for me it's where the string ends up, and it needs to be smooth there.
I think I have very strong nails, and usually I never have any issue with the acoustic guitar. But, I also play electric guitar and my problem is that I only play fingerstyle, when I strumm my nails(index mostly) get destroyed pretty fast... I was thinking to try and get some artificial nails, acrlic, to see if they work, because this is a real BIG problem. But your option sounds worth a try, thanks a lot
Yes, I have acrylics put on about every two months. About when they grow out 3/4 up the whole nail. Of course you reshape and smooth with need to keep as original as first done. But in between I never worry about them coming loose or falling off. Been doing so for about 20 yrs now, although towards the end of there life they will just disappear . Like after splitting or stacking wood etc. Cost me about $15 plus tip.
A scratchy sound would almost certainly indicate roughness in nail and or the glue/powder layer. Using a fairly smooth emery board, and then the #400 sandpaper should result in a very smooth edge, for the total surface of the nail, top edge, and the bottom edge--the edge next to the finger pad (skin). I was recently surprised to discover that the top edge, toward the pinky, needs to be smooth. I always thought that it was just the bottom edge that made a difference. Live and learn.
Great video thank you. Can this method be used for someone who has very little existing nail? In other words, can you build out a fake nail doing this?
I don't think it would be practical do build a fake nail. Jason Vieaux uses a small piece of ping-pong ball attached (somehow) to his thumb. That might be a method to create a fake nail. Maybe you could get in touch with him.
I doubt general vits & minerals or gelatin, will do much. Calcium isn't useful, as nails are made of keratin. But I used to get splits along the same "fault lines" & eventually just stopped finger-picking:-( Then started taking fish oil (1g cod liver oil capsules or similar daily) for cardiac health. About 6 months later I noticed the nail fault-lines had gone. I've 10 years or more picking again: those lines & splits never returned. Can't *prove* it was the fish oil, but it seems to helped me!
WARNING: I used the approach detailed in your video and found I was able to build up my nails to at least twice their original thickness. Although I was initially pleased with the result, after three weeks, I noticed that there were green patches starting to develop under most of the surface of the thumb nail and in odd spots under the coatings on my finger nails. Moving forward - today, I was so concerned about my thumb nail that I pried off the built-up part of the nail. This wasn't too difficult, as it had started to come off anyway. But now I've got the whole glue and acrylic powder coating off, I've found that the original surface of my thumb nail has become pitied and very thin, so thin that I think that by the time the affected area gets to the nail tip, it will break off. I have now also chipped off the coatings on my finger nails and have found that, although there isn't the same degree of surface damage, there are what look like small bruises (around 3mm in diameter) under the surface of each of the four nails. The approach recommended in the video seems to work for other guitarists, so they must be doing something different to me. Why am I experiencing this problem, where other's don't appear to be?
Hi Nicholas, I'm sorry that the method isn't working out very well. I've never had a problem with spots of any kind. But, occasionally, when the coating comes off, it does pull off a "layer" of nail, but it only happens with my thumb nail. It can get thin. The coating only lasts about 10 days, so I renew it quite often, but I rarely have this problem with pulling off a layer. Maybe one out of eight times? BTW, most recently, I've taken to coating only 3/8 of an inch, where before I was coating about 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch. I think this change has reduced the tendency of the coating to "pop" off. You might try just a 1/4 of an inch, and put less of the nail at risk? But, overall, it sounds like this method is not good for you. I know some people personally who have tried it and not been successful. So it doesn't work for all players. The spots would worry me!!
My problem isn't breakage; it's undesired curving. The thumb nail, e.g., once it grows past the nail bed, curves down toward the padded side of the thumb. This causes two problems. First, since the nail is so close to the flesh, there is a good chance that it will slip over the string without a substantial pluck. Second, due to the angle of curvature, sometimes the nail gets caught onto the string. What can be done to change the shape of an otherwise good nail?
I tried the adhesive fabric. It's stronger, but if part of it comes away from the nail, you have a really hard time getting the other part off. Without the fabric, you can just chip off or break off the lose part. There might be a good way to repair the loose part, but trying to get the whole thing off was really dicey. It seemed like I would be tearing the surface of the nail.
BixLives32 I tried the fabric. It's more durable, but doesn't repair very easily. If part of the layer comes off, you can't easily take it off and repair the section that came undone--the fabric keeps it all together. And that's a problem because the part that's still sticking well doesn't want to come off without damaging the nail. Maybe taking the entire layer off with Acetone would work? I've never tried it because it seems to involve a long 10-15 minute soaking. And seems too toxic for me. But I think either with, or without the fabric, you have a substantial repair that lasts for a week or more and that gives a very good sound when smoothed with a file and then with the #400 or #600 emery paper.
