The Vine: July 18, 2008
Hi Sars,
I have a question for you and your readers: How does one make their fingernails grow hard and strong?
I am a guitar player, primarily a fingerstyle-steel-string acoustic kinda guy. Due to a disastrous experiment with glue-on nails about six years ago, my once thick and strong nails on my right (picking) hand became thin and flexible and would split at the edges and tear off. I have been using a nail hardener (Mavala Scientifique) which helps, but if I forget to use it for a week or so the split and tearing start all over again.
I’ve also tried gel coat nails, but I don’t like spending $15 for one hand. I’m not looking for pretty, just some resources and advice to make my nails back into the daggers of death that I need.
Thanks!
Tiddo
Dear Tid,
The readers will no doubt have some more pertinent advice than I in the off-the-shelf department; I don’t use anything in the way of nail hardeners because I keep my nails very short, and they seldom flake or split anyway.
You may find some help in the Ask The Readers Vine linked here.Beyond that, I second the vitamin suggestion; any vitamin/supplement aisle at your local pharmacy will have a variation on the InVite Hair Skin & Nails formula I use.I started with those to try to get my hair to styling length in time for my brother’s wedding, and you will see a difference there, too, but they also gave me thicker nails that grew faster.I didn’t take the full dose recommended on the bottle, either, and it still worked great.
Readers, anything else not mentioned in the other letter?
Hi Sars,
I’m hoping that the readers or yourself can use your amazing talents to help me find the perfect barrette. See, I’m getting married in two months, and I have plans to wear my hair down with a vintage 1920’s-1940’s barrette clipping back one side.
Only problem? I can’t find a barrette that matches what I’m thinking.
I want something around 3-4 inches long,silver and not too blingy.I have tried Claire’s and some other mall stores that sell accessories,and searched high and low on eBay, but if it’s the right size, it’s gold, or if it’s the right color, it’s the wrong type of accessory, etc.
It doesn’t have to be true vintage, just as long as it looks the part and is no more than around $50.My first “practice” with my hair dresser is in about three weeks, and after a month’s worth of searching, I’m not sure where to go next! My thanks in advance for any help that is given!
Sincerely,
Not A Comb, Stupid Computer…A Barrette!
Dear Barr,
It’s only recently that I’ve returned to owning any hair accessories at all — and with the temperature set to hit 95 today, you’d better believe that today will see me attempting the first nano-ponytails in two years — so I hope I can help.
My first recommendation: Etsy.com.If you don’t find what you need in the Buy section, click the Alchemy link at the top of the homepage; you can request custom items from the sellers there.I’ve never used that service, actually, but now that I think about it, this could solve all of our “we need a Simon Tofield shirt” problems.Anyway, that’s one option.
You might also try online vintage stores (I’d recommend Rusty Zipper, although I don’t know how much hair stuff they have, and Remix Vintage, ditto), or drop a line to my friend Josh Dubs and his team at Resource Rags, because I can attest firsthand that what you see on the site is a mere fraction of what he’s got in stock.
Target doesn’t seem to have anything relevant, but you can try drugstore.com (and/or their partner site, beauty.com), or browse around the Goody site.And if you don’t see what you need, write to Goody customer service; the last time I had an issue with one of their products, ten replacements showed up via FedEx within the week, so a snail-mail letter wondering if they have any retired styles like the one you want, and could they send it to you, might well get the job done.
Readers with long hair, bring it home.
Tags: Ask The Readers health and beauty retail
There’s a place in ATL called Hur’s Mart . . . they do online ordering, too . . .
http://tinyurl.com/64wkjy
http://tinyurl.com/68okqu
They have other hair accessories, too . . .
http://tinyurl.com/5zvczu
I work in the vitamin business, and I can tell you a vitamin is a really good way to go. The gas problem is a fairly common one, though, and the best way to do that is to a.) take the vitamin with a meal, and b) actually go to a health food store and ask for a recomendation for something that’s going to be easily absorbable (sp?) by the body. Not all vitamins are created equally – you want something with vitamins E, B, K, A, as well as calcium – which means it will have magnesium or manganese so your body can apbsorb (i can’t spell that word today), which can cause the gas – but a gnc or good health food store can steer you in the right direction.
Etsy (non-alchemy) may find you what you’re looking for. The full listing of barrettes is here (fair warning, a few combs and bobby-pins have crept through): http://tinyurl.com/65f6uk
A few sellers that look promising;
http://tinyurl.com/historicallyinspired
http://tinyurl.com/6x5r75
For harder, faster growing nails (and shinier, faster growing hair!), I take a daily supplement of MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). It’s available in the dietary supplement aisle of grocery & drug stores. MSM is also good for your joints, but my reasons for using it are more vain. :)
I have two suggestions:
http://www.eleganthairacc.com then click on hair barretes on the left… some of the stuff is over the top, strange, or just plain ugly, but they have some different and really beautiful barettes there as well. Quite a few are vintage-looking, and all are under $50
Also: http://www.flexi8.com this is a unique type of barrette, and they have tons of different styles and sizes.
