Fingernails

I think I have too much time on my hands sometimes. I am curious. I have to keep my fingernails kind of short because I can't stand riding my bicycle with long fingernails. I can't stand typing with long fingernails either. How long to you keep your fingernails? Does the length interfere with your comfort or anything else?

When my fingernails start clicking on my laptop keyboard, I cut them. I can't stand long nails at all. I'm headed for a career in health care, and I think shorter are more sanitary (and pose less of a risk of poking holes in gloves).

I used to work in the same office with someone whose (gel) nails were so long they curved. I remember her using them like chopsticks to eat food. Most disgusting thing I have ever witnessed.

I'm not comfortable unless they're so short that my cuticles turn into a ragged mess. Grew them a little bit a few times and gave up. I do wish I could keep them long enough to have healthy cuticles, but I can't type that way, when I played music I couldn't do that at all, and they just feel uncomfortable.

My nails used to be really long & strong - back when long nails were the fashion. As I get older, they tend to break & peel easily so I keep them short. I found that shorter is much nicer. I like to use a slightly tinted nail polish. It stays on better when the end of the nails aren't scratching things.

Blueberry - your story about the gel nails made me gag. Yuck!

I'm not sure how short nails and bad cuticles are related. I keep mine super short, with no problems with the cuticle. My partner keeps hers longer. Doesn't seem to affect either one of us one way or the other.

I also don't use polish, but my partner does.

Mine were never long, but now they are consistently short for piano. I massage Burt's Bees cuticle cream, slather lotion and put on gloves to sleep several nights a week. I think it is a silly and fussy routine, but whenever I go for more than a couple days without doing it I get dry skin, pokey cuticles, cracks, and infections. Hand sanitizer and anti-bac soap make this worse, so I avoid them whenever possible. It's a bummer because all soap in public restrooms is suspect.

I keep my left ones short and my right ones long. Looks weird, but the guitar demands it.

I keep mine really short, always have, just have never liked the feeling of long nails and trying to get stuff out from under them. My mother has sometimes given me a hard time about this, but at this point in my life I have three very good reasons to keep them short...working in a clinical setting (infection control requirement), gardening, and volunteering at the local bike co-op helping rebuild bikes. It's a lot easier not having much for dirt/grease to get under.

I try to keep mine on the short side. Otherwise they just break when I'm doing something...

For instance, dealing with snowshoe laces outdoors in real cold weather, I don't need long nails. I also do some art with acrylic paint and just find it easier.

I gave up on nail polish 30 yrs. ago. I actually found my fingers felt cooler....maybe it was being more hyperconscious of the coloured nails/fingers. I do have a cooler handshake.

I used to have long manicured nails, but they went away when I started my making jewelry. The buffing machine would mess up the polish. Stopped making jewelry, but I still keep them short.

My finger and toe nails have always been hard as cement.

My nails are polished, but short, maybe medium. I feel naked without nail polish and keeping them polished forces me to keep them in good shape.

I keep mine shortish, just past my fingertips for the most part. (I played the viola for a while. Short nails are essential!) Not long enough to be annoying, but long enough to pry open soda can tabs and that sort of thing. :) No nail polish, because I work in a lab and I don't want it flaking off into stuff. (Nail polish goes on the toenails!)

I recently discovered "Gellish" manicures, a super beefy UV cured polish that works on your own natural nail. Doesn't chip AT ALL for two weeks. And I don't shy away from adventure!

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-- gnat!

Short and mostly naked. My toes are always polished, but I can't deal with keeping up with the hands. I occasionally get a gel manicure, but mostly can't be bothered.

I keep wanting to "like" responses :p

I have always kept mine short because I grew up playing piano. I don't play much anymore, but my nails bug me when the whites get close to about 2mm long.

The shorter the better! Part of it is hating to feel them clicking on things, the other thing is I've psoriasis and it affects my fingernails.

Zen - it is good to see you and I agree :)