Ok, this looks worth giving a try. But everywhere I look for "acrylic powder" I'm seeing it in -colors- like "intense pink"; "baby blue"; "green sparkles", etc. Where does one get -colorless- (or at least "natural color") acrylic powder? Can you post a link? Thanks.
Thank you so much for this video. I am based in India and I wish I knew the names of all these items in my language. Will I get acrylic powder in art shops? By the way, what is this 'crazy' glue? If you can tell me its chemical composition, maybe I will get substitutes for it.
The response to nails breathing; I think it's the base of the nails where the health of the nail might be affected by chemicals. I've had occasion to peel of what appears to be a layer from the top surface of the nail; not often but it does happen. THAT seems like a bad thing, but it's mechanical not biological, and it's the tip of the nail (5--10 mm for me). I've had that happen a few times over the course of the last couple of years, and I use the method on four nails, all the time.
You can glue the nail to the skin, but it's a little uncomfortable, and I don't know what the long term result/effects would be. It happens to me by accident sometimes, when I use a little too much glue and it runs over the edge of the nail, and under to the skin.
No, not white glue. It's a Cyanoacrylate type of glue. You can probably search for it and find brand names. I refer to it as Crazy Glue which is the brand name that's common in the USA
Does anyone recommend these fake nails for someone who may need them all the time since his nails are weak brittle, thin, and break easily? How about if your nails don't grow to the length is needed for playing? Thanks.
I tried acrylic nails. Such a pain. Then I started taking pre natal vitamins every day. Problem solved. My nails are so strong I never break or tear them. Before that they were thinner than paper. Try it. ill get a little chip or tear once every 6 months . I use a UV glue over the top of the tear until it grows back.
would I still be able to do fret work with long nails? I'm not looking to pluck the strings...I just don't want to be doomed to short nails just because I play a guitar :C...and electric one...
Over the past week my nails have been going back too far and everyday I play is so painful. I need to play everyday. The tape isn't cutting it :(. Any advice?
When I bend the strings too hard with my left hand's first finger the skin separates from the nail and it hurts any recommendations for making my skin tighter under the nail?thanks!
Oh that sounds painful try bending by pushing the string up from under the string more than sliding it up and causing extra friction against the board also let it heal fully and the skin should become resistant itself
Sorry, there might be an error somewhere along the line. But this does not work for some players. For me, depending on things like yard work or home-improvement projects, it lasts 5-10 days. Perhaps trying rubbing alcohol on the nail surface as pretreatment? Let that dry for 3-4 minutes. Then the glue. What brand glue are you using?
I used super glue for years, then became allergic to it. The entire end of my finger was inflamed. Had to go back to 'natural'. BTW, 400 grit is not very fine-I use 1000 grit followed by 1500. Very smooth.
Too bad about the glue allergy. I'd be sunk without the reinforcement. For me, 400 gets very smooth after it's used for a minute or two. I was using 600 but it was slow. Note that with each change to a finer grit, you need to polish the surface and remove the coarseness left by the previous grit. So, you wouldn't want to go directly from, say, a 100 emery board to a 1000 grit paper--you'd be polishing the "bumps" for a long time before you removed all the traces of the 100 grit. Practically speaking, 400 seems to create a nicely polished surface, removing the previous traces of coarser grit, in the least amount of time. For me, beyond a certain point, additional smoothness seems undetectable.
Great to see people are checking out this video. Do me a favor, if you have a minute, and also check out my recordings on www.reverbnation.com/tomhanlon. Singer-songwriter/contemporary folk, you might like it. TY! Tom
To those people who are concerned about applying glue to their nails: I think superglue was first developped for surgical use. It was certainly used in the field in Vietnam to seal wounds - so no problems with applying superglue to your body :)
The reservation I would have about eating gelatin products is that it will first be broken down into its constituent amino acids before being absorbed, so I can't believe you have gained anything. Just my $0.02
Hi! Sorry for the fail. Mine chips off eventually, but it's usually more like a week or two. It doesn't last very long. If you want to experiment, try using a little rubbing alcohol to clean the nail surface before the application. Then apply the glue and powder. Repeat the glue and powder once or twice. Keep me posted. TX!
You left out adhesive fabric and fake nails -See James Taylor's video on this. Tis is really only good for repair, but without fabric, it is not as strong.