There’s a line of art deco jewelry that I get from department stores called 1928. Don’t know if they have anything you like but it’s worth a try.
1928 Jewelry
They have barrettes in the $20 range.
The stuff from 1928 is pretty without being too blingy.
http://tinyurl.com/62e4z6
Also ask the hair lady – she may have hookups that the madding crowd isn’t privy to.
I started taking Peter Gillham’s Natural Calm for the magnesium (I suffer migraines and it’s supposed to help), then discovered Peter Gillham’s Natural Calm Plus Calcium http://tinyurl.com/6lfnrm . Since I’ve been using it, my nails are very strong and grow fast. (I was a nail-biter until I was 38, I’m now almost 45, so this is very impressive.)
Ruby Lane (rubylane.com) might have something. I found the perfect silver, heart-shaped locket there to keep my recently deceased cat’s photo in.
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/fauxjewels/item/3107
I second (fourth?) the vitamin suggestion: GNC’s hair, skin & nails vitamins made my nails stop…I guess “warping” is a good term…when they got long. Mine have always been thick, but they would start curving at the edges as if to make a tube, or in the case of the finger I rest my pen on when writing, do this little flip thing. Now I have 10 strong nails that look like nails.
A grocery store solution for stronger nails is plain old Jello! I know it’s probably not possible, but I’ve noticed stronger, longer nails the very day after eating some. Not a great idea for vegetarians/vegans, but the little pre-packaged cups DO bring back grade-school cafeteria memories.
Wow. 1928. I can’t believe they’re still around!
I was wearing their jewelry 25 years ago! Sheesh.
Heh.
This will sound stupid and it might not even work, but why not get that suitable-but-for-the-color barrette and use a can of silver spray paint? If it doesn’t work or the smell won’t come out, well, you’re only out $5 or $10.
To the bride-to-be: take a look at brooches instead of just barrettes. I think a good stylist ought to be able to pin one of those in for the look you want.
I love love love the Barielle line of nail care. They have a nail strengthening cream that makes your nails grow nice and strong – you just rub it into your cuticles before you go to bed. Makes you give yourself a nice hand massage, too. http://tinyurl.com/5maho4
For strong nails, a healthy nail bed is step one (promote nail growth) and then taking care of the nail once grown is step two, the way I see it. Cuticles should be kept trimmed, clean and moisturized. Garlic pills are a natural anti-fungal cure, not a bad idea to add to your vitamin plan. I have a nail file that I swear by for keeping nails strong and avoiding splits and cracks: Nail Tek’s Crystal nail files are made of tempered glass and the file seals edges as you file, which helps protect against splits, etc. I have the medium sized, keep it in my purse in its case. It will never wear out! http://tinyurl.com/5cjf9m
Opi Nail Envy. I had to stop using it because my nails grew TOO much, and they grew out nice and strong. You do have to use it per package directions, however; when you slack off, so do your nails.
I second the broach idea. my sister uses pins and broaches that were our grandmother’s all the time as a hair accessory.(bonus it could be your something old or something borrowed)
I’ve had great success with a QVC product called “T.I.P.S. Nail Conditioner” — no more hangnails, drastically reduced splitting at the edges, and strong & flexible nails.
Barr: Try this site called kaboodle.com. You might be able to find what you’re looking for there if all else fails. Or try franceluxe.com. They used to make these beautiful silver barrettes. I bought one, and it broke. I could not find a replacement, but you might luck out.
Barr: Also, would something like this work? http://tinyurl.com/5e865c
Kinda pricey in my book, but you’re getting married, so…
My sister made the one she wore for her wedding. She, like you, could not find even remotely what she was looking for and went to it with a hot glue gun. The barrette turned out beautifully! Give it a shot…even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll know you tried. Good luck, and congratulations!
Re the nails/guitar thing – I don’t think anyone mentioned this, but I recall reading that Bruce Cockburn paints his right hand nails with superglue – possibly this will help with the picking at least until you solve the growing-them-stronger problem.
http://www.franceluxe.com/
Big selection, high quality. I have had one of their barrettes for at least ten years and it still looks good and works well.
For nails, try the essential mix at http://www.heartofnails.com, it’s the absolute best product for strengthening your nails, it uses natural proteins.
