How I trained myself to protect my right hand from the damages of everyday life
Classical guitarists go to a lot of effort to grow and maintain the fingernails on their right hands. Nice tone and playability is too often ruined by breaking a nail. So what do I do to protect my nails from being damaged?
Use your left hand: This tip is super simple and obvious, yet can also require breaking habits and being aware of your hands during everyday activities. I always think of the example of reaching into a bag where you rummage around trying to find the item you want, only to struggle because it’s rolling around loose at the bottom of your bag amongst the other items. Depending on what is in the bag, there is a high risk of nail damage. I will always reach into my bag or pockets (more on this later) with my left hand. Another example is the deadly cheese grater. Hopefully this doesn’t need as much explaining but please just use your left hand, or expect to find extra crunch in your food.
I know a lot of people think that this is taking it too far and that you shouldn’t let fingernails run how you live your life, but soon it’ll become a habit and doesn’t hinder in any way. In fact, I’ve not had a broken nail in years (touch wood!), so it must work.
Organise your pockets: Be careful of keys. Sticking your hand into your pocket only to catch a nail on the sharp edge of a key… not a nice way to go. I have a few things I do to avoid this. The first is to place your key in your left pocket. I’ve taken this further and have an Orbitkey, which is a purchase I am happy with whenever I use my keys. Not only does it keep the keys out of the way so my nails are less at risk of tearing, there is also no jingle sound as I walk around! Also, I always carry some micro-mesh paper on me so my nails are always smooth, even if not practicing. This is important to reducing the risk of snagging a nail on something.
Wear gloves: This one is also pretty obvious. Wear gloves if you are going to be using your hands. This could be in the garden or moving furniture. It is less obvious to be strict about wearing gloves when doing the dishes. I know people who won’t wear rubber gloves for whatever the reason (sorry if this is you!). The soap and super hot water is bad for your hands, and also is detrimental to your nails, causing them to dry out.
If you are starting out on your journey of maintaining fingernails for the classical guitar, then good luck! It is tough but rewarding for that sweet tone we all know and love from our favourite recordings by guitarists, who also have their own routines and nail care habits. You too may have some tips that I don’t do or haven’t mentioned here!
All the best for now - see you in the next blog!