This method puts the glue only at the top half of the nail. So it doesn't interfere with the growing region (base of the nail). I do notice that on my thumb nail, when a layer occasional breaks and I have to peel off the part that's still stuck, I feel like I'm taking off a thin layer of the nail. Not good. But it's never "given way" to any sort of catastrophic failure. The method is to use a thin blade (Xacto type knife or small pen knife) to pry or tease the layer off. It's a an art that you get good at after a few tries. You begin to get a sense of when a little more prying will release the layer, and when it's time to stop, and keep the portion that's well stuck. Just apply the glue and powder next to that portion.
So basically you have a ZERO d.i.y attitude, and you are either a female or a male that is comfortable sitting in a nail bar, having a cosmetics girl "preen your cuticles". For the rest of us, the method of strengthening nails in the video is preferable to sitting in a nail bar. Sorry that we "don't have as much sense as a teenage girl"
@@pubmgr all that sort of dirt and glues and smelly and sticky and sometimes even toxic, artificial chemicals, and for what. most healthy people have good nails. for once, to prove this... DROP NAILS FILES. for now. let your nails grow, pick a piece of sandpaper, place it on the strings (fold over 6th) leave the guitar on the right foot (like it was designed to fit, initially) and start playing. bending the middle finger joints. and play 'on the nail'. that way, the shape will be optimal. a dude named thomas viloteau did this somewhat. but his playing position is wrong, that is why he gets crazy nail shapes. anyway, the tone is best, and it can be proven with physics. paco de lucia shaped his fingernails like that, too. if you shape the fingernails incorrectly, they will produce bad sound, they will feel heavy, they will catch like hell and they will split/crack etc. this is why these 'products' were invented. because people dont know hoe to use their own nails. i have discussed and observed this many times. it always comes down to incirrect ways of dealing with nail filing. p.s. if you really smack those steel strings... i suggest moving away from that style of 'music' or using fingerpicks (the modern inventions, not the average, cheap, metal wound rings on the fingers)
@@kanker5256 Hi. Thanks for the expansion. I wish I had tough nails. They're not bad, but some are thicker and some are thinner. And that creates a very uneven tone. The product sets up very quickly, so I'm not too worried about toxic fumes to any degree. Anyway, best wishes, and thanks for an informative response!
@@pubmgr by the look of the nails, they are perfectly normal. most men have mostly the same nail constitution. good luck life is far more complex and difficult than a nail discussion
Does anyone recommend these fake nails for someone who may need them all the time since his nails are weak brittle, thin, and break easily? How about if your nails don't grow to the length is needed for playing? Thanks.
I've been using this technique, as described, for the past eight months and it has worked very well for me. Thank you.
Infinite thanks, a perfect solution... after 30+ years playing, I can finally play with an attack, without fear of breaking or wearing of my nails. Additive and partial nail corrections also possible. Perfect!
Excellent! Very nice to hear. I'd be lost without it. Tricky business to work with partial, as it's sometimes difficult to remove the part that won't come lose. But just keeping that section on is usually a reasonable compromise. TY, so much, for the feedback!
THANK YOU I REALLY NEED THIS.. I have created ways over the years to fix nails this is from playing classical guitar for 42 years. This looks very fast and good.
I use the acrylic power with the professional liquid and a brush. I use a Ultra violet top coat of gel. I appreciate this video because it works. I have been using Super Glue for nail repair since it was invented.
Hi Tom,
The first try I think I put it on a bit Thick. The sound was scratchy and "thick". I cut back to only one application of the nail powder and it sounds better. I need to improve the way I shape my nails after application. I am very happy with this and highly recommend this procedure for anyone that does not have nails made of
quartz:-)
al
Welcome!
Nice to be able to help! I was back stage at an open mic one time, and noticed a break about 10 min before my feature! I made the repair backstage, in a hallway! And did the whole thing in less than five minutes, including finding the stuff in my guitar case! It can be a life saver!
I have a show opening tonight and some cracked the nail on my middle finger in the worst possible place. This video put me back in business. Thanks!
Saw this video months ago and finally got around to trying it. Works great! and cheap and easy to do. First time did it with crazy glue without a brush and it was very hard to get a smooth thin layer of glue. Easy when I got another bottle with a brush. Great idea. Thanks Tom. - Bob Conroy
Glad it was helpful!
Hi! Do I know you from studying with Robert Paul Sullivan, back in the day? ;)
I just got done doing my nails with this method and i just have to say AWESOME!!!!. I used a different glue and acrylic powder but it came out just fine. I will definitely be doing this more often thanks pubmgr
Thanks, Tom, I've been using acrylics for about 30 years. When Covid hit I was out of luck - no salons open. That is when I turned to Builder Gel (IBD) for nails. It is a new concept for me and they seem to flick off because I probably didn't prep correctly. If the builder gel doesn't do the trick, I will definitely give your idea a go. Thanks again.