May I quote:
“There certainly are other products available that you can try if you need to strengthen your nails. One is “Onymyrrh,” a 100% organic liquid that has been used for decades to strengthen horses’ hoofs. It is made by DeLore under their Natural Additions line. Spread it on, rub it in, wash your hands (it’s a little sticky at first), and you can’t see it at all. (Item #ON-6P, American Intl. Ind., Los Angeles, CA 90040). After a few months of using Onymyrhh you’ll be ready for the Kentucky Derby!”
Suggestion from a top fingerstyle acoustic player, Mark Hanson: http://tinyurl.com/nailtips
Soon as I read the question, this article popped up in my mind. It looks like actual Onymyrhh is no longer sold, but another product called Onymyrrhe apparently works just as well. I found an archived guitar forum discussion about it here: http://tinyurl.com/guitarforum
Hope you find what works for you, Tiddo!
^^ Holy cow, Abigail, I just started looking at the France Luxe website out of idle curiosity… WOW! So gorgeous I almost want to grow my hair out so I can wear their stuff! (Almost. I seriously look a lot better with short hair.)
Tiddo, one of the best things you can do for your nails is to start getting manicures on a regular basis. Anywhere from once a week to once a month is fine. A lot of my nail clients managed to get their nails in shape just doing that.
You can use any nail strengthener that’s already been mentioned here. They all work about the same. However, they can work too well. After a while, the nails will get too hard and will snap off more easily. So it’s good to use one for a while and then lay off of it for a short period of time.
Do not get gels or any other coating on your nails, unless you plan to keep them forever; or if your nails are so crappy there’s nothing else you can do. And some people just have crappy nails. Gels etc. immobilize the nail, and the nail needs movement and stimulation to stay healthy just like the rest of your body. If it can’t move, it atrophies. Then you’ll be back to where you started, and it will be a big, old, irritating, vicious circle.
Also, when/if you file your nails, don’t file them back and forth. That tears them up more. Go in one direction.
I hope this helps you.
longhairgirl dot com has some pretty cool hair stuff!
http://tinyurl.com/5cbuc4
RE: The nails.
I know it sounds weird but my sister and mother both with very brittle nails that break easily use a potato. A common Idaho potato, cut in half and you stick your nails into the flesh. I think you leave them there for a few minutes and then remove, bake the potato (or throw it away) and continue on your day. Both were very skeptical about this at first, but can’t deny the results. I think it’s something involving the starch. I can’t explain it, but they both had almost immediet results.
That Art Nouveau one from RubyLane is STUNNING! I seriously covet that barrette, especially since I’m a big fan of art nouveau styles in general. But that price tag is ouchie.
One more suggestion for the barrette situation: What’s most important is that your hair look good with the barrette, and different barrette backing styles will work better with different hair textures/thicknesses. I have thick curly hair and some barrettes can’t hold back much, or don’t get or good grip, or whatever. Find a barrette that works for your hair and how much you want to hold back for the style you want, even if it doesn’t have the exact design you want. Then find the barrette that LOOKS right, and if it doesn’t have the right backing, replace the backing with the one that works for you.
I have crappy, crappy nails (despite having tried vitamins, gelatin, and would you like to see my collection of nail treatment polishes?) but I’ve had some success with growing them out lately. One thing I HAVE to do is to keep something on them ALL THE TIME. Even if it’s just a little clear polish. If my nails are bare, they start splitting and tearing within hours. The only success I’ve had in getting my nails to grow enough to have any white at all is to always, always keep a coat of something on them.
I did the same thing with my hair for my wedding, but instead of a barrette I used a vintage brooch of my grandma’s. It was a costume jewelry pin that I found in a bunch of her jewelry after she passed away. The hairstylist used regular bobby pins to pin my hair back then pinned in the brooch to cover the bobby pins. It worked great and I like having my grandma there in a weird way. So if you can’t find the perfect barrette, you might look at other options.
My doctor told me that every adult in America (not just pregnant women) should be taking a multivitamin plus folic acid for health. I was already taking the multivitamin, but upon adding the folic acid daily three years ago, my nails became REALLY strong and started to grow faster. I had no idea it would do that, but I’ll never stop taking the folic acid now, because it’s so much nicer than thin, brittle, peeling nails. (P.S. They are totally good guitar-picking nails, even though I’m really bad at the guitar.)
RE: Nail Care
Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try them. I haven’t been playing much for the last couple months because I got married (yay!) and have been working on other projects, but I’m building up to it again. I have this stuff from Burt’s Bees that seems to have an effect. Mostly I’ve just been trying to grow my nails out without filing and they seem to be coming back to their natural hardness.
Cheers!
Meant to add this AGES ago…
My nails used to be total crap…paperthin & easily broken, etc.
Then I quit smoking & they’ve gotten so much stronger & for the first time in my whole life, I just trimmed a nail because it was (insert trumpet fanfare) TOO LONG.
Congratulations on your marriage, Guitar Guy!