Fretboard and nails

[rmaddy]

I prefer the word "Frugal"  people think it's french

I think I'd have my nails done in a salon once I am passable at least facially just so I can have the experience.  I've done my own over the years, mostly for Halloween but here at home since Cassi took over. 

I had bought some that said it was Gel or close to it a week or so ago but then heard that a UV light is needed.  Turned out the polish wasn't gel.  Do you use a UV light?

Yes, I do.  The UV sets the gel, making it instantly hard enough to bang on a table, wash dishes, sleep with one's hands under the covers, etc.  Gel polish needs to be applied carefully, and the sequence is important.  On the positive side, it spreads across the (well prepared) nail more smoothly than standard polish.  I can talk you through the specifics if you're getting serious about trying this.

Gels are different from acrylics, which it what Jessica was talking about.  Gel doesn't go on thick like acrylic.  They are great for playing guitar if you keep them short.  I go for a medium length most of the time.  Awesome for picking, horrible for fretting. No problem on piano or typing.

[Cassi]

Thank you.  I am interested in learning more.  I'm not full time, meaning that when I leave the house it's as "Him".  Once my features soften which I expect them to do (seeing how I never looked that "manly" before, I will start going full-time.

[AnneK]

Once my features soften which I expect them to do (seeing how I never looked that "manly" before, I will start going full-time.

I have polish on almost all the time, even though I still go out as male.  I've never had acrylic or gel though, just standard polish/

[rmaddy]

All this chatter inspired me to go bang on my Telecaster for awhile tonight.

This place...

[Maddie86]

I play guitar and bass a lot, it's been a huge part of my life since I was 13 years old, and I'm not going to sacrifice that for my nails. I'm totally fine with short nails, but I would like to paint them more often once I'm living full time, we'll see how things go lol

[Jessica]

Update: got another manicure yesterday and talked to them about shaping the nails I finger with to about an 1/8".  Picked up the uke today and they felt fine.  I will file them down to where they feel best when they get longer.  Even better is the dip nail strengthener has made my nails on my strumming hand usable picks.

[Lucy Ross]

But one of my guitars is a collector item and I will not scratch up the fret board on it.

Is this a steel string guitar and a hardwood fretboard? The strings will do 10x more damage than any fingernail ever could.  In fact I don't think fretboards are ever made of anything softer than hard maple.

On my banjo my nails start to get in the way when they extend past the tips more than maybe a eighth of an inch.  They get clicky on keyboards too, although Art Tatum said his long nails were part of how he got his power, and he was the greatest piano player in history.