Good luck! It's somewhat of an art. I made a recent adjustment where I coat only the 3/8 inch tip of each nail. It seems to last longer than when I do most of the nail, oddly enough.
Hi! Great video, I never knew that acrylic reinforcement would work to guitar players! I'm a nailtech and I must say that you are doing it really good, if I can give you some advice, you should use something to clean the nail surface and prevent from infectios, if you want to take off the acrylic you can dip a cotton ball in acetone place it on your nail and leave it for 10-15 minutes (if you cover it with that metal paper we use un the kitchen (i'm sorry I don't know the word for that thing hahaha) and it will go off really well. And the last thing you can use a buffer to finish the surface and the free edge, it will leave you with a much smoother tip :) I hope you find this usefull! :)
Francisca Méndez oh! If you do the reinforcement over the hole surface on the nail it'll last longer, also if you use better products (I believe that Sally Beauty sells a kit by Orly called Rescue that costs about 10 dollars that are professional and great quality which includes nail glue acrylic powder and a buffer)
+Francisca Méndez The metal paper is called "aluminum foil" in the USA. :)
+Francisca Méndez Although I used to cover my entire nail, I found that my nail tends to grow out thinner & more slowly if I cover the entire nail. I used Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails in the past & I would tape to cover the bottom half of my nail, apply the poilish & then pull off the tape to leave the lower half bare. I'm currently using fiberglass nail wraps & they work fairly well, but again, only on the top half of the nail.
Note that the brand/style of super glue affects the "staying power" of the glue/powder layer. Brush-on glue is easier to control; you can apply it in a thin layer; I like that. BUT, it seems to chip or "pop off" more easily. Also, the bottled glue is thinner. It runs under the nail sometimes as you apply it, a disadvantage. But it's an advantage when the layer begins to come loose, a small drop at the edge, and it runs under the layer nicely, re-gluing it.
Thank you, as a guitar player I really value this. A very interesting tutorial. I've been using tissue paper and crazy glue, but I think this could last longer and be more resistant to water and daily wear and tear. I'll give your method a try. Keep up the good work!
Nice! Let me know how it works. I'm still using it with good effect. It doesn't seem to hold up as well as it used to, maybe 7-10 days? But it's easy enough to reapply. I wonder if the glue varies over time; some minor change in formulation? I might just be putting thinner coats on. I use Crazy Glue now, that comes with a brush. The glue does get a lot thicker over time (several months). So with a new bottle, two layers will be thinner than an old bottle.
Generous and so intelligent, and it's gonna save me money. Thanks so much for posting this. MERD!
Nice to hear that it's helpful! TY!
I have been using silk with super glue to repair my nails. I like your system better. I have used silk to repair my nails. The silk does the same thing. I might try using both the silk and powder together to get a better nail.
Tom, thank you for the excellent video. I followed your procedure and it's worked perfectly for me. I was a little concerned about how the nails would look afterwards as I didn't want a 'fake' look, if it could be avoided. I was pleasantly surprised at how natural my nails looked afterwards. I think the CLEAR acrylic powder is critical to that issue. Thanks, again!
Hi, Glad it worked! I'm still using the method routinely. I began tracking how long the treatment would last. I really varies from nail to nail, and depends also on activities like yard work that might be rough on a nail. I'm guessing that the average time is about 7 days. Not very long, but the glue and powder is so quick, it doesn't seem bad. Again, thanks for your feedback!
Just a tip - instead of the acrylic powder, regular bakingsoda works too!
hi .. have you tried it ?
Great video! Thank you, so much!
Hi! Thank you for watching! I'm still at it with this technique. It can be a minor PITA, but it does produce great results for my own playing. My main problem is when part of the repair loosens up: it can be VERY hard to get the whole thing off without damaging the nail. I finally realized, after many years, that it's often best to pry/break off the lose part while KEEPING the still firmly-adhered part alone. It's easy to do half a section, although it can result in a bump in the middle. That bump is easy enough to flatten with a bit of careful filing.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Though I am not as accomplished at guitar as you are, I have the same sentiment about playing along, breaking a nail, and then not being able to play for while. I like the glue part of this, and maybe the powder. Is there a membrane that you can glue on the top of your nail? I am not sure how the powder helps to bind. Thank you!
@@luckydog-287 The powder and glue from an almost instant layer that's quite rigid. Three layers and it starts to seem like real nail. These routinely "pop off" and look a lot like a nail, which can freak out my wife. haha. There are silk wrap products (membrane as you put it) that people use routinely. It's like a fiber tape that sticks on the nail, and over which one applies a layer of glue. I have used that method, but it's kind of a disaster if part of it starts to release, because the whole thing has to be pried off, and a layer of nail typically would come off with it. As I recall, James Taylor uses the technique and has a video. Found it: ruclips.net/video/7BqISqpMRo8/видео.html
(I've actually used the glue and powder to build up the bottom of an uneven guitar saddle. It's VERY stiff and you can work it with a file. It's seemed as stiff as the plastic saddle itself.)
