Fingernails

[thekarens]

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.

[malkin]

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.

[redrhodie]

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

[Jolt]

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.

[shootingstar]

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.

[snapdragen]

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.

[Crankin]

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.

[Zen]

I keep wanting to "like" responses

[NbyNW]

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.

[Catrin]

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