Excellent to hear! It makes a huge difference for me. I don't know what I'd do without it!
Finally getting around to trying this...have a 3 day gig this week and my nails just don’t last as long as they used to. My application was pretty sloppy but they feel very strong...wish me luck!
There is a certain art to the application. And it doesn't work for everybody. But I am very enthusiastic about it for my own playing. How did it go for you?
First time it was ugly but functional and it got me through the 3 long days! I've applied it 3 times since then with good results.
@ottou22 They still use super glue in hospitals, particularly for facial cuts where they want precision to reduce scarring by avoiding stitches. I had my lip glued, they don't go into the wound but bridge over the top. The glue heats up as it cures and as the cut filled and the skin around grew the glue simply fell off.
It's better than silk/super glue method?
I find the powder easier to deal with in the long run. When the glue fails (and it doesn't last very long, maybe 8-10 days), it easier to "tease off" the broken piece, and repair just that. Or remove the entire bit, if it comes off. With the silk, the whole thing MUST come off. The silk is probably stronger, I haven't used it in a very long time so I can't speak from much experience. BTW, I was in conversation with Jason Vieaux, a fabulous Classical Guitar player. He uses ONLY the glue. Builds up many layers. Says that multiple layers works best for him.
I did acrylic nails for years. I would do a combination thumb and two fingers and using the index finger as a straight pick. It was a great concept but in reality it didn't really work. The problem became the harshness of the sound using a single finger because there's no flexibility. Problem is more on the upstroke that it is the downstroke. I not only used to use guitar picks I used to use relatively thin guitar picks. There are so many more variations to a strum you can get when a pic is flexible. You lose all of that flexibility with these kinds of nails. I took the acrylics off 2 years ago in my normal nails have just recently returned to normal. My normal nails are thin but they easily wear out and Break so now I am trying to learn to play chess with bare fingers. And it's not at all easy.. Now I think after wearing the acrylics for 5 years or so my normal nails are now even thinner than they were
I never tried acrylic nails. On harshness of sound; for me, it's caused by roughness in the nail edge. That's why I use the fine sandpaper (400 or 600) to keep the edge smooth. On picks, thinner picks don't get "stuck" in the strings, which is helpful. But thinner picks have a thinner sound. So I use Dunlop green (.88 mm); for me a good compromise between tone and flexibility. Re: thin nails--I think my nails have gotten thinner with age. BTW, I touch up new picks with the sandpaper; they tend to have a slight edge, at least the Dunlops do. It's a 20 second fix. Good luck!
Missed the point, I think. Unless you're a teenage guitar player. Emphasis on guitar player. You know who you are!! :)
BTW. James Taylor's video on nail care includes apply a small bit of fiberglass tape ("nail wrap"). I'm trying it, with good results so far. It seems to hold up better, not as apt to split or crack. Note that he doesn't use the acrylic powder; I think he'd like it. The combination of BOTH seems quite good. Down side on the fiberglass tape, it's a PITA to cut and apply.
The smoothing with an emery board and then the 400 sandpaper is key. And the top of the nail needs to be smooth at the edge. It surprised me but the string moving past the nail, and the end of the stroke, gives rise to a fat or scratchy sound. For me, that area, if you have your right hand palm facing you, is the LEFT side of the nail. It doesn't seem intuitive, but for me it's where the string ends up, and it needs to be smooth there.
I think I have very strong nails, and usually I never have any issue with the acoustic guitar. But, I also play electric guitar and my problem is that I only play fingerstyle, when I strumm my nails(index mostly) get destroyed pretty fast... I was thinking to try and get some artificial nails, acrlic, to see if they work, because this is a real BIG problem. But your option sounds worth a try, thanks a lot
Yes, I have acrylics put on about every two months. About when they grow out 3/4 up the whole nail. Of course you reshape and smooth with need to keep as original as first done. But in between I never worry about them coming loose or falling off. Been doing so for about 20 yrs now, although towards the end of there life they will just disappear . Like after splitting or stacking wood etc. Cost me about $15 plus tip.
A scratchy sound would almost certainly indicate roughness in nail and or the glue/powder layer. Using a fairly smooth emery board, and then the #400 sandpaper should result in a very smooth edge, for the total surface of the nail, top edge, and the bottom edge--the edge next to the finger pad (skin). I was recently surprised to discover that the top edge, toward the pinky, needs to be smooth. I always thought that it was just the bottom edge that made a difference. Live and learn.
Great video thank you. Can this method be used for someone who has very little existing nail? In other words, can you build out a fake nail doing this?
I don't think it would be practical do build a fake nail. Jason Vieaux uses a small piece of ping-pong ball attached (somehow) to his thumb. That might be a method to create a fake nail. Maybe you could get in touch with him.
@@pubmgr Cheers Tom thank you for the reply
I doubt general vits & minerals or gelatin, will do much. Calcium isn't useful, as nails are made of keratin. But I used to get splits along the same "fault lines" & eventually just stopped finger-picking:-( Then started taking fish oil (1g cod liver oil capsules or similar daily) for cardiac health. About 6 months later I noticed the nail fault-lines had gone. I've 10 years or more picking again: those lines & splits never returned. Can't *prove* it was the fish oil, but it seems to helped me!
Great video :) Thank You
WARNING: I used the approach detailed in your video and found I was able to build up my nails to at least twice their original thickness. Although I was initially pleased with the result, after three weeks, I noticed that there were green patches starting to develop under most of the surface of the thumb nail and in odd spots under the coatings on my finger nails.
Moving forward - today, I was so concerned about my thumb nail that I pried off the built-up part of the nail. This wasn't too difficult, as it had started to come off anyway. But now I've got the whole glue and acrylic powder coating off, I've found that the original surface of my thumb nail has become pitied and very thin, so thin that I think that by the time the affected area gets to the nail tip, it will break off.
I have now also chipped off the coatings on my finger nails and have found that, although there isn't the same degree of surface damage, there are what look like small bruises (around 3mm in diameter) under the surface of each of the four nails.
The approach recommended in the video seems to work for other guitarists, so they must be doing something different to me. Why am I experiencing this problem, where other's don't appear to be?
Hi Nicholas, I'm sorry that the method isn't working out very well. I've never had a problem with spots of any kind. But, occasionally, when the coating comes off, it does pull off a "layer" of nail, but it only happens with my thumb nail. It can get thin. The coating only lasts about 10 days, so I renew it quite often, but I rarely have this problem with pulling off a layer. Maybe one out of eight times?
BTW, most recently, I've taken to coating only 3/8 of an inch, where before I was coating about 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch. I think this change has reduced the tendency of the coating to "pop" off. You might try just a 1/4 of an inch, and put less of the nail at risk?
But, overall, it sounds like this method is not good for you. I know some people personally who have tried it and not been successful. So it doesn't work for all players. The spots would worry me!!
Any tips when the nails totally gone?
My problem isn't breakage; it's undesired curving. The thumb nail, e.g., once it grows past the nail bed, curves down toward the padded side of the thumb. This causes two problems. First, since the nail is so close to the flesh, there is a good chance that it will slip over the string without a substantial pluck. Second, due to the angle of curvature, sometimes the nail gets caught onto the string. What can be done to change the shape of an otherwise good nail?
I tried the adhesive fabric. It's stronger, but if part of it comes away from the nail, you have a really hard time getting the other part off. Without the fabric, you can just chip off or break off the lose part. There might be a good way to repair the loose part, but trying to get the whole thing off was really dicey. It seemed like I would be tearing the surface of the nail.
You want to lay a base of the fabric down first. The stick-em fabric/silk is hard to find -but allows you to do more, better, faster.
BixLives32 I tried the fabric. It's more durable, but doesn't repair very easily. If part of the layer comes off, you can't easily take it off and repair the section that came undone--the fabric keeps it all together. And that's a problem because the part that's still sticking well doesn't want to come off without damaging the nail.
Maybe taking the entire layer off with Acetone would work? I've never tried it because it seems to involve a long 10-15 minute soaking. And seems too toxic for me.
But I think either with, or without the fabric, you have a substantial repair that lasts for a week or more and that gives a very good sound when smoothed with a file and then with the #400 or #600 emery paper.
You nailed it thanks
TX! My most recent discovery; I get better results when I coat just the end third of the nail. The sound is just as good, and it seems to last longer.
Ok, this looks worth giving a try.
But everywhere I look for "acrylic powder" I'm seeing it in -colors- like "intense pink"; "baby blue"; "green sparkles", etc.
Where does one get -colorless- (or at least "natural color") acrylic powder?
Can you post a link?
Thanks.
+fartwrangler www.sallybeauty.com/secrets-acrylic-powder/SBS-164432,default,pd.html
+Tom Hanlon Thanks!
Thank you so much for this video. I am based in India and I wish I knew the names of all these items in my language.
Will I get acrylic powder in art shops? By the way, what is this 'crazy' glue? If you can tell me its chemical composition, maybe I will get substitutes for it.
The generic name for the glue is Cyanoacrylate.
The response to nails breathing; I think it's the base of the nails where the health of the nail might be affected by chemicals. I've had occasion to peel of what appears to be a layer from the top surface of the nail; not often but it does happen. THAT seems like a bad thing, but it's mechanical not biological, and it's the tip of the nail (5--10 mm for me). I've had that happen a few times over the course of the last couple of years, and I use the method on four nails, all the time.
Tom Hanlon Nails don't breathe, so don't worry about that, and that layer is the cuticle, it's normal and not bad if is not a really BIG skin :)
You can glue the nail to the skin, but it's a little uncomfortable, and I don't know what the long term result/effects would be. It happens to me by accident sometimes, when I use a little too much glue and it runs over the edge of the nail, and under to the skin.
Is this method for lengthening or strengthening your nails. What will I have to do to lengthen the nail if this method does not do that?
Hi Al,
How is it working? I'm always curious to see if it's been helpful for players.
Regards,
Tom
Marvellous !
what kind of glue is that? is school supplies type of glue (elmer's) would work?
No, not white glue. It's a Cyanoacrylate type of glue. You can probably search for it and find brand names. I refer to it as Crazy Glue which is the brand name that's common in the USA
@@pubmgr thank you so much. I will definitely try it.
Ive read somewhere that you can glue plastic material under the nail, could you do this and then put this acrylic on top?
Does anyone recommend these fake nails for someone who may need them all the time since his nails are weak brittle, thin, and break easily? How about if your nails don't grow to the length is needed for playing? Thanks.
Hello sir can you please tell me what is the name of the glue you're using?
Krazy Glue Home and Office Brush-On Glue which I get from Amazon.
Thanks, that was well taught and will prove useful, thanks
Hi Jennifer,
Any luck? Still working well for me, I don't know what I'd do without it.
Tom
Does anyone recommend these fake nails for someone who may need them all the time since his nails are weak brittle, thin, and break easily? Thanks.
Thank you Tom. Gonna give this a try.
allen
I tried acrylic nails. Such a pain. Then I started taking pre natal vitamins every day. Problem solved. My nails are so strong I never break or tear them. Before that they were thinner than paper. Try it. ill get a little chip or tear once every 6 months . I use a UV glue over the top of the tear until it grows back.
Tried this and STOMACH ACHED seriously bad. I only took half of my wife's prenatal vitamin too!
would I still be able to do fret work with long nails? I'm not looking to pluck the strings...I just don't want to be doomed to short nails just because I play a guitar :C...and electric one...
poo :C I always wondered how Dolly Parton did it :C...of course, she's not trying any Randy Rhodes skills though XD
this is a very good help thanks !!!
Over the past week my nails have been going back too far and everyday I play is so painful. I need to play everyday. The tape isn't cutting it :(. Any advice?
When I bend the strings too hard with my left hand's first finger the skin separates from the nail and it hurts any recommendations for making my skin tighter under the nail?thanks!
Oh that sounds painful try bending by pushing the string up from under the string more than sliding it up and causing extra friction against the board also let it heal fully and the skin should become resistant itself
Maybe I am doing something wrong, but this layer does not last even half an hour when I am playing my guitar.
Sorry, there might be an error somewhere along the line. But this does not work for some players. For me, depending on things like yard work or home-improvement projects, it lasts 5-10 days. Perhaps trying rubbing alcohol on the nail surface as pretreatment? Let that dry for 3-4 minutes. Then the glue. What brand glue are you using?
I used super glue for years, then became allergic to it. The entire end of my finger was inflamed. Had to go back to 'natural'. BTW, 400 grit is not very fine-I use 1000 grit followed by 1500. Very smooth.
Too bad about the glue allergy. I'd be sunk without the reinforcement.
For me, 400 gets very smooth after it's used for a minute or two. I was using 600 but it was slow. Note that with each change to a finer grit, you need to polish the surface and remove the coarseness left by the previous grit. So, you wouldn't want to go directly from, say, a 100 emery board to a 1000 grit paper--you'd be polishing the "bumps" for a long time before you removed all the traces of the 100 grit. Practically speaking, 400 seems to create a nicely polished surface, removing the previous traces of coarser grit, in the least amount of time. For me, beyond a certain point, additional smoothness seems undetectable.
use a simple teabag & nail glue
what is the brand of the glue you use in this video??
I buy it at Ace Hardware: Loctite® Super Glue Brush-On Glue. It's about $6.
cheers
Great to see people are checking out this video. Do me a favor, if you have a minute, and also check out my recordings on www.reverbnation.com/tomhanlon. Singer-songwriter/contemporary folk, you might like it. TY! Tom
Hi Tom, what KIND of Glue?
Crazy glue. Aka cyanoacrylate.
Hi, Curious if you've tried the method?
Regards,
Tom
presumably taking vitamins and minerals to promote nail growth and strength would help?? might give a boost
I notice he's hand syncing the guitar bit at the end. you clearly hear a chord his right hand didn't play.
I just added video to an existing recording. It was a borrowed guitar, at the time, looking at it, as mine was in the shop.
Lots of guitar working, and vocals here: www.reverbnation.com/tomhanlon
Well done my friend 5*****
ClaudeSirois
To those people who are concerned about applying glue to their nails:
I think superglue was first developped for surgical use.
It was certainly used in the field in Vietnam to seal wounds - so no problems with applying superglue to your body :)
interesting fact tx
Don't nails need to 'breathe' to stay healthy? Cutting off the nail's ability to absorb oxygen it seems would weaken or destroy them...
Let me know how it goes!!
The reservation I would have about eating gelatin products is that it will first be broken down into its constituent amino acids before being absorbed, so I can't believe you have gained anything.
Just my $0.02
Check out my recordings and videos here: www.reverbnation.com/tomhanlon
This system doesn't work for me. It's great but chips off within 24 hours.
Hi! Sorry for the fail. Mine chips off eventually, but it's usually more like a week or two. It doesn't last very long. If you want to experiment, try using a little rubbing alcohol to clean the nail surface before the application. Then apply the glue and powder. Repeat the glue and powder once or twice. Keep me posted. TX!
You left out adhesive fabric and fake nails -See James Taylor's video on this. Tis is really only good for repair, but without fabric, it is not as strong.
I used super glue to attach false nails and I also used acrylic powder for about a year and my nails got so thin I had to stop using everything....
This method puts the glue only at the top half of the nail. So it doesn't interfere with the growing region (base of the nail). I do notice that on my thumb nail, when a layer occasional breaks and I have to peel off the part that's still stuck, I feel like I'm taking off a thin layer of the nail. Not good. But it's never "given way" to any sort of catastrophic failure. The method is to use a thin blade (Xacto type knife or small pen knife) to pry or tease the layer off. It's a an art that you get good at after a few tries. You begin to get a sense of when a little more prying will release the layer, and when it's time to stop, and keep the portion that's well stuck. Just apply the glue and powder next to that portion.
So basically you have a ZERO d.i.y attitude, and you are either a female or a male that is comfortable sitting in a nail bar, having a cosmetics girl "preen your cuticles".
For the rest of us, the method of strengthening nails in the video is preferable to sitting in a nail bar. Sorry that we "don't have as much sense as a teenage girl"
Sorry; I'm not familiar with that approach.
horrible
Not one to mince words. ;) (We might wonder what you mean?)
@@pubmgr all that sort of dirt and glues and smelly and sticky and sometimes even toxic, artificial chemicals, and for what.
most healthy people have good nails.
for once, to prove this...
DROP NAILS FILES. for now.
let your nails grow, pick a piece of sandpaper, place it on the strings (fold over 6th) leave the guitar on the right foot (like it was designed to fit, initially) and start playing. bending the middle finger joints. and play 'on the nail'. that way, the shape will be optimal.
a dude named thomas viloteau did this somewhat. but his playing position is wrong, that is why he gets crazy nail shapes. anyway, the tone is best, and it can be proven with physics. paco de lucia shaped his fingernails like that, too.
if you shape the fingernails incorrectly, they will produce bad sound, they will feel heavy, they will catch like hell and they will split/crack etc. this is why these 'products' were invented. because people dont know hoe to use their own nails. i have discussed and observed this many times. it always comes down to incirrect ways of dealing with nail filing.
p.s. if you really smack those steel strings...
i suggest moving away from that style of 'music' or using fingerpicks (the modern inventions, not the average, cheap, metal wound rings on the fingers)
@@kanker5256 Hi. Thanks for the expansion. I wish I had tough nails. They're not bad, but some are thicker and some are thinner. And that creates a very uneven tone. The product sets up very quickly, so I'm not too worried about toxic fumes to any degree. Anyway, best wishes, and thanks for an informative response!
@@pubmgr by the look of the nails, they are perfectly normal. most men have mostly the same nail constitution. good luck
life is far more complex and difficult than a nail discussion
Does anyone recommend these fake nails for someone who may need them all the time since his nails are weak brittle, thin, and break easily? How about if your nails don't grow to the length is needed for playing? Thanks.